Delicious, FRUGAL Meal Prep Ideas That Beat Dining Out!

[@nikkidorsey2215]

Please do more of these lunch preps! I don't work as I am retired BUT I live alone and HATE making ONE lunch every day. This way I can have something in the fridge that is "special" and I don't have to think about it. Thank you

[@betterlivingonabudget]

I am in the same boat, but work outside the home four days a week so I meal prep on Sundays - lunches and dinners. Like you said, who wants to be in the kitchen every day for feeding just one person? On the weeks that I got busy/lazy and don't meal prep I always 100% regret it, and I end up eating junk.

[@personalemail2167]

Yes!!! We need more!!!!

[@tenthousanddaysofgratitude]

As a singleton, I have a slightly different approach. I prep on Saturday with a top up on Wednesday. I tend to prep components (veg, proteins, carbs for example) and then combine them differently so I’m not eating the same “meal” every day even though the components are the same.

[@betterlivingonabudget]

@@tenthousanddaysofgratitude - I used to do the twice-week thing, and sometimes still do. I also like to do the 3x3x3 ingredient prep method! Sometimes I'll whip up an actual multi-ing. dish for my evening meals, but it's often like you said, protein, veg, carb of some kind. I wish that YT had been a thing when I was raising my family! I swear I'd never heard/thought of meal prepping or freezer meals until YT, lol.

[@CLJlovesmal]

Disabled but I hear you. Cooking takes more effort than some people realise. When I do cook, if the portions are for a family, I know I have leftovers. I will eat the same meal until it's gone because of the effort involved. I love meal planning videos. Gives me ideas and new meals to try out.

[@daydreembelieva]

Mrs. Ma’am, I LOVE these ideas!! BUT my 5 year old thought your first meal was marshmallows and chocolate syrup over spaghetti noodles. Now I can’t unsee it 😂

[@dianasimplifies]

😂😂😂

[@kirstenperez4265]

Your 5 year old wasn't the only one. I'm not even embarrassed to admit that's what I thought they were, too, and I'm 46.

[@amandaramsay5934]

I thought the same thing 😂

[@shinymommy]

😂😂😂 I'm just thinking of Elf now and it's amazing.

[@deborahfenten7291]

😂😂😂

[@calalyoko]

I have worked at McDonalds for the last 7 years and I watch the prices go up regularly. The small fries that used to be 1.50 are now 3.19. Some sandwiches cost 9.99 on their own. I work there but I do not eat there simply because it’s a waste of money. I can understand the convenience of it, or as a treat. I myself go out to eat somewhere on pay day every two weeks lol But I do have some regular customers, and I see them as many as 5 times a week spending $30-$40 a night. And that can be costing them up to $200 a week! Some people think I’m crazy for prepping my shopping list like I do and watching so many budget cooking videos. But they really have helped me not only save money, but try new foods

[@TeresaRaab-hb5co]

We stopped into McDonald's for the first time in a year. I couldn't get over how small the standard hamburger has shrunk in size.

[@tgayer1]

Way to go! You are also saving money by taking better care of your health!

[@dianasimplifies]

Yep there is a girl who works 2 PT jobs on my fb friends list and she is constantly complaining about grocery prices. I tried to give her some pointers and told her about some budget YT channels that teach you how to shop effectively. All that fell on deaf ears. Then she posted the other day that she bought cookies at McDs. 13 for $6. I would never pay that much for cookies lol. Anyway you are smart and will be healthier for avoiding McDs food. We haven't eaten there since bf the Pandy I don't think. Everything being closed and drive thru only cured me of all fast food 😅

[@paulamcleod1227]

The McDonalds breakfast sandwiches are good on vacation for a quick option. My husband and I like them. We ate there more when our kids were small and liked the happy meals with little toys. Do they still have little toys with the happy meals?

[@ReturnToSenderz]

@@dianasimplifiesIt’s great that you at least introduced her to the idea and the types of resources that are available. Sometimes things need to percolate for a while before we’re ready to make some changes, and she’ll have a good place to start.

[@TracieL1234]

It isn’t only the pricing going up that make me not willing to go out, but also that the quality keeps going down. I would rather cook at home, and as a single, this is a great way to cook once and eat all week long.

[@pengle]

i prep my work lunches 5 at a time every week. It started for dietary reasons and over time there were workplaces that didn't have a lot of nearby options or 30 min lunch is too short to go out. It has ended up being one of my best money saving plans and I get to eat just what I want, just the way I like it! Thanx for the new ideas!

[@dmmrad54]

Before I retired, I used to take my breakfast, lunch, snack and water. Saved so much by doing that.

