Summer season? What? Didn’t we simply enter spring? What’s next- Halloween social gathering snacks?
I’m not one to hurry seasons alongside, however a part of being a mother inherently signifies that you’re at all times attempting to benefit from the present season whereas concurrently planning the following. Signal ups for all of the issues come at the very least a number of months in superior and at present our summer time is beginning to replenish!
Whereas I’ve these concepts in my head of lengthy, leisurely, extensive open days, the fact is that even in summer time we often keep rocking. Whether or not it’s time on the pool, mountain climbing with buddies, a trip, or appointments (Ok will likely be getting an expander quickly), our days typically replenish and slightly however of planning with meal prep can go a good distance.
One factor I like about summer time is the plethora of contemporary produce obtainable. We’re a part of a weekly farm share and get to select up contemporary produce from it each Tuesday. We hit up the Saturday farmers market once we can. And doing this implies I’m additionally decided to not let any of this treasured meals go to waste. So right this moment I’m sharing a number of of my favourite straightforward and handy methods to prep meals to maintain maintaining a healthy diet all summer time lengthy!
Summer season Meal Prep Concepts
Is Meal Prep Secure within the Summer season?
Certain it’s! However there are a number of components to remember that may help guarantee it stays that manner. Retaining meals saved on the proper temperature (lower than 40 levels Fahrenheit for chilly meals and better than 140 levels Fahrenheit for meals being served heat). With extra gatherings and picnics, that may be a difficulty, so it’s good to bear in mind. I usually use my journey gradual cooker for these kind of events.
Aside from that, the fundamentals apply. You wish to be sure you wash your fingers, surfaces, and utensils completely and keep away from cross contamination. Additionally be sure you control expiration dates, equivalent to these in your favourite dressings and sauces, to make sure they’re nonetheless inside the excellent date vary.
Why You Ought to Meal Prep In The Summer season
To scale back meals waste.
Everyone knows good meals isn’t low cost, so I’ve been attempting to do even higher about not letting any meals go to waste. Implementing a weekly leftover evening (or lunch as leftovers) helps, as does making meals which you can throw nearly something into, like pasta, a soup, or topping a pizza. I’m even saving the ends of cucumbers and radishes to share with the chickens!
To save cash.
Ditto to above. Once we waste much less meals it stretches additional and saves us cash. I additionally discover when I’ve meals prepped and able to go, I’m much more prone to rush dwelling for lunch fairly than seize one thing out, which undoubtedly saves some money.
To be ready for final minute invites.
Need to meet us on the pool? is a a lot simpler request to say sure to when I’ve executed some meal prep. I can throw collectively a fast salad or a sandwich or, actually, the youngsters’ favourite, a snacky sort lunch very quickly. I used to be simply gifted this meals storage set and should admit, it’s fairly good for on the go meals! It’s lovely and unhazardous, sure, but additionally the little containers are nice for tucking dressing, hummus, tzatziki, pimento cheese, olives, and different accoutrements within the containers, making for simple summer time meals on the transfer.
To make the most of all of the in season produce and eat wholesome.
I’m positive my backyard will likely be exploding with contemporary produce quickly (simply placing that out into the universe) and I received’t wish to waste a little bit of it. Whether or not you’ve a backyard, load up on the farmers market, or have a cart full on the retailer, it’s a good time of 12 months to make the most of in-season produce. One factor that at all times helps me waste much less is washing and prepping produce as quickly as I can after bringing it dwelling. I’m more likely to eat the radishes in the event that they’ve ben washed and trimmed fairly than sitting within the fridge drawer of their authentic state.
This lends itself naturally to healthful consuming and makes me actually not wish to waste a bit. Meal prepping encourages me to eat what I can and in addition take excellent care of the leftovers. Whether or not it’s freezing or canning, it’s good to not waste a bit.
Tips on how to Meal Prep in Summer season
Whether or not you’re making summer time recipes or prepping the elements to throw collectively straightforward summer time meals, listed here are a number of ideas and tips I do to assist profit from meal planning in the summertime. These items make it simpler to eat a fast, wholesome lunch or throw collectively a satisfying dinner. For those who want some inspiration for the breakfast hour, take a look at these excessive protein breakfast meal prep concepts. And in the event you want fast and simple lunches for toddlers (and past), take a look at these wholesome, kid-friendly wrap concepts.
Freeze Pizza Dough
Lengthy days outdoors typically has us returning dwelling hungry and able to eat. One of many tastiest option to feed the household is with pizza and conserving frozen dough (or parbaked pizzas) readily available makes this quicker than any supply spot might get to you anyway. Right here’s the way to do it:
Use your favourite recipe (I often use this bread machine pizza dough). Make it and let it rise as typical, as in case you are about to make it in actual time. Type into dough balls, every the scale you’d want for one pizza. Flippantly coat every dough ball with slightly olive oil and wrap every ball individually in plastic wrap and place within the freezer. You can even choose to hoover seal it in case you have one. While you’re prepared to make use of one, switch to the fridge from the freezer for at the very least 12 hours, as much as the evening earlier than. Then roll out and use as typical.
