Meal Prep Essentials

When you embark on the meal planning process it's important to have a few meal prep essentials.  Today I'm sharing with you my top 5 meal prep essentials every kitchen needs for meal prep success!

5 Meal Prep Essentials Every Kitchen Needs

The art of meal prep has never been simpler with the wide array of gadgets and ideas to make your life easier and ensure that every meal is served as nutritious and delicious as possible.


Proper meal preparation helps you avoid fast food, sugary snacks and last minute frustrations - and also helps you meet your fitness and health goals. There are five essential meal prep items that will help you on your way to becoming a master food prepper.

Create a comprehensive grocery list. One item you should never overlook is the essential grocery list. It only takes a few minutes each week to put together ingredients for your pre-planned meals – and the time it saves will make it well worth your while. Here's a free printable grocery list for you!

Check out some apps online that are designed to help you eliminate costly and unplanned purchases, reduce waste and add healthier foods to your diet plan. Not only will you save time with your grocery list, but you’ll also save money.

Measuring devices are important. Portion-specific containers, measuring cups and spoons and a food scale are all helpful when preparing your meals. There are so many helpful choices available that you shouldn’t have any trouble choosing a variety that fit your needs. I love this colorful stainless steel measuring set!

Invest in a good cutting board. Every good chef has his or her favorite type of cutting board. It’s a good idea to have two boards to keep one for meat preparation and one for such foods as vegetables and fruit.  These color coded cutting boards make it easy to remember which each cutting board is for so there's no cross contamination.

Choose from inexpensive, plastic or wooden ones to meet your chopping and slicing needs. Eventually, you’ll likely want to try other types and sizes, but in the beginning, just make sure to have the basic two on hand.

Oils, herbs and spices will enhance any of your pre-planned meals by adding flavor to your meats and vegetables. Spices such as oregano, cilantro, garlic, sage and rosemary bring flavors to life in your recipes, while olive oil or other types of flavored oils keep you healthy.  I love ordering these from Thrive Market because I can get organic for the same price as non-organic at the local grocery store...plus they ship it right to me so anytime I don't have to go in the store is a win in my book!

Get a good crock pot. One of the best essentials you can add to your repertoire of meal prep essentials is a slow cooker. It will save you tons of time and effort during busy days and provide your family with nutritious meals.

Make sure you also have on hand some sharp knives, wooden spoons and other helpful gadgets you’ll use to speed up and simplify your prep time.  I LOVE using these bamboo wooden spoons because they're cheap, sturdy, and don't scratch my pots and pans.

A variety of containers are also helpful to keep you organized and on track for portion size and nutritional value.  These bento boxes are great because they have separate compartments to keep food separated, they stack easily in the fridge, and they're super affordable.

If you’ll be preparing on-the-go meals for you and your family, a portable bag is also an essential you’ll need to consider. Some are insulated and have compartments for beverages.  Hubs and Little Man love their insulated lunch bags!

As you become more skilled at meal prepping you'll notice you can do it much quicker and you'll find even more fabulous meal prep essentials to add to your collection.

Do you already meal prep?  Are there any essentials that make your meal prep sessions easier? Share in the comments below!