[@emilygilstrap31]

I already had chicken, sausage & 2 boxes of couscous that needed to be used. Plus spanish rice that will pair well with the sausage bowl. God knew what I needed just before Labor Day weekend. I'm getting over a virus & have been home sick for 2 days. Covid & flu neg. Hallelujah, Hopefully, I can go to work tomorrow & pick up the rest of the ingredients afterward. I've been so tired. Anyway, just the kinds of meals I needed.

[@katrinbivens3723]

Feel better ❤

[@Vangirhl]

YES! More lunch and/or dinner prep ideas.

[@elizabethkeller4544]

would love love love more videos like this as a broke graduate student or just lunch videos in general. thanks for all your hard work!

[@SeeMindyMom]

My pleasure. Glad I could help!

[@tonyahall8641]

Love this! I just did meal prep for the freezer last week. Please show us more.

[@CharlotteBaltimore-ei9mn]

One singular thing I will always be grateful for learning: cooking maize/corn in husk in microwave. 🤗🤗🤗

[@SeeMindyMom]

Same here!

[@jenniferbaldwin3967]

These are some of the best and healthiest lunch prep ideas I've seen! Please do more.

[@audreyrobles1505]

I love these ideas! I'm a school teacher and do lunch preps to make my life easier. These look SO delicious!

[@aleshahagerty7227]

With a new baby and a toddler, I am in a food prep stage of life. The less time I need to spend in the kitchen the better! Please keep these meal prep videos coming! They are much appreciated.

[@jeaniestoltz1764]

More videos like this, please. I work from home and my hubby is on second shift so he is home for lunch as well. These would be good for dinner prep as well.

[@tracyperry309]

Yes, love this! It's the thing I am so bad at - meal prepping for myself so I can eat healthier during the day. Working from home, I tend to graze throughout the day, and not on healthy stuff! Thank you for doing this, I'll definitely be trying some of these!

[@JessicaBrunsen93]

I am liking the lunch prep! I eat at home but my husband takes lunch to work. So this is great inspo

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could give some ideas! :)

[@christinabryant5725]

I work remotely from home but assist my disabled significant other. I don’t have time to be in the kitchen during my break. Thank you!!!!!

[@teddybear283]

I love how your content is so thoughtful and useful

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@bettygossell3408]

Yes, please. I am soon to be retired but live alone and don't enjoy cooking everyday for just me. I usually meal prep dinners but could use ideas for other meals.

[@NicoAni]

You are one of my favorite KZbinrs ❤. You make budget meals look delicious and versatile which is really helpful with the price of groceries these days. Love your videos!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thanks so much 😊

[@Becka034]

We just became empty nesters and this is the kinda content I NEED!

[@jessicatrimble3226]

YES, more preps please!! ❤

[@sarav7066]

I am very burnt out in my work lunches! Please keep the lunch meal prep videos coming!

[@MrsAlmaTrumble]

Happy Thursday, my friend. I wish you a Thursday full of love and blessings. All of these sound delicious. We rarely eat out due to my Crohn's. Last time we ate out, I ended up in the ER with a severe Crohn's flare-up.

[@SeeMindyMom]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that! That would definitely make me leery of eating out as well.

[@dellawhalen3937]

Love to meal prep!!! Keep it up!❤️❤️❤️

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! Will do!

[@hardenmama1800]

Loved this video! I do meal prep on Sundays. I don’t mind eating the same thing for multiple days. It makes life so much easier and I feel better.

[@AnnaAvanesyan]

This is super helpful! I love these lunch prep videos - I would love to see lunch prep for kids also…

[@beckywalker1613]

Please show us more lunch preps! 👍 I'm trying to loose weight by counting calories, but also want food that tastes good.❤ (bored of salads)😔

[@groovylolly]

My husband and I both work and are trying to loose weight. Please more cheap easy meal prep!

[@dinabertrand9113]

Love this idea, yes please, keep them coming!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Will do!!

[@debbyferguson5638]

Please make more of these types of meals. They look awesome. ❤❤❤

[@betterlivingonabudget]

All of these dishes look amazing, thanks for the ideas! 😋

[@patriciabillips3697]

Lunch prep videos??? Yes, please

[@bethsoelberg]

Love this! Please consider doing more meal prep ideas...these intentional meal preps might seem more appealing than reheated leftovers for myself and my family. I appreciate you and the time and consideration you put into your videos!

[@melissalavender6864]

I love the bruschetta pasta. We added a few cannellini beans to add a little protein and fiber punch.

[@nancycarney]

More of these would be great. I enjoy cold lunch preps when it's so hot.

[@kimberlysusie701]

Oh, these are tasty! More lunch prep, please. I get bored with what I have been doing, so these are perfect.

