For all the people griping about eating the same thing for a week - couple things. This is how I have managed to keep our food costs low throughout the pandemic. If you make a double batch of ingredients of the same thing, it is using less different products and produces a lot less waste. By doing this, my food bill has actually gone down. I don't have to worry about cooking again all week. We've been using far less electric only cooking once a week. My bill went from over $100 and now is $55 to $65 a month on average. Switching out meals the next week to something totally different adds the variety. If people in third world countries can eat rice and beans for every meal, I think I can eat the same two meals daily for a week, knowing it will be switched up the next week. I'm not starving and well fed.
Thank you so much for the comment and also sharing your perspective. I love hearing how you've found what works for you! I think a lot of people don't realize how often they eat the same meals week after week. Haha!!
@@autumnhardie8625 absolutely!! It matters to me that this is a space where different opinions are always respected. And I really do appreciate folks sharing other strategies because it could easily help someone reading through 🥰
Meat is only good for 3-4 days...so you cook Sunday for all week but by Thursday, Thursday and Friday are no longer good. Sounds like a waste to me. You can meal prep very affordable without eating the same the, every meal.
@@froggy0165 I leave 3 or 4 days out and put the rest in the freezer for the rest of the week and then just pull it the day before. I've not had any issues with food going bad.
Welcome to my channel! And thank you so much!! My husband is Congolese and I love trying foods from different cultures! We just ate at a fabulous Nigerian restaurant recently- Radio Kwara in Brooklyn!
@lovelybylisa I absolutely love your channel!!! You inspire all of us to continue to meal prep and ur food ideas are always flavourful and creative..Food prep can get very bland and monotonous. Blessings to you and your family ❤️. I'm African Canadian 🌺.
@@Chatelaine0 Thank you so much!! 🥰🥹 I sincerely appreciate it!! It brings me so much joy to share my meal prep process, proving that meal prep doesn't have to be boring or bland! The more diverse flavors, the better! 🤩 If we eat what we love, we're more likely to stick with it! I'm so happy to have you here! Thank you!! 🤗
Thanks so much for the comment and question! 🤗 Happy to share the link to the containers- they’re the best! Meal Prep Containers- two compartment amzn.to/3qKiCde
Thanks so much for the comment and question! Happy to share the link to the containers- they’re the best! Meal Prep Containers- two compartment amzn.to/3qKiCde
Hello! I really want to start making preps, but I have a problem with food in my fridge quickly spoiling or “sweating” in containers. How do you deal with this?
Hello! Thank you so much for the comment and your questions! Safe food storage to mitigate bacterial growth and food spoilage is multifaceted ~ the length of time the food sits out to cool after cooking, the storage temperature of the food and the water content of the food itself. Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. The USDA had a giant chart on their website and the general recommendation is below 40° F for refrigerated foods. I like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36° F, and I don't recommend refrigerating meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp, after that I recommend freezing! I usually prep 5 days at a time. I store days 1-3 in the fridge (I keep my fridge set to 34-36° F) and days 4-5 in the freezer (I keep my freezer at -2°F). Adding a link here for additional food storage tips and I hope this helps! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
Hello! Thank you for the kind comment! I use a freezer to maintain the freshness of the food for a week. 🤗 Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. The USDA had a giant chart on their website and the general recommendation is below 40° F for refrigerated foods. I like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36° F, and I don't recommend refrigerating meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp, after that I recommend freezing! I usually prep 5 days at a time. I store days 1-3 in the fridge (I keep my fridge set to 34-36° F) and days 4-5 in the freezer (I keep my freezer at -2°F). Adding a link here for additional food storage tips! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
Thank you so much for your comment and question! 🤗 I’m excited to hear you’re ready for a new level of meal prep 🙌 It really is a game changer for me! I usually prep 5 days at a time. I store days 1-3 in the fridge (I keep my fridge set to 34-36° F) and days 4-5 in the freezer (I keep my freezer at -2°F). Safe food storage to mitigate bacterial growth is multifaceted ~ the length of time the food sits out to cool after cooking, the storage temperature of the food and the water content of the food itself. Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. The USDA has a giant chart on their website and the general recommendation is below 40° F for refrigerated foods. I like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36° F, and I don't recommend refrigerating meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp, after that I recommend freezing! Adding a link here for additional food storage tips! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
@lovelybylisa wow such great info and advice thank you!! What do you store your meal prep in, in the freezer? I assume not the glass storage bowls used in the video. I always wonder if zip lock bags are a good choice or is there a better option? Also, do you microwave the dinners after you pull them out of the fridge in the glass bowls, or do you oven reheat?
@@backtoeden92 absolutely! Happy to help! I switched to glass containers ~5 years ago and these ones go into the freezer, microwave, oven, dishwasher so they really simplified things for me. 😅 I think Ziplocks could work well but I personally preferred something more sustainable/for the long term 😊
@@lovelybylisa I guess I never realized glass can go on the freezer.Silly me thank you so much.I appreciate this so much. I think I will invest in those.
