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Published on 17 Feb 2025 by Ina M.
As a domestic helper, managing household tasks, including meal preparation, can feel overwhelming, especially when time is limited. Meal prepping is a great way to save time, reduce stress, and provide nutritious, home-cooked meals every day.
Here are some expert tips to help you become a meal prep pro, making your kitchen work smoother and more efficient.
1. Plan your meals in advance
The key to successful meal prep is planning. Spend some time at the beginning of the week to create a simple meal plan. Think about the dishes your employer enjoys and those that are easy to prepare in batches. Plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. With a plan in hand, you can streamline grocery shopping and cooking.
Tip: Stick to simple, easy-to-make meals that require minimal ingredients and time to prepare. Stir-fries, soups, salads, and casseroles are great options.
2. Batch cook your meals
Cooking in bulk is one of the most effective ways to save time in the kitchen. When preparing a dish, double or triple the recipe, and store the extra portions in the fridge or freezer for later. This eliminates the need to cook every single day and ensures that you always have a meal ready to go.
Tip: Invest in stackable containers to store meals, making them easy to grab and reheat. Use clear labels to avoid confusion and ensure freshness.
3. Prep ingredients ahead of time
Chop vegetables, marinate meats, or cook grains in advance. When you’re ready to make a meal, having everything prepped and ready to go can cut your cooking time in half. You can even portion out ingredients for individual meals, which helps with managing time during the week.
Tip: Freeze pre-chopped veggies and fruits for smoothies or stir-fries. This helps reduce spoilage and makes it easier to add nutrients to meals.
4. Use time-saving tools
Make the most of kitchen gadgets like slow cookers, pressure cookers, or an air fryer. These appliances can cut down on cooking time and make meal prep much more efficient. You can even set them to cook while you focus on other tasks in the household.
Tip: A slow cooker is perfect for making soups, stews, or curries, while a pressure cooker can cook beans and grains quickly.
5. Focus on versatile ingredients
Choose ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes throughout the week. For example, roasted chicken can be used in salads, wraps, or soups, while rice or quinoa can be paired with a variety of proteins and vegetables. This reduces waste and the need for extra preparation.
Tip: Cook larger batches of rice, beans, or pasta and use them in different meals throughout the week. This saves time and allows for creative combinations.
6. Stay Organised
A well-organised kitchen helps you work more efficiently. Keep your pantry stocked with essentials and organise your fridge to make ingredients easy to find. Having a designated spot for everything will save time and prevent frustration when you’re prepping meals.
Tip: Use clear, stackable storage containers for pantry staples like grains, pasta, and spices to keep everything visible and accessible.
7. Clean as you go
A messy kitchen can slow you down, so clean up as you work. Wipe down surfaces, rinse dishes, and put away ingredients after using them. By maintaining a clean space, you can focus on cooking and keep your meal prep process running smoothly.
Tip: If possible, have one of the children help with the cleaning tasks while you focus on cooking. This will make it faster and even give them a chance to learn!
Meal prepping doesn’t have to be complicated. With these tips, you can save time in the kitchen, reduce stress, and prepare delicious, home-cooked meals for your employer and the family. By planning ahead, cooking in batches, and using kitchen tools efficiently, you'll master the art of meal prep like a pro in no time.
Do you have your own meal prep tips? Share them with us in the comments below!
You might be interested in:
When a Helper Runs Away: A Real Story and Lessons for Employers
How Employers and Helpers Can Build Stronger Relationships
How to Handle Homesickness While Working Abroad
How to Help Your Employer with a New Year Spring Cleaning
The Risks of Direct Hiring: Employers Must Do Their Due Diligence
As a domestic helper, managing household tasks, including meal preparation, can feel overwhelming, especially when time is limited. Meal prepping is a great way to save time, reduce stress, and provide nutritious, home-cooked meals every day.
Here are some expert tips to help you become a meal prep pro, making your kitchen work smoother and more efficient.
1. Plan your meals in advance
The key to successful meal prep is planning. Spend some time at the beginning of the week to create a simple meal plan. Think about the dishes your employer enjoys and those that are easy to prepare in batches. Plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. With a plan in hand, you can streamline grocery shopping and cooking.
Tip: Stick to simple, easy-to-make meals that require minimal ingredients and time to prepare. Stir-fries, soups, salads, and casseroles are great options.
2. Batch cook your meals
Cooking in bulk is one of the most effective ways to save time in the kitchen. When preparing a dish, double or triple the recipe, and store the extra portions in the fridge or freezer for later. This eliminates the need to cook every single day and ensures that you always have a meal ready to go.
Tip: Invest in stackable containers to store meals, making them easy to grab and reheat. Use clear labels to avoid confusion and ensure freshness.
3. Prep ingredients ahead of time
Chop vegetables, marinate meats, or cook grains in advance. When you’re ready to make a meal, having everything prepped and ready to go can cut your cooking time in half. You can even portion out ingredients for individual meals, which helps with managing time during the week.
Tip: Freeze pre-chopped veggies and fruits for smoothies or stir-fries. This helps reduce spoilage and makes it easier to add nutrients to meals.
4. Use time-saving tools
Make the most of kitchen gadgets like slow cookers, pressure cookers, or an air fryer. These appliances can cut down on cooking time and make meal prep much more efficient. You can even set them to cook while you focus on other tasks in the household.
Tip: A slow cooker is perfect for making soups, stews, or curries, while a pressure cooker can cook beans and grains quickly.
5. Focus on versatile ingredients
Choose ingredients that can be used in multiple dishes throughout the week. For example, roasted chicken can be used in salads, wraps, or soups, while rice or quinoa can be paired with a variety of proteins and vegetables. This reduces waste and the need for extra preparation.
Tip: Cook larger batches of rice, beans, or pasta and use them in different meals throughout the week. This saves time and allows for creative combinations.
6. Stay Organised
A well-organised kitchen helps you work more efficiently. Keep your pantry stocked with essentials and organise your fridge to make ingredients easy to find. Having a designated spot for everything will save time and prevent frustration when you’re prepping meals.
Tip: Use clear, stackable storage containers for pantry staples like grains, pasta, and spices to keep everything visible and accessible.
7. Clean as you go
A messy kitchen can slow you down, so clean up as you work. Wipe down surfaces, rinse dishes, and put away ingredients after using them. By maintaining a clean space, you can focus on cooking and keep your meal prep process running smoothly.
Tip: If possible, have one of the children help with the cleaning tasks while you focus on cooking. This will make it faster and even give them a chance to learn!
Meal prepping doesn’t have to be complicated. With these tips, you can save time in the kitchen, reduce stress, and prepare delicious, home-cooked meals for your employer and the family. By planning ahead, cooking in batches, and using kitchen tools efficiently, you'll master the art of meal prep like a pro in no time.
Do you have your own meal prep tips? Share them with us in the comments below!
You might be interested in:
When a Helper Runs Away: A Real Story and Lessons for Employers
How Employers and Helpers Can Build Stronger Relationships
How to Handle Homesickness While Working Abroad
How to Help Your Employer with a New Year Spring Cleaning
The Risks of Direct Hiring: Employers Must Do Their Due Diligence