Meal prepping can feel like a daunting chore, especially if your schedule is packed or cooking isn’t exactly your idea of fun. But with the right tools and mindset, planning and prepping healthy meals can become a seamless part of your week—and maybe even something you enjoy. Whether you’re trying to save time, eat healthier, or stick to a budget, having the proper gear and strategies is a game-changer. Here are six tools you need to make healthy meal prepping and planning a breeze.
Start With the Right Mindset—Even If You Hate Cooking
For many, the biggest hurdle to meal prepping isn’t a lack of time or skills—it’s the mindset. If you’re someone who dreads cooking, it can feel impossible to start prepping multiple meals ahead of time. But with a little mental shift, it’s entirely doable. According to experts, successful meal prep begins with breaking bigger tasks into manageable steps and focusing on the benefits rather than the effort.
Start small by prepping just one or two meals for the week rather than an entire menu. Think of meal prepping as a way to reduce stress during busy days instead of a giant, time-consuming task. Music or podcasts can make the experience more enjoyable, and rewarding yourself with the time you’ll save later can help motivate you to stick with it. Changing your mindset is the first—and most essential—tool in your arsenal for successful meal planning.
Matching Food Storage Containers
Nothing derails meal prepping faster than mismatched containers with missing lids. This is why having the right food storage containers—and not just any kind—is so important. Having a set of matching, stackable containers in uniform sizes can revolutionize the way you plan and store meals.
When all your containers are the same size, it’s easy to portion meals consistently and organize your fridge without a game of Tupperware Tetris. These containers also help streamline the prepping process, making it simple to batch-cook and store everything efficiently. Whether you’re stacking salads, dividing up grains, or freezing soups, high-quality food storage containers give you one less thing to worry about when you’re knee-deep in meal prep. Bonus: they make everything look Instagram-worthy.
A Reliable Cutting Board for Chopping Like a Pro
A sturdy, large cutting board is more important than you might think. Chopping vegetables and proteins is a core part of meal prepping, and having a reliable surface can make the process faster, safer, and far less frustrating. Look for one that’s easy to clean and doesn’t slide around while you’re using it.
The right cutting board saves time by giving you plenty of room to work, meaning fewer trips back and forth to clear space. It also protects your knives, extending their lifespan. Whether you’re slicing carrots, dicing onions, or cubing chicken, a good cutting board is a tool you’ll reach for again and again during meal prep.
Kitchen Scales for Perfect Portions
If you’ve ever guessed at portion sizes and ended up with too much—or too little—food, a kitchen scale might just be your new best friend. It’s a simple tool that helps you weigh out ingredients with precision, which is especially useful if you’re tracking macros or trying to stick to specific nutritional goals.
Scales take the guesswork out of meal prepping, ensuring that every portion is consistent. They’re also great for baking, where accuracy can make or break a recipe. By investing in a small digital kitchen scale, you’ll save time, reduce waste, and make portion control as simple as pressing a button.
Meal Prep Bags for On-the-Go Convenience
Prepping meals is only half the battle—taking them with you is the other. Insulated meal prep bags are an excellent tool for keeping food fresh and organized, especially if you’re someone who eats on the go or works long hours away from home.
These bags are designed to hold multiple containers while keeping everything at a safe temperature. Whether you’re bringing lunch to the office or snacks for a road trip, a meal prep bag can keep your food fresh and ready to eat. It’s a small but significant investment that can make sticking to healthy eating habits far easier.
A Quality Blender for Quick Prep
For smoothies, sauces, soups, and more, a quality blender is an indispensable tool for meal prep. It allows you to create nutrient-packed recipes in minutes, making it ideal for busy mornings or post-workout meals.
Blenders are particularly useful for bulk prepping. You can whip up a large batch of your favourite smoothie base, portion it into containers, and freeze it for quick breakfasts throughout the week. Similarly, making your own salad dressings or marinades is a breeze with a blender, giving you full control over ingredients and flavours. If convenience is what you’re after, a reliable blender will quickly become a cornerstone of your meal prep routine.