[@elizabethkelly9790]

Absolutely love this video. Lately it feels like buying lunch can cost me $15-$20 in my area so I try to avoid that as much as possible. I usually try and cook something in the crockpot or just pack a salad and then get bored with them by the end of the week. These ideas look easy to make and ones that others in my family might enjoy as well. Please continue to make more of these in the future. Bonus points if they can be hot or cold and also if they are able to be frozen. Thinking ahead for packing for soccer tournaments or making larger batches for a few weeks to store ahead. ❤

[@michellepowers2639]

I make lunch for me son to take to work. Thanks for the great ideas! Keep up the great work!!

[@brittanywellborn]

Love this topic! In my area more and more companies are returning to full time in office. We haven't had to meal prep a week of lunches for years! Excited to give some of these a try!

[@barbhuber7502]

If you cook the pasta in some chicken or vegetable broth (Better Than Bouillon for me) you’ll increase the flame a bit more.

[@jules7740]

I love everything on your channel and even though we don’t have kids, I generally manage the kitchen and groceries for myself and my husband! So all of your videos are helpful and amazing, but this one especially applies to my life as a working gal who tries to meal prep as often as possible!! Thank you 😊😊😊

[@ericaconsults]

Thank you for these lunch prep ideas. I’m back in the classroom this fall and needed some new ideas. These are easily gluten free.

[@meganmkinney]

Love how creative these meal prep ideas are! Thank you

[@meeganjae72]

Awesome meal prep ideas 🎉

[@rachaelbasham6906]

Mindy, I love ALL of your videos! This one is amazing as always. Thanks for all the hard work you do! I watch your videos for recipe inspiration as well as comfort. 🩷 blessings to you and your family!

[@SusanP674]

More lunch prep please, and breakfast prep ideas would be lovely. Thank you for putting the information out there for us!

[@kayburris8464]

Yes please, I love these videos. Thank you!

[@dsegobiano87]

Loving all this Mindy content!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@carolforthman9529]

Loved this video! I work retail in the evenings a few times a week and I'm always looking for meal preps that can be eaten cold or hot. I'm going to try all of these!

[@mrskimmieg]

Love these ideas. Meal prep is a real blessing as it frees up a lot of mental bandwidth for me.

[@SeeMindyMom]

That's a good point.

[@teresabarrientos7349]

All looked delicious! Yes, I would like to see more .

[@robinmejia8880]

Please keep doing these prep meals! You have great creative ideas 😊

[@teresapresley7835]

Love these meal preps!! Yes, please do more!!

[@mishelli]

Thank you so much for this video. I don't have much time to eat lunch each day so I like to pack my lunches. I'm going to make all 3 of these recipes and work them into my meal prep this week!

[@kelliconlan8133]

Please more lunch pre videos!! Now that the school year is starting, we need ideas. Im a substitute teacher, and my husband is a full-time teacher, and grab ans go is what we need for early school day mornings. (Ps. Gluten and Dairy free preps would be amazing)

[@faithturner3240]

Yes, Please do more of these! I work from home full time for another month and then i have to start going back in 3 days a week (it's been 8 years of full time remote working). I need inspiration as I do NOT want to go out to eat 3 days a week!

[@jennifercraven9038]

Thank you so much for these. Times are tough and I need to meal prep for the work week 🫶

[@melissastuckey4061]

I love this video❤️ I can’t wait to try them!

[@donnalynn6348]

I just doctor up pre-made salads. Wr &ad some macaroni salad left over from cheep chicken Monday. We added shrimp and served over cut up tomato. Our Jewel also has a lemon capellini salad and we add shrimp or tuna ( I like lemon pepper) and cut up grape tomatoes. Another store locally KD has a delicious couscous salad that we do the same. So each week, we get a $10 package of cold prepared shrimp and a rotisserie chicken to use as lunch ingredients. We always make sure we have Bumble Bee tuna packs ie the lemon pepper, Mediterranean blend etc. We usually have cheese that we can throw a handful into something. We always have a steak that we can grill and slice to add to a salad. We even take our leftover fried cheep chicken Monday and cut up and add to a $3 Southwestern salad. Since both me and my mother have restricting disabilities, it helps us to have these prepared foods available and we are able to make an inexpensive tasty meal. In most cases also more healthy than other foods.

[@corinmaness8498]

Keep these coming! All great ideas!

[@theresamartin6576]

The top you were wearing in the thrive market segment looks amazing on you. It's so pretty

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you!

[@CWood-bn4kr]

Perfect for me l need summer meal prep ideas! Love you and your mission to be real!

