12 healthy recipes for your busy lifestyle
Who can use some recipe and meal prep ideas to make your week less stressful and more nutritious! I know I can! I’ve rounded up recipes for super simple breakfasts, snacks, and lunches or dinners you can make in the beginning of the week that you can easily store to grab, and reheat to fuel you for your busy day ahead. Make sure to check out my personalization tips to make these recipes your own! If you want to try one of these recipes, simply click the name and it will take you directly to the blog posts with the recipe. Think of these recipes as a guide or starting point, adding your own spices and flavor combinations to create something you’ll really love and look forward to eating.
On to the recipes!!
Breakfast Ideas
This is a super simple recipe from allrecipes.com that you can prep the night before you want or at the beginning of the week to simply grab and go.
Personalization tip: use a different nut butter, top with raisins, coconut flakes, nuts, or fruit!
Protein Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
I made these a few months back after finding them on a blog called Maebells Simply Easy Recipes. These are a great addition to a side of eggs or breakfast sausage for extra protein!]
Personalization tip: swap the peanut butter for almond butter, swap the chocolate chips for berries or another fruit!
Make it your own by adding sausage or bacon instead of ham, using cheddar instead of mozzarella or removing cheese altogether. The personalization is up to you!
A super tasty and nutrient dense recipe from blog Paleo Running Momma that you can prep for the busy week ahead!’
Personalization tip: Change up your veggies or protein! Make it plant based and remove the meat.
Overnight Smoothie Freezer Bag
To make this, add your choice of fruit and some greens and prep in sandwich bags, then add to your freezer and in the morning, just add nut butter, milk/water, protein, blend and go!
Some combo ideas:
Strawberry banana and greens (spinach is the most neutral for taste)
Mango pineapple and greens
Peanut butter and jelly (blueberry, raspberry, nut butter)
Snacks
Hummus
This is a simple delicious recipe you can make quickly and store to snack on throughout the week. Enjoy with veggies like carrots, cucumbers, peppers, spread on a rice cake, you name it!
1 can (15.5 oz.) Organic Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 tbsp. tahini paste
3 tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 tsp. minced Garlic
1 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. chopped parsley (optional)
To Make:
In a food processor or blender, combine chickpeas, oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, 3 tbsp. water, paprika and cumin, if desired. Puree until the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Sprinkle parsley on top and serve!
Meal prep tip: Hummus will only stay fresh for about 2 days in the fridge. To avoid waste (and have a snack for later) you can pre-measure 2 tablespoons in a small container, and freeze! Be sure to thaw the night before you want to eat!
Rice Cake Thins with Nut Butter and Fruit
3 rice cake thins
2 tbsp. nut butter of choice
1/2 cup fruit of choice (sliced apples, blueberries, raspberries, or even strawberries)
Spread nut butter on rice thins, top with fruit and enjoy!
Avocado Mash for Toast or a Snack; makes two servings
1 large hass avocado
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp. onion powder
Juice from half a of a lemon (optional)
Sliced grape tomatoes (optional)
How to make: Cut your avocado in half and scoop the avocado from the peel. In a small bowl mash your avocado with a fork, until smooth. Sprinkle in your seasonings and mix thoroughly, adding lemon if desired. Use as a dip or spread.
Mini Charcuterie Snack
Add a serving of your favorite cheese, fruit, quick protein like turkey slices and nuts to a small plate and snack away! It doesn’t have to be fancy.
Hard boiled eggs
So simple, but so nutritious! Add sea salt or everything seasoning for extra flavor. To up the convenience factor, many supermarkets sell packaged hard boiled eggs that you don’t even need to peel! You can buy them already done for you for EXTRA convenience or you can make them on your meal prep day and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
Dinner Ideas
Here are three dinner recipes that are as easy to make as they are to clean up. Have you ever made a sheet pan meal? They are the best for when you need to make a meal at the end of the day and you don’t have the energy to stand by the stove. With sheet pan meals you can prepare all of your ingredients on one pan (or two, depending on how large the servings you need to make), pop it in the oven and sit back and kick your feet up while it cooks; don’t forget to set your oven timer though ;)
Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus -By Tiffany of Creme De La Crumb
Image from blog, Creme De La Crumb.
Make sure to browse this site for TONS more delicious recipes!
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
1lb. Boneless and skinless chicken breast: sliced in strips
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
1 organic red pepper, sliced
1 organic yellow pepper, sliced
1 tsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Garlic powder
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. Chile powder
1/2 tsp. Mineral or Sea Salt or salt to taste
1 tablespoon sofrito (optional)
Preheat oven to 400°
Place chicken and all spices in a bowl, and mix till coated evenly.
On a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper spread out your seasoned chicken and peppers and onions. Coat evenly with olive oil or avocado oil (I use a spray version). Cook for about 20 mins. Serve with white rice, black beans, avocado or tortillas and top with good quality sour cream or cheese if desired!
Check out this Instagram reels showing you how to make!
Vegan Mediterranean Sheet Pan Dinner; By Lexi and Beth of Crowded Kitchen Blog
Image from blog, Crowed Kitchen.
This sheet pan dinner looks AMAZING and if you don't make it I will :)
I hope this post inspired you to prep some meals this weekend. It may take some time while you’re grocery shopping and pepping your meals, but, once it’s done all you need to do is pack and heat your meals for your busiest days!
We’ll talk soon!
-Aria