If you don't want to microwave the yogurt, don't spread it. It's one tablespoonful. Pick it up in a spoon. Microwave meal, then re-dollop your oatmeal. 😊
Thank you! 💖And yeah, I'm really unfazed by it now. It makes the rest of my week so much easier, I can't imagine cooking any other way now. No more decision fatigue for me lol😂
@@lovelybylisa Lol I thought about it some more and if it was 3 of my all time favorite meals, I could do it 7 days 😻 I totally get the decision fatigue though 😭 especially when my kids are soooo picky and mostly don’t like the same things, some nights I end up making 3 different meals 😳 I know, it’s insane lol 😂
@@AshErin8304 haha I totally understand what you mean about eating your favorite meal on repeat 😂 that is why I change the flavors so much from week to week!! 😆 and omg 3 meals in one night? You sound like a very kind mom 🥰
Thank you so much for your comment and question! Safe food storage to mitigate bacterial growth is multifaceted ~ the length of time the food sits out to cool after cooking, the storage temperature of the food and the water content of the food itself. Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. The USDA has a giant chart on their website and the general recommendation is below 40° F for refrigerated foods and no longer than 3 days in the refrigerator... I like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36° F, and I don't recommend refrigerating meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp, after that I recommend freezing! Adding a link here for additional food storage tips! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
Thanks so much for the comment! Yes, freezer, oven, dishwasher, microwave ! 💯 Meal Prep Containers- one compartment amzn.to/3SUXv1J Meal Prep Containers- two compartment amzn.to/3qKiCde
Haha I completely understand this isn't for everyone. 😅I've realized removing the mental burden and daily decisions of choosing what to eat, cooking, cleaning, etc has freed so much space for me to focus on the other things that matter to me and I save a ton of money cooking this way. Food is really personal and you have to like what you make! Also, thanks for your comment and compliment, I sincerely appreciate it! 🥰
@@lovelybylisa Hey, I totally get why you do it. But I'm a single guy with no kids. I'm only 35 and I like my variety. Now breakfast, I could totally be okay with because usually it's about the same anyways, and with being a welder I'm usually too hot to eat lunch. It's spent in the car with the AC on lol. But I love trying new stuff for dinner. Whether I make it at home or I go to some new spot in town, I gotta have my choices. But hey, if it works for you? Get it!
@@KhaozVoidI completely understand that, too! I just love all the time it frees up! Maybe you could try having some breakfasts prepared to see if you like it, OR if it drives you crazy 😂😜
Hi ! Thank you for your comment and question! Linking here ~ I've had great luck with them. They go in the oven, freezer and dishwasher, too! Meal Prep Containers- one compartment amzn.to/3SUXv1J Meal Prep Containers- two compartment amzn.to/3qKiCde
Wish I knew how to meal prep like this, I bearly know how to cook, all I make is fish and chicken, I’m trying to learn how to cook rice now and other stuff but it’s hard and tiring tbh
Thanks so much for your comment and I know learning all of this can feel overwhelming AND tiring. 🥰I'm excited that you are learning how to cook so you can make anything you want for yourself. It can be very, very tiring to cook then cleanup and I often feel the same way. What I've found is that it's always worth it when I eat a meal I made for myself. Either I love the meal or I learn something (which sometimes is learning what NOT to do haha). Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help !! 💕
Thanks so much for the comment! In my life right now my family includes only myself and my husband. Half of the meals I feature are his and half are mine! 💕
No she prepared 10 of each meal. So that was 30 meals. Clearly for her and her husband for 5 days of the week, 3 meals a day, and the other 2 days they can go out to eat or whatever they want
Thank you so much for your comment and question! Safe food storage to protect against bacteria has several components ~the temperature food is stored at and the water content of the food itself. The USA FDA recommendation is below 40* F. I personally like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36* F, and I don't recommend storing meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp. Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. Adding a link here for food storage tips, too! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
😅 they were definitely an investment, but I’ve had them for almost 5 years now! The price has gone up since I purchased them last. I wish I had a discount code to share 🥲
@@lovelybylisa no worries! Thank you for responding! They definitely are good quality, I just got mine but I love them. It’s definitely more worth it to invest in better quality then to be breaking containers all the time for sure
@@Vannazzzz of course! I always reply! 🫶 I’m glad you like them but I definitely wish they weren’t so expensive!😅 and yes, you’re so right- these will last vs buying more of a lower quality/lower price product to just replace them all the time. I looove that they can go directly into the oven, too! 🤩
Hi, so you cook this and eat The same Leftovers for five days????? Orbis this just for 2 to 3 days? I thought omce you cook food you supposed to consume in ,two days...idk!
