Meal Prep Must Haves: A Comprehensive List!
I swear by meal prepping. I swear by all these items to get it done! Over the past 3 years I’ve found these to be the items I use the most, that work the best. Enjoy this comprehensive list of my meal prep must haves!
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Meal Prep Friendly Recipes
First of all, you need recipes! If you don’t have any in mind yet, I have a 31 page Meal Prep E-cookbook & Guide you can download in seconds!
This E-book not only has 12 full meal recipes with at LEAST one protein, one vegetable, and one carb, it has tons of tips and resources based on your goals. No fancy appliances needed, and two high protein breakfasts included as well!
Containers
No matter what you’re prepping, you’re going to have to have something to put it in. I prefer different foods in different containers or compartments. My husband likes it all in one. I’ve got options below whichever you like!
These black two compartment containers below from Amazon are what I used exclusively for my main protein + carb when I worked in an office. These comparable one compartment containers are around the same size, just without a divider. I use both types for different meals!
As I said, my husband prefers to have all his food in the same container, so I put his meals in these Rubbermaid containers below! This set comes with several sizes and they’re all good for something.
These are the perfect size for the portions I make and have held up great to weekly, usually biweekly use.
Glass containers are another good option. They won’t stain like plastic, but will take a little longer to heat up due to the thickness of the glass. That’s not a deal breaker for me, but I keep it in mind.
Our Rubbermaid set came with small containers for sauces and snacks, but these “deli” containers are great for smaller portions too. As well if you don’t want to go through boxes of plastic bags for things like fruit and other snacks or sides.
If you’re making overnight oats, wide-mouth pint sized mason jars are a must! I recommend walking into a store to get these. They’re price gouged on Amazon and probably won’t come in one piece anyway!
However, I bought these mason jar lids on Amazon that are SO handy. Instead of worrying about the normal metal lid and ring, just screw on this plastic lid. They’re easier to clean and easier to use!
Measuring Tools
A food scale is crucial for getting accurate amounts of your ingredients. If you’re counting calories or trying to hit macro nutrient goals, the quantity of you meal matters.
This is used most often for ingredients that aren’t liquid so they can’t be accurately measured in a measuring cup. Chicken tenders for example. Most food scales like this one can measure both ounces and grams.
For other things you’ll need to measure in many meal prep recipes, you’ll need measuring spoons. A good set like this one will go from 1/8 tsp to 1 cup.
Insulated Lunch Bag
Even though I often meal prep for working at home, I assume most people are prepping to take the meal to work. If you’re transporting your meal, you’ll need something to carry it in!
If you can’t put your lunch in the fridge, I’d specifically recommend a lunchbox with good insulation.
My husband uses this gray Coleman lunchbox, and it’s held up really well to the abuse he’s put it through working on F-15’s in the worlds greatest Air Force. It’s easy to clean, and has a removable hard liner.
I love Vera Bradley’s lunchboxes for myself. BUT keep in mind some are too small/shaped to where you can’t lay containers flat. This matters if you have one that isn’t 100% leak proof. However, they are very easy to clean!
Other than that, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, etc. all have lunchboxes of course.
For your lunchbox, don’t forget some ice packs! We have these from Amazon are super sleek. They don’t waste any room that could be used for more food!
Tools Of The Trade
Most basically for cooking on the stove top and in the oven, you’re going to need pots, pans, baking pans, and oven mitts. You might say “…Obviously?!”. I add that because when I was first showing my husband (then boyfriend) how to meal prep he had NOTHING to cook with in his first apartment. Everybody has to start somewhere!
We use an instant pot for a ton of meal prep mains and sides.
The instant pot is the ONLY way I cook chicken breasts to be shredded! It takes about 25 minutes and falls apart when shredded with a fork.
We also use the instant pot as a rice maker. In 15 minutes I have fluffy jasmine rice to be used with a ton of our meal prep recipes.
Meal prepping is a marathon, not a sprint. It can seem overwhelming to start but it is so worth it. These items make it much simpler for me, I hope they help you too!
Tell me in the comments below any of your meal prep must haves I need to try!