[@sandragoss48]

Yes, more lunch preps, please. I always enjoy your cooking videos. Your shopping videos, not so much. ❤

[@Old.gardener]

Absolutely loved this lunch prep video ! Please make more videos like it

[@ljbj4]

these look great! i appreciate knowing how much you saved making these meals! 😊

[@amandaramsay5934]

I'm begging for more of these ❤

[@third4life]

I struggle so. I h with weekday lunches! These ideas are absolutely on point! 🍱

[@runningbearranch7362]

More please 🎉

[@jenniferkrantz7561]

Yes! Love lunch meal prep videos. I prep my lunch as well as my husband’s lunches every Sunday for the week. Appreciate you and all these great ideas!

[@deirdrepaynter768]

Please do more lunch preps! I've been trying to get into the habit of prepping ahead of time and I really need ideas!❤

[@jannie5559]

Please make more prep ideas ...this day and time we need to save more money.❤

[@susanpeterson7250]

Loved this video. Most of these recipes also didn’t use a lot of processed foods. Double win. Hugs from Kansas!

[@Sal-fe6ix]

I agree with @nikkidorsey2215. I'm 84 and retired (and tired!), so having lunches prepped for the week would be great!!! For some reason, lunches are harder to figure out than breakfast or dinner - LOL! Please do more of these lunches. Love your channel!! ❤

[@jamiedavis3115]

Yes these are great ideas! Do those hold up pretty well for day 4 and day 5? Or do you eat up sooner if other people are eating them too?

[@annedavidson1726]

Throw a wedge of lemon in those prepped lunch’s and squeeze just before eating for a fresh burst. Also, a parmasan package is a fun spruce up.

[@littlebug1026]

loved it! i am disabled and can't stand for long and cook and i am so frustrated. i also need low carb low to no sugar. and i am the pickiest eater on the planet. i love meal prep videos! can you do some dinners and breakfasts please? Thanks Mindy!

[@rajimac]

Some pomegranate in the couscous make for a lovely variety and some lime juice too. All the recipes you made are lovely

[@DavidBrooks-mq6js]

(Posting as Joyce) I really enjoyed this video. I work in a school, and I could get lunch there for a reasonable monthly fee. After eating that food for a couple of years, I decided it was time to start lunch prepping!! LOL I am looking forward to trying the smoked sausage and veggie recipe in particular. Thank you and have a great weekend. 😊😊

[@mitzibradley4804]

I always enjoy your recipes. Thank you for your get ideas.

[@euncieives5738]

Oh I enjoyed this! Please do more!

[@adrienneb.4710]

Hmmm, might try the buschetta with spaghetti squash. I have that mixed with pesto pretty often.

[@janallen541]

Love this….more videos like this! Would love to see more

[@SeeMindyMom]

More to come!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

My Walmart sales John Soules Foods: prepared meats... most options are chicken, but they have a steak fajitas and a steak strips option.

[@LyndaMcMahan]

Great ideas. Enjoyed this one bc I will use a recipe or two.

[@yvonneyeoman2773]

This is So helpful, thank you. Would love to see more.

[@Terri-o5q]

1. Do you have a link to those containers? 2. Please make more lunch prep videos!

[@hberrysc3517]

Love this video! Would love more lunch/meal prep/freezer prep vids.

[@Gitanarosa]

I find doing easy and simple meals can be delicious and inexpensive. I am grossed out of other people making my food, which has helped me not buy so much. These are so great!

[@Mamamommommy]

Another Mindy video?! Um YAY!

[@Mamamommommy]

But seriously, I'm sure it's been a lot of work to make this many videos this week. Appreciate you sharing your life, recipes, and joy!

[@SeeMindyMom]

I do a lot of batch filming to give me breaks between videos. :)

[@chrisdouglas5269]

Love the lunch ideas! Thank you!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad you like them!

[@janetdwyer1867]

Love the meal prep.that first recipe I am definitely going to make that one❤

[@SeeMindyMom]

Glad I could give an idea.

[@jacqui-xh2er]

The couscous sounds really good. I'm tempted to replace the corn and chicken with the chickpeas, red peppers, red onion, and black olives.

[@heyitsrowena]

I love this, I am always looking for new lunch ideas to bring to work!

[@asnunez]

Thank You so much for correctly pronouncing “Bruschetta”! ❤

[@cathyfeigert5660]

Mindy, these look so delicious! Thank you for sharing these, I love the variety!

[@SeeMindyMom]

Thank you! I was pleased with how these turned out! :)

[@christineborn1167]

Pkease do more lunch prep videos. I would like to make these for my husband.

[@nicoletierheimer3546]

Thanks for this. I teach all day except for a 35 minute lunch and would love to make some of these 😊

[@ourfamilyvideos7283]

YES🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 more please thank you

[@nightowl8548]

This was a great video. It's nice to have nee ideas!

[@Medina323]

I love it! So yummy! My favorites the first 2! Looking forward to making them. The others I wasn’t really able to finish the video. I’m sure the are delicious as well