7 Easy Tricks For Make-Ahead Meals

Including lunchbox ideas, travel snacks, and a guide to stocking your pantry.

1. Make sure your pantry is stocked with nonperishable essentials.

makingthymeforhealth.com

A stocked pantry makes everyday cooking — or weekly cooking, if you're doing it in bulk — so much easier. Find tips on what to stock in your pantry and how to store them here.

2. Prep a bunch of slow-cooker "dump dinners" that you can freeze, so that you're never without dinner on a busy day.

newleafwellness.biz

Everything goes into a sealed plastic bag in the freezer, then all you need to do is thaw the bag in the fridge the night before you cook and dump it all in the slow cooker the next morning. Learn more here.

3. Figure out a lunch meal plan at the beginning of the week.

hucklegoose.com

We love this five-day meal plan.

4. For easy grab-and-go breakfasts or snacks, try these oatmeal energy balls.

chefsavvy.com

They're great for eating in the car, since there are no crumbs and no mess. Recipe here.

5. These breakfast stuffed peppers are also a great, big-batch breakfast option.

happydetours.com

Make a whole tray of these egg-stuffed peppers, then reheat one every morning until they're gone. Recipe here.

6. Lots of summer travel coming up? Be prepared with these easy, healthy, make-ahead travel snacks.

buzzfeed.com

Airport food is a rip-off and road-trip food can be hard to come by, so packing your own snacks is definitely the way to go. Here are 25 Snacks That Are Perfect For Traveling.

7. If you like to grocery shop in bulk, learn exactly how to freeze everything.

cooksmarts.com

Because you're really not saving any money if things end up spoiling before you get a chance to eat them. Learn more here.