Sunday meal prep

We have 3 growing boys, and I feel as if I am constantly in the kitchen. Anyone else? A few years ago I began to prioritize time each week to prep food in advance for my family. If I have a few quick things on hand, it saves me so much time and sanity. I started setting aside an hour or so every Sunday evening to do this, and here’s what a Sunday a few weeks ago looked like.

Cut up a cantaloupe - Cutting up any fruits or veggies to quickly grab is always convenient!

Turkey Meatballs - I batch cook these and all 3 of my boys will eat them with ketchup or barbecue sauce.

• Recipe:

  2 lbs ground turkey

  1/2 cup bread crumbs

  Worcestershire sauce

  garlic powder

  S & P

  2 eggs

  Combine & form into meatballs. Bake @350 for 30 minutes. Store in freezer and microwave as needed.

Spaghetti Sauce - Spaghetti is an almost weekly meal at my house. I make a large amount and divide into 3 portions and freeze.

• Recipe:

  1 lb ground Italian sausage

  1 lb ground beef

  1 can petite diced tomatoes

  2 jars preferred pasta sauce

  diced onion

  italian seasoning

  fresh basil

  pesto

  garlic

Banana/Oat Pancakes - All my boys will eat these with peanut butter and is such a quick and easy breakfast or snack.

• Recipe

  2-3 ripe bananas

  1 cup oats

  2 tsp cinnamon

  1 tsp vanilla

  1 egg

  Blend all ingredients to form batter and cook as desired pancake size. Freeze or store in refrigerator if you plan to eat within the week.

  *If you have a baby in the house, I used to add a jar of sweet potatoes in the blender! My kids were none the wiser :)

When it comes to spices, I’m one of those people that eyeball it, taste, and add more as needed. So here’s your nudge to trust your instincts in the kitchen since my recipes don’t have exact measurements!

I find when I do this, I feel so much more prepared for the week. Tell me, what are some quick favorite meal items for your kids? What should I add to my rotation?

~ Rachel