For those who choose a fair quicker prep methodology, right here’s what I do. I half bake our rolled out pizza dough, as if I used to be about to prime it. Then I let the half baked crust cool fully. When cooled fully, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap (or vacuum seal) and place within the freezer. While you’re prepared to make use of one, switch to the fridge from the freezer for at the very least a number of hours, as much as the evening earlier than. Then prime it together with your favourite toppings and bake as typical.
Make a Batch of a Grain
With all of the contemporary greens and grilled meats of summer time, it’s the right time for lunch and dinner bowls. I discover it even simpler to throw these collectively when I’ve a hearty grain prepped. Just a few of my favourite choices are quinoa, farro, and good outdated vogue rice. Make a batch, let it cool, retailer within the fridge, and reheat the portion you want once you’re prepared for it. Bonus? Your physique has much less of a glycemic response to grains which were cooled after which reheated!
Make a freezer batch of meatballs
Gradual cookers are nonetheless nice throughout the heat months and one in every of my household’s favourite gradual cooker dinners is meatballs and marinara. Straightforward peasy. We purchase the meatballs from Butcher Field they usually’re nice however when I’ve the time I actually like making and freezing my very own.
So right here’s the thing- you possibly can freeze them uncooked or cooked. I’ve executed each and you’ll go both route, however know that in the event you freeze cooked meatballs, they will generally end up slightly soggy when thawed. This isn’t a giant deal in the event you simply plan to throw them into some marinara on gradual cook dinner, however if you wish to serve them on prime of a dish or on a sub, you may choose freezing them uncooked, then permitting them to thaw and cook dinner them contemporary.
Prep Salads in a Jar for Lunch all week
Salads in a jar are so enjoyable and handy. They take slightly little bit of prep time, however in the event you try this earlier than per week of on the go park dates or pool days, then it’s completely price it. It’s really easy to seize a jar, a bowl, and a fork and lunch is finished! My favourite salad in a jar recipes are Greek Salad in a Jar and Southwest Salad in a Jar.
Make a New Dressing Every Week
I’m no stranger to purchasing salad dressings. I typically purchase Primal Kitchen’s, Garlic Expressions (sure it has seed oils however my entire household loves it so I generally I select to miss it), and dressings from our native market. Nonetheless, once I take the time to make my very own dressing I’m at all times fortunately shocked by how scrumptious and contemporary it tastes and the truth that it actually isn’t that tough. Summer season is a good time to place forth the trouble for salad dressing making as a result of we often are consuming so many extra contemporary salads. Make a batch of your favourite, or strive one thing new, firstly of the week and eat effectively all week lengthy!
For those who’re a salad lover too, you then’ll need these tips about the way to meal prep salads and hold them contemporary. Additionally, might I like to recommend my favourite do-it-yourself dressing. It’s so good!
Exhausting Boil Some Eggs
Hardboiled eggs are the right summer time prep meals as a result of there are such a lot of prospects! Actually you possibly can simply seize one and eat it as a snack, however you can too flip it into egg salad and eat it as a sandwich. You possibly can slice them on avocado toast, make them into deviled eggs, or throw them on prime of a salad for an additional protein increase!
I do know everybody has the strategy they swear by, and that is mine: Place eggs in a pot and fill with water till the eggs are lined by at the very least an inch’s price. Put it on the range over medium excessive warmth. Relating to a rolling boil, flip off the warmth and canopy the pot. Set the timer for 12 minutes. When the timer goes off, drain within the sink and rinse with chilly water. As soon as cool sufficient to deal with, peel. Take pleasure in!
Prep Veggie Burgers
Alongside the identical traces as prepping a grain for a bowl base, having veggie burgers able to go make wholesome meals a breeze. They’re such a terrific addition to a easy salad or served on a bun. You possibly can freeze them each cooked and raw, however I are inclined to choose freezing them cooked, because it’s quicker to reheat and eat. Three scrumptious veggie burger choices:
Make a Batch of Chickpea Salad
I’ve two chickpea salads that I fell in love with throughout the days I used to be vegetarian and I nonetheless love them now! The primary one is a play on a traditional hen salad and this recipe for chickpea “hen” salad is simply perfection. The second is in Oh She Glows On a regular basis – I can’t discover it on-line however it’s a curried chickpea salad, so in case you have this cookbook, you should strive it! And if not, give a google seek for curried chickpea salad and see if you’ll find one which appeals to you. Each are scrumptious for a fast lunch, scooped on prime of greens or eaten with a crunchy cracker.
Cook dinner an Additional Protein
Not particular to summer time, because it’s a trick I take advantage of all 12 months lengthy, I discover it useful to make slightly additional of no matter protein I occur to be cooking for dinner. An additional hen breast grilled up the evening earlier than or a roast that’s a half pound greater than what we want for dinner is at all times appreciated the following day once I’m attempting to throw collectively a fast and balanced lunch.
That sums up a few of my favourite summer time meal prep ideas; I hope it was useful or inspiring or on the very least bought you a bit excited for all of the attractive summer time produce heading our manner! This 12 months I hope (plan?) to do a bit extra with canning, because it’s a ability I wish to enhance upon for when my backyard produces abundantly (once more, placing it out into the universe ;)). Completely satisfied consuming!