Thank you so much for your comment and question! I usually prep 5 days at a time. I store days 1-3 in the fridge (I keep my fridge set to 34-36° F) and days 4-5 in the freezer (I keep my freezer at -2°F). And yes, I eat the same thing for a week and drastically change it the next week! Safe food storage to mitigate bacterial growth is multifaceted ~ the length of time the food sits out to cool after cooking, the storage temperature of the food and the water content of the food itself. Freezing prepared food gives it a longer life and mitigates the risk of spoiling/bacteria. The USDA had a giant chart on their website and the general recommendation is below 40° F for refrigerated foods. I like to keep my refrigerator colder, and I have it set to 34-36° F, and I don't recommend refrigerating meal prep for more than 4 days at that temp, after that I recommend freezing! Adding a link here for additional food storage tips! www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/are-you-storing-food-safely
Thanks for the comment and question! I have a Master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition and a major focus of mine is Nutritional Epidemiology. HFCS is essentially the same as table sugar in metabolic effect and safe to consume in moderation. It’s not something I regularly consume and can be part of a balanced dietary intake.
@@lovelybylisa It’s interesting though that before high fructose corn syrup was introduced there wasn’t NAFLD. I’m a retired registered nurse and have been studying what’s in the food we eat for a few years now. I try to eat organic as much as possible and at least non gmo if organic isn’t available. Your meals do look delicious by the way.
@@johnniepaffe6027 Thanks for commenting back! This is a topic I could talk about all day!! Yes, NAFLD is more prevalent now that ever before, but eating an excess of HFCS is only one potential culprit. The way our food and healthcare systems are setup in the US don't do us any favors, either! As a retired nurse, you know more than I do how much the healthcare system in the US is broken. Similar things could be said about our food system, AND the greatest impact on our individual health/wellbeing will always be SDOH. Why is it that buying produce is more expensive that buying UPF, right? 😞 I always try to strike a balance. Day to day, I'm able to eat and food whatever I like, whatever the price point, which is an incredible privilege. I try to not demonize one specific food or ingredient overall, it's so much more complex than that!!
@@lovelybylisa Sadly, I don’t trust the FDA to determine what’s safe to eat. I’ll do my own research. And it’s also sad that buying pesticide free and non GMO foods is not affordable for most families. Thank you for your responses. Continued success with your channel. ❤️
@@johnniepaffe6027 Definitely understand that! I'm sure you would love Marion Nestle's work alongside Dr. Niyati Parekh's research, both professors from my program. Another great person would be Jennifer Pomeranz. 🫶 They're all distilling the complexities with corporations and our food systems!
Hi! Thanks for the comment! It sounds like you’re under the impression that both sugar and corn syrup aren’t ideal. On my channel, I try to avoid dichotomous thinking around food and food choices! 👍This sauce was on sale, and that’s what worked for my family this week!
@lovelybylisa sadly, I bought them 2 for 1 and ofcourse love the taste but sugar is addictive for me, causes great inflammation pain and obesity with liver disease, so it's a big no for me. What about bananas and a little raw honey instead?
@@allesasmart thank you so much for sharing! There’s a lot of controversy around sugar and it’s “addictive properties”. It’s empirically understood that sugar shouldn’t be a main source of fuel for us, but establishing a healthy relationship + boundaries around sugar is also really important to live in our modern world! Sugar is also in a banana and honey !! I have a masters degree in public health nutrition so it’s also not lost on me how complex of a topic this is.
@lovelybylisa I agree honey and bannanas are sugar, and I feel there are worse to not as 'worse' sugars...but in my case moderation doesn't work. The addiction kicks in even with smell. It takes 100% constant focus and diligence to eat in a healthy way for me, society and 'fraud foods' make it nearly impossible. The only positive side tomy sugar addiction is it makes me more compassionate to actual addicts.
@@allesasmart I am really sorry to hear this is an ongoing struggle for you. 💗What you're describing is beyond my scope of practice, but I would be happy to provide any recommendations/ resources who might be able to help. Everyone deserves to have a healthy relationship with all foods. 💕
Hey! Thanks for the comment! Im always surprised but I think the end of the week days are the best 😂 you could also store in the freezer and take out the night before…that would slow down the “mushy” a bit 😄
@@kayl.2877 Hi! Thank you so much for the comment!! It’s true, I think sometimes people just like to share what works for them. People comment all the time and say “I could never, why do you do this?” Haha I just brush it off. This is what works for me 😂 made my life a million times easier ! 😆
@@DjSselim thanks for the comment. You never know when someone wants to be a parent but is having a hard time making that a reality. Please remember this before you comment things like this!
@@lovelybylisa Hi, thanks for the reply, I was just surprised at the number of hidden sugars when I looked at the ingredients on the sauces. There are over 30 different names for sugar (depending on the concentration) - I only know this as im trying to cut out all processed food.... fyi home made pasta sauce is so much quicker to make than i thought. I love the energy in your videos tho :)
@@lucymurphy510 hi Lucy! 😊Thanks so much for elaborating! I understand now, the BBQ sauce does have sugar. I have a masters degree in public health nutrition (nutrition related disease in populations) and cook a lot of things from scratch but sometimes the processed sauce makes the most sense for me! I make a red sauce for pasta too, I’m partly Italian and enjoy cooking from scratch when I can. Ultimately I try to not think about food dichotomously, good/bad because it’s different for everyone 🥰
