Quick AND AFFORDABLE Meal Prep

What's for dinner?
Oh the planning, the preparation, the last minute obstacles, and finally giving it all up and running through the drive thru. It happens to the best of us...but it doesn't have to!

There are TONS of great "meal preparation locations" across the country that can help you stay on track and have delicious home-cooked meals ready in no time.
So here's the deal, you dedicate two hours either one evening a week or once on the weekend to go to a storefront and prepare as many meals as you would like. All the marinades, sauces, sides, etc... they each get their own freezer bag and then finally a spot in your freezer at home (most recommend eating within 2 months of freezing). From there, they are ready to be cooked for about thirty minutes and dinner is done! Some of them don't even need to be thawed before throwing in the oven or on the stovetop. If they do, the only planning needed is a transfer to the fridge one or two days before you'd like to cook it!

I love this for soooo many reasons. It is a great opportunity to try out new recipes, styles and flavors that you might not venture into with your own cooking. Additionally, you don't have to purchase all of the spices, etc. that you only use for one recipe. You also don't have to spend time chopping all the veggies yourself. Everything is waiting for you at the meal prep stations! At most locations, you don't even have to clean up after yourself! You just move along to your next prep station. Don't like mushrooms? Leave them out of your mix! Or my favorite, add an extra scoop of veggies or a little more of your favorite flavors! There is still plenty of flexibility to adjust the meals to your liking.

Yeah, but it's probably pretty expensive to have such a convenient service, right? NEGATIVE! Depending on the company, it averages about $3-5 per plate of food (and most meals make somewhere between 3-6 "plates" depending on how you package it). For a home-cooked well-balanced meal with fresh vegetables and lots of flavor, you can't beat it!

I encourage you to try it out yourself. I believe it will truly save your life - by saving you time and perhaps helping you eat a little healthier. On the healthy note: not all of the recipes are lean and healthy, which I think is good because variety is the spice of life. But most locations have additional options for you to make the dishes more healthy if you'd like (some allow you to substitute wheat tortillas, pasta and brown rice; others allow you to change a beef or a pork option to lean chicken if you let them know ahead of time, etc.). Most locations also offer pretty amazing desserts: some that are already prepared and ready for you to take home and some that you can prepare yourself.

Can't spare two hours? A lot of companies have freezers already stocked with pre-prepared dishes, so you can stop by, purchase what you'd like and be on your merry way! Some companies even deliver to your home! (Both of these options are for an additional charge.)

I actually just pulled this website back up to find a new location for myself in Texas, and I thought it would be great to share with you as well!

So start by checking out this website to find locations and companies near you:
http://www.easymealprep.com/main/direct02.php

Some things that differentiate the companies:
- Some companies will let you split the meals, meaning you can take a 6-plate meal and turn it into 2 3-plate meals (great for me and the hubby). Also great if you want to go with a friend and split all the meals and split the cost.

- Some locations will allow you to bring your children, which can be a great family activity.

- Some locations offer private parties - how fun would it be to have a ladies night, eating scones and drinking wine while hanging out with all your besties and being productive?

- Definitely the menus will vary by location and vary by month.

- Some locations focus more on the entree, while some make sure that the entrees include a side. (To help keep cost down, the more expensive entrees like steak often do not come with a side). Don't let this discourage you if everything else looks good... I find it very easy to add a frozen Steamfresh veggie pack and some bagged frozen rolls that you just bake the number you'd like and dinner is still ready in no time!

*A shout out to "Let's Dish"
So I know there are many options and companies out there... but the one I have gone to and been so incredibly happy with that I never bothered trying another company is Let's Dish. If you are in the DC/NC/SC area or in WA state - I encourage you to give them a try. Actually, let me know if you are interested, because I can "refer" you to them, which means you will get a 10-15% discount on your first visit.

*Seeking out "Super Suppers"
For those of you that are in TX, I plan to check out one of the Super Suppers in Houston one weekend before the end of September. Let me know if you'd like to join!

I do hope that you will try this out, and I hope it will be a life saver to you like it has been to so many already. Please share if you have any experiences or companies that you truly enjoy!

Have a HEALTHY day!
~ Fit Britt