Frozen Meal Prep

Stretching out time between grocery runs? You're not alone...

I usually like to cook with as fresh of ingredients as possible, but it's been a bit of a challenge to do so at the present moment as we work to stretch time between our runs to the store. We've been cooking a lot of things that can be frozen or that have longer shelf lives.

What are my go-to's?

#1 - Frozen Chicken and Stir Fry

This is a great way to stay healthy and keep things tasty. You can get stir fry veggies as a mix from most grocery stores or chop and store veggies in freezer-friendly containers. When you're ready to eat it's as simple as throwing the frozen chicken in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes and throwing the frozen veggies in your biggest wok. I like to add spices or my favorite sauces. Most stir-fry sauces will last 3-6 months in the fridge.

#2 - Frozen Soups

These usually require a recipe and some prep so I would caution against these if you're a beginner in the kitchen. Start by chopping your favorite veggies and with a meat option (chicken, turkey, fish or beef), stick them in the freezer in a freezer-friendly container. When you're ready to enjoy the meal, take everything out of the freezer and add to a large crockpot with vegetable or chicken broth, spices and noodles if you want something more hearty. Let it cook all day on low or for 3-4 hours on high.

#3 - Pre-Made Frozen Meals

This would include any pre-packaged meals in the freezer section of your local grocery store or Target. Generally speaking, this is where you'll find the most sodium. These are great for something easy and quick, but not so great if you're on a specific diet. Our personal favorites (all from Trader Joe's) are; the Shrimp Stir Fry, Orange Chicken and Chicken Fried Rice.