Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (2024)

3030-Minute MealDFDairy FreeEFEgg-FreeGFGluten FreeGRGrain FreeNFNut-FreePPaleo FriendlyVGVeganVVegetarian

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (1)Lee Funke

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Single?Married? Got a family? MEAL PREP IS FOR YOU! Seriously, healthy meal prep recipes are a lifesaver for busy people and I know you are all busy. If this is the first time you are hearing the term meal prep,I can explain. It’s when you take one day or two out of the week and prep all of your food for the week. We’re talking breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert…the whole shebang. This makeshealthy eating during the week extremely accessible and gives you NO EXCUSES to eat like crap 🙂

My favorite day of the week to meal prep is Sunday. It’s when I have the most time and it setsme up for success for my manic Monday. Lately, I’ve been into all things BOWLS. I wrote a post on how I’m obsessed with buddha bowlsbecause they’re the perfect meal prep recipe.

Buddha Bowls

  • Meat
  • Veggies
  • Grains
  • Toppings

The best part about meal prepping a buddha bowl is that you can serve it so many different ways: with chips, with an egg, cold, warm, for breakfast, for dinner, you name it. YAS.

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (2)

If you’re not bowl obsessed…don’t worry. I pulled some of our best healthy meal ideas for meal prep. What are the best kinds you ask? The recipes that….

  • have a lot of servings
  • can be eaten many different ways
  • taste good reheated
  • can be frozen

Don’t forget that meal prep is MORE than just dinner. It’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert! Check out some of my favorite recipes!

Healthy Meal-Prep Breakfast Ideas

Here are some of our best healthy meal prep ideas for the most important meal of the day, breakfast! We love both savory and sweet breakfasts so check out our best breakfast meal prep recipes below.

Protein-Packed Breakfast Burritos

Crock-Pot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal

Blueberry Orange Granola

Black Bean Breakfast Bowls

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (3)

Healthy Meal-Prep Lunch Ideas

Make your weekday lunches a breeze with some of our favorite meal ideas from Fit Foodie Finds. These recipes have multiple servings and can be portioned out and packaged up for an easy meal-prep lunch all week long.

Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Chili

Spring Cobb Mason Jar Salad

5-Ingredient Honey Sriracha Chicken

Cashew Chicken Quinoa BakeBest Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (4)

Healthy Meal Prep Dinner Ideas

The last thing you want to do when you get home from a crazy day at work is make dinner. I feel you. Here are some of our favorite healthy meal prep dinner recipes that are flavorful and good for you, too!

30-Minute Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Healthy Chicken Parmesan Quinoa Bake

Healthy Thai Coconut Quinoa Bowls

Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (5)

Healthy Meal Prep Snack Ideas

Be prepared for midday hunger with our best healthy meal prep snack recipes from Fit Foodie Finds. These recipes are high in fiber and protein and easy to make.

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Sweet Potato Hummus

Cherry Pie Energy Balls

Coconut Oil Zucchini Bread

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (6)

Healthy Meal Prep Dessert Recipes

The best kind of nightcap is dessert. Am I right?! From protein-packed cookie recipes to healthy salted caramel cups, these are our best healthy meal prep dessert ideas from Fit Foodie Finds.

Grain-Free Protein Peanut Butter Cookies

Almond Butter Rice Crispy Treats

Healthy Salted Caramel Cups

Grain-Free No-Bake Brownies

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (7)

Happppppy meal prep and happy Sunday!

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (8)

About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

0 0 votes

Recipe Rating

Subscribe

20 Comments

Newest

Oldest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (10)

simo

Posted on 2/10/2018

Hey, those portioned-out meal-prep containers helps a lot in a diet, personally i use these ones made by california home goods, besides they are cheap, you should check them out: http://amzn.to/2BnIdNL

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (11)

Posted on 12/25/2016

I prep meals about 2 to 3 days in advance. I noticed if I don’t, I get hungry and reach for anything. When I have meals ready to eat, those are my go to foods. I try to eat three meals a day with snack in between meals and only one meal has carbs. It’s amazing I am losing 4 pounds a week on this plan.

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (13)

Posted on 4/10/2016

This is such a great idea for a post! I love your meal prep ideas for lunches! That honey sriracha chicken bowl looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 4/11/2016

Reply to Kayla @ Blondes Have More Run

Ahhhh thank you! I’ve got more meal prep posts in the works! <3

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (15)

Posted on 3/24/2016

Everything looks so delicious! This made me really hungry. Meal prep is really for me. Thanks for sharing!

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (16)

Posted on 3/21/2016

BASICALLY if you’re a human… meal prep is for you!! This is such a good list of recipes and i LOVE that you separated them out into meals. I see so many that i’m dying to try! (especially in the dessert section, mmm)

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (17)

jamie

Posted on 3/21/2016

The meal in the title image (with the black beans, rice and greens) looks amazing! Did I miss the recipe for that?

1

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (18)

Posted on 3/21/2016

Such an incredible post, 100% sharing this with my clients and followers, so simple and easy to jazz up your week!

http://www.carlyrowena.com

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (19)

Posted on 3/21/2016

What a terrific idea to include snacks and dessert along with the weekly meal prep. Great way to keep “all” of the choices healthy (at least, have good options, right?)! I had not heard of the buddha bowls before, so will definitely have to check that out. Thanks for sharing these amazing ideas.

