How to organize prepped meals by meal type and day?

Question

How can you organize your prepped meals by meal type and day? Discover systems that make it easy to grab the right meal at the right time.

Answer 1

Organize prepped meals by labeling each container with the meal type (e.g., 'Lunch,' 'Dinner') and the day of the week it's intended for (e.g., 'Monday,' 'Tuesday'). Store them in a refrigerator section dedicated to prepped meals for easy access.

Detailed Explanation:

Organizing prepped meals effectively saves time and reduces decision fatigue during the week. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Choose Containers: Select airtight, stackable containers of appropriate sizes for your meal portions. Standardize container sizes for easier stacking and storage.
2. Label Clearly: Use labels or a permanent marker to write the meal type (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack) and the day of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) on each container. Be specific (e.g., 'Lunch - Monday: Chicken Salad').
3. Categorize by Meal Type: Within your refrigerator, designate sections for each meal type. This makes it easy to grab all your lunches or dinners at once.
4. Arrange by Day: Within each meal type section, arrange the containers in chronological order by day of the week. Monday's meals should be at the front, followed by Tuesday's, and so on.
5. Utilize Shelving: Adjust refrigerator shelves to accommodate the height of your containers. Consider using shelf dividers to keep sections organized.
6. Maintain Visibility: Avoid stacking containers too high, which can make it difficult to see what's available. Keep the labels facing forward for quick identification.

Pro Tip:

Use a dry-erase marker on reusable containers for labeling. This allows you to easily change the meal type and day without wasting labels or creating a sticky mess.