Meal hacks for the new term
Every year around this time there is a dramatic spike in online searches for back-to-school meal prep ideas and advice.
As household schedules get busier, it can be hard to find the time to prepare nutritious meals for the whole family.
With this in mind, HelloFresh Ireland’s Head of Culinary Hannah Duxbury has kindly shared her top back-to-school meal prep tips and hacks.
1. Pre-marinated proteins:
Marinate proteins like chicken or beef in advance and freeze them, then that and cook for a flavourful and quick dinner. “Marinating and freezing chicken is one of my favourite meal prep hacks,” says Hannah.
2. Homemade freezer burritos:
Roll up seasoned meat, beans, rice, and cheese in tortillas. Freeze them for a quick and customisable Tex-mex dinner.
3. Homemade freezer sauces:
Prepare sauces like tomato, pesto, or curry, in batches. Freeze them in ice cube trays for quick sauce portions.
4. Component cooking:
Cook batches of ingredients that you can use in a variety of different dishes throughout the week. Hannah says: “I love component cooking rather than cooking big batches of one meal because it allows you to still have lots of variety each meal time. Making a batch of homemade meatballs and freezing them is something I find especially useful since they’re so versatile. I use them in spaghetti, sandwiches, rice dishes, and salads throughout the week.”
5.Pre-cut and bag veggies:
Wash, peel, and chop vegetables in advance, then store them in individual bags for quick snacking or adding to meals.
6. Salad bar at home:
Prepare and store different salad ingredients in containers, allowing family members to create their own salads.
7.Stuffed bell peppers:
Prepare stuffed bell peppers in advance and refrigerate or freeze. Reheat for a well-rounded and convenient dinner.
8.Batch-cooked soups:
Prepare hearty soups in large quantities and freeze them in individual portions for quick dinners.
9.Leftover transformations:
Plan meals that can easily transform leftovers into new dishes. For instance, roasted chicken can become chicken wraps the next day.
For more handy tips, see https://www.hellofresh.ie/food-box/meal-prep.