Meal planning can be challenging for any busy person, but when you have certain dietary restrictions, it can put even more of a damper on weekly meal prep.

If meal preparation is your least favorite part of the week, I have five tips to help you tackle this like a pro.

All you need is a solid plan, a handful of ingredients, and an hour of your time.

Get ready to learn how to meal prep like a pro.

Prep Your Veggies

This is an easy yet time-saving tip. Simply chop your vegetables after your weekly grocery trip. When you have vegetables prepped and ready to go, you are much more likely to add them to your diet than if they aren’t prepared. We’re all busy, so making shortcuts for ourselves during the chaos of the work week is a quick and easy way to stay on track.

Make a Meal Plan

This tip is super important. You can make a monthly meal plan or even a weekly meal plan if you tend to get bored of the same meals quickly. Decide what you are going to eat for the week or the month, put it on your calendar, and stick to it. By making a plan, you can now prep and freeze your meals for the week. Talk about meals ready and waiting for you when you get home from work! Now all you have to do is defrost your pre-made meal and enjoy.

Pack Your Snacks

Just like you plan your meals, plan your snacks and pack them. Enjoying healthy snacks is key to preventing blood sugar imbalance and will help prevent you from snacking on something sugary when those afternoon cravings kick in. Pack little containers of nuts, seeds, fruit, and hard-boiled eggs for the week to take on the go with you. You’ll thank yourself when those hunger pangs kick in!

Batch Cook

Batch cooking saves so much time during the week. Set aside an hour or so on the weekend or whenever you have a day off, and batch cook. Cook multiple meals at once and freeze them. A great way to batch cook is using a slow cooker. If you have more than one slow cooker, you can make a couple of meals at once with barely putting in any effort!

Get Your Breakfast Items Ready

For most, breakfast is the hardest meal of the day. Mornings tend to be rushed if you don’t get up extra early to prep breakfast, and many people end of skipping this important meal altogether. Instead, prep your breakfast the night before. If you normally have a smoothie or protein shake, put your fruits in a freezer bag the night before and then just toss it all in the blender. If you normally have toast and peanut butter, get those items organized and ready to grab in the fridge. Putting in just a little prep work can make a massive difference during the busy hours in the morning.

As you can see a little prep work goes a long way! If you follow these tips, I bet you can turn into a meal prep master in no time. Start with one tip at a time if needed, and add on as you go. Soon enough you will be in the flow of things, and meal prep will be just another thing on your to-do list.