In order to streamline my grocery shopping and accommodate my busy work schedule, I’ve taken to meal planning. Ideally, this also helps me to eat healthier too, but that wasn’t the main inspiration, simply a bonus. To be budget conscious, I tend to plan the same thing for breakfast and the same for lunch for the entire week. While you might think that would be boring, I keep it interesting by changing the meal every week, and by mixing up dinners each week (though I’m only responsible for half of the dinner prep each week).

Because I generally eat both breakfast and lunch at my desk (in the office, I rarely work from home anymore), I try to keep things simple and rarely eat a cooked meal for either one. We do have a toaster oven and microwave at work though, so I could cook something if needed.

The other thing I look at when planning my meals is how much prep is needed. I have a limited amount of time over the weekend to get everything done that doesn’t fit during the week, and try to get some extra reading & blogging in on the weekends. The last thing that I want to do is hang out in the kitchen all day on Sunday prepping food for the week. So I tend to choose fast, easy, minimal prep meals.

Some of my go-to’s are yogurt & granola, toast with peanut butter, cereal, salads, sandwiches, or crackers & cheese. I fill those in with snacks throughout the day as well… cheese sticks, fruit, veggies, nuts, etc.

Do you food prep? What do you do to prepare for the week?