When it comes to family’s health, it is definitely a top priority for everyone. Research has proven over time that homemade food is the best thing we can feed to our little ones to nurture their minds and bodies.  In my previous blogs, I talked about some tips on working smart and not hard.The biggest part of this strategy is make-ahead meal prep. 

Let’s explore smart freezer meal prep tips for busy moms to save time, reduce stress, and keep your family eating healthy. Below are some freezer meal tips for busy moms-

1. Before You Start Freezer Meal Prep: What You Need to Know
   • Meal Plan – Plan the meals that either can be doubled or part of the prep can be used in multiple dishes. E.g. gravies, grilled/pulled chicken.
   • Freezer-friendly recipes- Not every dish freezes well and for long. Make sure you do research before freezing a dish to make sure it reheats and preserves the taste and structure.
   • Containers – Not all containers are freezer proof, you want to make sure the containers are freezer safe. Double bonus if the same container can be used to reheat/bake or serve to save you some extra dishes. 
   • Labels– Labels are the most essential element of frozen meals. You want to know the date it was frozen to make sure to use it at the right time. You also could label the days you want to use it, to make it easier for weekdays for you and your family. Labels also help to reduce waste because who wants to throw away their hard work.Not all labels are freezer safe, make sure you have the right ones.
2. Freezer Meal Storage Tips for Busy Families
   • Have a list of meals that you can freeze safely. Some examples are – Baked ziti/pasta, gravies, most of the slow cooker recipes like chili, stir-fry kits.
   • If planning to use it on multiple days, store in individual batches, so you only take out what’s needed for the day.
   • Use bins to organize your freezer. Freeze melas by type (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
   • Follow the first in first out rule and keep this in mind when labeling and storing.
   • Label with date, meal type, heating instructions.
   • Store flat to save space and safety of the food.
   • Make sure to cool the meals before freezing to prevent ice crystals.
   • Make sure to store it at the right freezing temperature.
3. Ready to eat-
   • Remember some foods are better if thawed, so plan a day ahead.
   • Do your research on the proper reheating process for each recipe.

Try this for a few weeks and you will see not only everyone in your family will love you for home made meals and you will also love that your family is enjoying good nurturing food.