Any sort of success requires ACTION - and often times that action is NOT easy.  Someone who I connected with a few years ago, knows this to be all too true!  Jenna from My Bebox is one kick butt woman who started her OWN meal prep container company from the ground up!  I am honored to have been able to watch her baby idea grow into an actual product to purchase and help others lead a healthy lifestyle with her meal prep container and meal prep plans she offers!

IF YOU MEAL PREP OR LIVE THE TUPPERWARE LIFE - THESE CONTAINERS ARE FOR YOU:
MEASURABLE: holds up to 4 cups with measurement ticks on the bottom of container
STACKABLE: stack multiple containers into one
COLLAPSIBLE: collapse your container to half the size to save space when storing
ADJUSTABLE: screw on dividers and customize your portions or prevent food from touching
PORTABLE: easily transport your meals with the handle
DURABLE
MICROWAVE, DISHWASHER, AND FREEZER SAFE
BPA FREE, FOOD GRADE SAFE
 
What REALLY sets these containers apart though are my two favorite features:
1. Ability to CHANGE the portion size, to two or three, with adjustable measurements - most tupperware containers have pre-determined spots for food, which I hate, because sometimes I want more or less than the container allows.
2. Collapsible - HELLO SPACE SAVER! 
And of course, I LOVED that it came in pink - two other color options, neon green and a cobalt blue are available as well!

You can check the Bebox mealprep container out here: http://flyt.it/Ambereats
AND 
View Jenn'as provided Meal Plans here:  https://mybebox.com/product/do-it-yourself/
​Also, follow @mybebox on instagram for product updates!
​

There is a misconception that because I love to eat, I love to cook.  While it IS true, I DO enjoy cooking, I do NOT enjoy spending hours in the kitchen.  That is the whole reason why I meal prep in the first place!
While in the kitchen, I often think to myself, "how can I complete this task faster or more efficiently?" or "how can I get the most use out of my time I am going to spend here." 
Below are a few of my tried and true tips for saving time in the kitchen when it comes to cooking or meal prep.  

5 Tips to Save Time in the Kitchen

1. Multi-Task while Cooking - Cook or PREP other Items OR Clean as you go!
   This one sounds simple, and like common sense, but too many people will leave the kitchen while waiting for something to cook, use cooking time as an OPPORTUNITY to cook/prep something else OR to clean up!  I literally will have the oven, stovetop, and microwave all going at once while cutting up my cucumbers for the week and making my lunches!
   --> Using the oven to roast meats?  Use the stovetop to cook your grains such as quinoa or rice.
   --> While waiting for oven/stovetop items to cook CHOP/CUT/PEEL vegetables or fruits
   --> Use cooking time to prep your lunches for the week or breakfasts such as overnight oats
2. Use Frozen Vegetables 
   Frozen Vegetables are GREAT!  They save you time AND money by eliminating the need clean or cut - simply dump them into a bowl, microwave according to the package directions, let cool, and store away to be used through out the week! EASY! Remember, buy frozen vegetables PLAIN as opposed to the butter or overly seasoned packages, then you can season as you please.
3. Cook Once, Eat Twice (or maybe three or four times...)
   My mother taught me the beauty of bulk cooking from a young age. NEVER cook an entire meal for just one sitting, always make enough for left overs with ANYTHING you make (meats, vegetables and grains).  It will save you time in the future since then you can simply reheat the food as leftovers another night.  If you're looking to save even MORE time - bulk cook your meats with a recipe like my meal prep crockpot chicken method to have shredded chicken to be used a variety of ways through out the week!
4. Line Pans with Aluminum Foil when Cooking/Baking
   With cooking, comes clean up.  Decrease clean up time by lining baking sheets or roasting pans with aluminum foil.  Majority of the time, this will eradicate the need to even clean the pan! Score! Sometimes, when using oil, the oil will seep onto the pan and will still need to be cleaned BUT it won't be stuck or caked on, so it's a simple soap and swipe of a sponge job.
5. Be Prepared with Ingredients & Have a Plan to follow
   When driving somewhere, it helps to know your route before getting into the car so you don't waste time getting lost (of if you're like me, you use your GPS no matter what).  Cooking and prepping is similar, having a plan when you enter the kitchen to cook or meal prep means you waste your time searching for ingredients or recipes.  Make a plan or schedule of what you'll be preparing, lay out the ingredients BEFORE you get started, and have the recipe printed or right on your phone so you're not scrambling mid prep wondering "where the heck is the oregano?".  

NOW, GO COOK/PREP WITH THESE TIME SAVING TIPS AND ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY
ALSO - I am REALLY truly trying to start being consistent with the blog, so comments and shares are much appreciated :) 

 Meal Prep Made Easy - Keep It Simple Silly !
If meal prepping ALL your food for the entire week seems overwhelming, find a routine that works for YOU and your lifestyle/schedule!

I have been Meal Prepping since I was in college.  Almost five years later and it is STILL something I continue to do every single weekend or through out the week, but as my responsibilities and schedule have changed, so has my routine and method of prepping.  For a while, too much of my time on the weekends was spent prepping for during the week, SO today, as I managed to get everything done BEFORE 7AM while still having a social life all weekend long- I thought to myself, while giving myself an imaginary pat on the back "why not share with the wonderful world wide web my latest meal prep updates" I bulk prep what I can greens and grain wise on the weekends and then cook once or twice during the week!

I've gone into detail in many other posts on How to Set up a Meal Prep Plan and How to Set Up a Meal Prep Schedule BUT I thought it might be helpful for others to see a realistic and manageable approach to meal prepping partially on the weekends AND cooking once or twice during the week while STILL being able to have a social life, go to the gym, and manage working a full time job and workload!

The saying, "the early bird gets the worm" rings true here...
In 90 minutes I was able to prep all my Greens, Grains, Oats:

• Broiled Kale
• Steamed Green Beans
• Cut up Cucumbers (to eat with baby carrots already pre cut and washed in my lunches)
• Overnight Oats for the week - I just add frozen berries and 1 Tablespoon of Natural Peanut Butter
• Lunch for the next two days, I make my lunch daily, or every two days - and it's a Toufayan gluten free wrap, with chicken breast coldcut, lettuce, and tomato - usually paired with gluten free pretzels and some sort of sweet snack - luna bar, apple, sweet peppers...

Notice - there are NO meats made for the week, yet. I wasn't home to cook, Saturday I was gone all day until 5:30, and had left overs for dinner and today - my husband and I are heading to his parents house for dinner.  Having Sunday dinners elsewhere used to "throw off" my meal prep routine, and quite frankly, stress me out...sounds silly but it's true.  Since returning from my Honeymoon - I've become SO MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE and I love it (I posted about it on instagram here)

Tomorrow, I will be making my Crockpot Balsamic Chicken - I'll be setting it up when I get home from work and allowing it to cook on high while I watch my husband coach soccer.  This will enable us to have 3 meals for ourselves of this through out the week - divided up between Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  On Tuesday, we'll grill Teriyaki Salmon and eat it as left overs on Thursday.  Now, sometimes when I'm feeling adventurous I'll upgrade my left overs and make Teriyaki Fried Quinoa with the salmon or switch up how I'm eating my proteins and greens by making a stir-fry, but really once your meats, grains, and greens are made - the possibilities are endless!

Whatever you choose to do, or how to prep, make it something that works for YOU and your schedule and needs - just remember, Keep It Simple Silly - if it's not manageable or seems too overwhelming, you won't do it, SO make it something that IS manageable so you can stick with a healthy plan and spend more time sipping cider and enjoying sunshine and less time in the kitchen stressing about what to eat for dinner!