Stress-Free Meal Prepping for One!
Meal prepping for one can be very daunting! I have been doing it since being on my own and I think I’ve finally mastered it, you know, 14 years later! As I’m sure many of you did, sometime this past year, I became very uninterested in any of my recipes in rotation and found myself very ambitious in trying two new recipes each week. Which, in this phase during the pandemic, is just one new recipe too much.
These last few weeks I have been following the five steps below and I’m far less stressed.
Tips to Stress-Free Meal Prep for One:
Grocery shop a couple days before prepping. I used to grocery shop on Sundays and meal prep on Sundays - and frankly that is just too much. My #gamechanger move is I order online, pick up at the grocery store on Fridays and prep/cook on Sundays.
Don’t be afraid to buy large portions of protein. These are great for a number of meal options. When bought on sale, large portions of protein are often cheaper when portioned out. Don’t let the protein go bad, I can speak from experience… which leads me to number 3.
Utilize your freezer. I have always struggled with the timing of this step, where I found myself frantically calling my parents asking, “my pork has been in my fridge for ‘x’ days, can I still eat it???” I cook enough lunches and dinners to last me four days, but if something changes in my schedule (especially pre-pandemic happy hours or meals out) and I have meals leftover, I throw them in the freezer for later! Let’s just say I’ve been much better at this step during the pandemic due to the lack of socializing…
Try one new recipe a week. I touched on this a bit earlier but prepping two new recipes for me on the same day/week is too much for me to process at this phase of the pandemic but rotating in new recipes is still very important! I have found it very easy to cook one new meal while also cooking one favorite - something you can throw together by memory. That way you have both meals to look forward to!
Keep your staples on hand. For me, this is eggs, creamer + coffee, yogurt/cottage cheese, fruits, snack-able veggies and lately, chocolate pudding. These can make a meal in a pinch but are fine individually.
Who Said Cottage Cheese Couldn't be Savory??
Until I tried this combination, I definitely had my doubts about it. However, it’s good! It’s been my go-to snack or breakfast!
The best fall butternut squash homemade soup
You guys, I threw together this soup in a night and it was delicious! I roasted the butternut squash in advance and then threw in the ingredients into a high speed blender and et voila! Creamy delicious soup for the night and it’s freezable!
You can easily pair this with a grilled cheese, a charcuterie board or have it as your main dish!
Thanksgiving Looks + Cocktails
Have you heard? Thanksgiving is going to be different this year. If you have always traveled for Thanksgiving, you may be excited that you don’t have to travel, maybe you’re more stressed that you finally have to cook a turkey, or you’re sad that you will be spending the day without your family. Along with the rest of 2020, this Thanksgiving poses several emotions.
I have either traveled for Thanksgiving or worked everyday around Thanksgiving, so the few that I’ve had to myself were well planned. And by planned, I mean, sleeping in, staying in my sweats all day and cooking whatever I want. This year, I’ll have to add in the designated Turkey Day Zoom or Facetime schedule to my plan🤷♀️.
To make Thanksgiving special, I’ve either cooked a favorite dish or made a new one. As well as make a seasonal beverage. Which is also the dish that I’m “assigned to” at family Thanksgivings. So, it’s only fitting that I’m sharing this with you.
Instead of sharing where you can find the best Thanksgiving outfit (because, let’s be honest, we’re shopping our closet or in sweats on the couch), here are some fun Thanksgiving cocktails! I prefer recipes that have fun ingredients but are simple to assemble as well as seasonal ingredients because they are cheaper when in season! Enjoy and have a safe and healthy Thanksiving!
Prosecco + Poms
In your preferred stemware, pour prosecco and a dash of pomegranate juice.
Garnish with pomegranate arils (seeds).
To seed a pomegranate, I did a combination of the following youtube tutorials: Video 1 / Video 2
Holiday Slush
This is a family tradition at Christmas, but I have made this drink for several other occasions.
Prep: Combine 1 frozen orange juice can and cranberry juice (equal parts) into a freezable container and freeze for 2 nights.
30 minutes before serving, remove from freezer.
Scoop into desired stemware, drink will be “slushy” and top off with prosecco or vodka.
Garnish with orange slice.
*For a mocktail version, serve with ginger ale.
Sparling Pear Prosecco Punch
This was a new to me recipe and it was delicious!
1 part cranberry juice
2 parts pear nectar (typically found in the international aisle)
3 parts prosecco
Garnish with pear.
Pumpkin Pancakes
My favorite pumpkin pancakes. I make these year round because pumpkin has such great nutrients that I feel I should be getting year round! I often make a batch and freeze in sets of 3.