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (20)

Posted on 3/21/2016

I am big on meal prep as well. It is a life saver when I get home from a busy day. Going to try buddha bowls. I am a fan of the ones I pick up at Whole Foods.

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 3/21/2016

Reply to Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment

You’re going to get HOOKED on buddha bowls! DA BEST.

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (22)

Amanda

Posted on 3/20/2016

This is so amazingly helpful!! Thank you Lee <3

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (23)

Posted on 3/20/2016

Hi again! I have a post already drafted and scheduled for this week re: my favorite prep-ahead breakfast meals that are good on-the-go or for work… can I include yours, use one of your recipe pics and link to you? I will also have your site name as a link : )

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 3/21/2016

Reply to Sam @ Barrister's Beet

GO FOR IT!!!!

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (25)

Posted on 3/20/2016

These all look so good! I’ve been wanting to start meal planning for awhile now. Will have to try some of these out!

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 3/21/2016

Reply to Rachel

You’re gonna get HOOOOOOOOKED!

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (27)

Posted on 3/20/2016

Thanks for all the great ideas Lee! Meal prep is key. I work like 12 hour days and then come home and work on the blog, so if I don’t have stuff prepared I’m in trouble. I’d go to chik fil A every night lol. ????

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (28)

Posted on 3/20/2016

Wow, I never would have thought to involve desserts in meal prep! Great idea because it sets up good single-serving sizes per day! 😛

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 3/21/2016

Reply to Cassie

Might as well make some healthy desserts so you don’t go for the ice cream 🙂

Reply

Best Healthy Meal Prep Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 keys to successful meal prepping? ›

Follow these three steps and you'll be planning and prepping nutritious and delicious meals that fit your preferences and lifestyle!
  • Step 1: Make a Menu. First, think about your approach to meal planning — do you: ...
  • Step 2: Stock Your Pantry and Freezer with the Five Food Groups. ...
  • Step 3: Keep a Running Grocery List.
Jul 18, 2019

What are the best foods for meal prepping? ›

On your meal prep day, focus first on foods that take the longest to cook: proteins like chicken and fish; whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and farro; dried beans and legumes; and, roasted vegetables.

Can you meal prep for 7 days? ›

One important note though: as long as you cook meals properly, food will be perfectly safe to eat within seven days. However, by day five, it might not be as tasty. If there's one number to remember from this cheat sheet, it's four. Most meals are good (safe AND tasty) in the fridge for up to four days.

How to meal prep for weight loss for beginners? ›

If you're new to meal prep, start by prepping just a few meals a week. Focus on nutritious options for meals when it's harder for you to eat healthy. Set aside an hour or two for meal prep day, make a grocery list from recipes found online, and shop the day or two before.

What is the rule of 3 meal plan? ›

The Rule of 3's is made up specifically of these guidelines: Eat at least three meals and up to three snacks a day (you might think of this as a breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal plan) Eat at least three food groups per meal (and two per snack) Allow no more than three hours between eating.

What foods are not recommended for meal prepping? ›

What foods should you not meal prep?
FoodReason
Salad greens, fruits and roasted vegetables with high water content, such as watermelon, lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgette, cabbage and celeryWhen defrosted, these foods can become limp or soggy or lose their colour or flavour as a result of oxidisation.
10 more rows
Sep 1, 2022

What food lasts the longest for meal prep? ›

Meal-prepped soups and stews can last up to four days in the fridge. Chicken and rice can last up to five days in the fridge.

What foods can you meal prep for a week? ›

24 Meal-Prep Recipes You Can Make On Sunday For The Whole Week
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki. ...
  • Turkey Taco Meal Prep Bowls. ...
  • Slow Cooker Butter Chicken. ...
  • Honey Garlic Salmon Lo Mein. ...
  • Korean Steak Bowls. ...
  • Sheet Pan Salmon Niçoise Salad. ...
  • Instant Pot Greek Chicken and Rice. ...
  • Honey Baked BBQ Salmon Bowls.
Oct 25, 2020

Can you meal prep eggs? ›

Can You Meal Prep Eggs for the Week? You can prepare eggs in advance to eat throughout the week. Eggs can last for several days in the fridge or for several months when frozen. There's a huge variety of egg-based dishes to choose from, and many of them can be meal prepped.

What meat is best for meal prep? ›

Boneless Skinless Chicken

Versatile and economical, it's packed with protein, low in fat, and a truly satiating option that's loved by even the pickiest eaters. Once it's cooked through, it's safe to eat within three to four days when stored properly in the refrigerator. The meal options here are virtually endless.

Is rice safe to meal prep? ›

‍In short the answer is: Yes, it is safe to meal prep rice.

Is it better to freeze or refrigerate meal prep? ›

Freezer meal prep is a great way to make your family more environmentally friendly. When you store food in the freezer, you can greatly reduce the amount of food that you throw away. Freezing food allows you to extend the lifespan of the food you purchase so you'll be able to eat it before it goes bad.

Can you meal prep for 5 days? ›

Typically, refrigerated meal preps last between 3 to 5 days, depending on the ingredients used. However, this relatively short window can be a challenge for many people, as it requires diligent planning and scheduling to ensure that all meals are consumed before they spoil.

Is meal prepping good for weight loss? ›

It is a particularly crucial habit that teaches you to stick to your diet regimen. Cleaner meals, healthy ingredients, and the ability to include a wide variety of foods make meal prepping a great ally to weight loss efforts.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6175

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.