If You’ve Ever Said “I Hate Meal Prep”—This One’s for You

Let’s be honest: for most people, “meal prep” doesn’t exactly spark joy.
It can feel like a Sunday afternoon death sentence—chopping, measuring, stirring, portioning. All while wondering why does this feel like work?

And if you’re new to meal prepping, it can be hard to know where to even start.
But here’s the good news: meal prep doesn’t have to look like six days of chicken and rice in black plastic containers. (Yawn.)
It can be colorful, creative, and quick—something that helps you feel nourished and frees up your week.

Here’s how to make it more manageable—and maybe even a little fun.

6 Ways to Make Meal Prep Less Overwhelming and Way More Enjoyable

1. Start Small (Like, Really Small)

You don’t need to prep every meal for the week.
In fact, you shouldn’t. That’s how burnout happens.
Instead, pick one or two things to prep that will make your week easier.

Try starting with:

• A double batch of a high-protein breakfast (like baked oats or egg cups)
• One main dinner you can repurpose (like taco meat or grilled chicken)
• A grab-and-go snack (like protein bites or hard boiled eggs)

That’s it. That’s a win.

2. Make It a Vibe

Turn on a podcast. Light a candle. Cue the playlist that makes you feel like the main character.
Meal prep doesn’t have to be a chore—it can be your time.

Here’s a trick: call it “Sunday Setup” instead. You’re not meal prepping—you’re setting yourself up to crush the week.

3. Use Themes to Keep Things Interesting

Boredom is the enemy of consistency. Try giving your meals a theme each week. It makes planning easier and keeps your taste buds happy.

Examples:

• Tex Mex Week: Think beef taco bowls, chicken enchiladas, and macro-friendly queso
• Breakfast-for-Dinner Week: Protein pancakes, turkey sausage, and egg muffins
• Summer Vibes: Grilled skewers, Greek yogurt parfaits, pasta salad with added protein

You don’t need a brand new recipe every day—just a fresh spin.

4. Don’t Chop What You Don’t Have To

Seriously. There is zero shame in the shortcut game.
Buy the pre-cut veggies, the frozen rice, the rotisserie chicken.
Use our Macro Friendly Food Meal Planning and Recipe app as your blueprint and don’t be afraid to simplify.

Prepping smart > prepping “perfect.”

5. Turn Leftovers into “Nextovers”

Here’s where creativity meets practicality:
Use what you make once… and eat it twice (without feeling like you’re on repeat).

Examples:

• Grilled chicken → wraps, salads, or quesadillas
• Taco meat → nachos, bowls, or breakfast scrambles
• Roasted veggies → pasta add-ins or sheet pan hash

One effort, multiple meals. It’s not leftovers—it’s strategy.

6. Involve the People You’re Cooking For

If your kids, partner, or roommates are going to eat the food—you might as well let them help!
Make it a family thing: pick recipes together, build DIY snack bins, or assign “taste tester” roles (a favorite with little ones).

Bonus: they’ll be more likely to eat it if they helped make it.

Why It’s Worth It (Even If You’re Not a “Meal Prep person”)

At the end of the day, meal prep isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about reducing your weekday stress, eating in a way that feels good, and building habits that support your goals.
Even if all you do is prep one high-protein meal and a couple snacks—you’re doing it.

You’re creating space in your week, reducing decision fatigue, and making it easier to hit your macros without stress.

So next Sunday, don’t dread the prep.
Pour yourself an ice cold drink, turn on your favorite playlist, and get it done in a way that actually feels good.

Want to Make It Even Easier?

Our Macro Friendly Food App takes the guesswork out of what to cook.
✔️ Over 1,200 macro-friendly, family-approved recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and sides
✔️ A meal planning function that will take your meal planning time from 30 minutes to 3 minutes
✔️ An auto-populated grocery list so that you know exactly what you need (and in order, too)

💡 Whether you’re a meal prep beginner or just in a rut, our app makes it simple (and delicious) to plan your week in minutes.

👉 SIGN UP HERE and try it today!

You Don’t Have to Be a Meal Prep extraordinaire to Benefit From It

You just need a plan, a few shortcuts, and a reminder that it’s okay to keep it simple.
Meal prep doesn’t have to be boring—or hard.
It can be creative. Efficient. Even kind of joyful.

And trust us… Future You will thank you.

LET’S EAT.