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How to Make Meal Prep a Breeze

Updated: Feb 25, 2020


Here’s how to make all of this in 90 minutes or less:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Spray two baking sheets with nonstick spray.

2. Cut 1 head of cauliflower into florets (about 3 cups). Toss in a bowl with 2 tsp. olive oil to coat. Cut the spaghetti squash in half, rub the flesh of each half with 1 tsp. olive oil. Cut 1 red pepper in half and remove the seeds; set the other half aside.

3. Place cauliflower florets and 1 red pepper half on a baking sheet. Place the spaghetti squash (cut-side up) and 1 cup cherry tomatoes on another baking sheet. Spray red pepper and tomatoes lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Season vegetables on both baking sheets with salt and pepper. Place both sheets in the oven and let them roast.

4. After 15 minutes, remove the baking sheets. Remove the tomatoes from one and the bell pepper from the other. Set the tomatoes and bell pepper aside to cool. Stir the cauliflower and return cauliflower and spaghetti squash to oven. Cook until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15-25 minutes. Remove baking sheets from oven and place on a rack to cool. Leave oven on.

5. While the vegetables are roasting, cook 1 cup dry quinoa with 2 cups water on the stovetop or in a rice cooker. When cooked, set aside.

6. Finely chop 3 garlic cloves. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add 2 tsp. olive oil and the chopped garlic; cook, stirring constantly for one minute. Add 20 oz. ground turkey, using a wooden spoon or spatula to break into smaller pieces. Cook the turkey until it is no longer pink, approximately 6 minutes. Season with 2 tsp. oregano, and add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

7. Drain the three cans of tuna and place the tuna into a medium bowl. Drain and rinse the white beans. Add the beans to the medium bowl. To make the chimichurri sauce, add 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar, as much cilantro as you want, and crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper to taste. Fill three food containers with 1 cup arugula. Top arugula with tuna mixture, dividing evenly between the containers. Seal containers and place in refrigerator.

8. Fill two food containers with 1 cup spinach. Top each portion of spinach with 3 oz. sliced turkey breast, ½ cup lentils, ¼ chopped raw bell pepper, and 2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds. (Drizzle with good balsamic vinegar just before serving.) Seal containers and place in fridge.

9. Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with nonstick spray; set aside. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add four cups spinach and cook until just wilted, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. In a large bowl, combine spinach, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 2½ cups cooked quinoa, 8 eggs, ¾ cup cottage cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Pour quinoa mixture into baking dish, bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool, then cover with foil and place in fridge.

10. Using a spoon, scrape out the flesh of the spaghetti squash. Divide squash between three food containers, adding about ¾ cup to each. Top each portion of squash with ¾ cup cooked ground turkey mixture, basil, and ⅓ of the roasted tomatoes. Seal containers and place in fridge.

11. Chop the roasted bell pepper. Season remaining cooked ground turkey mixture with 1 tsp. cumin and 1 tsp. chili powder. Add the bell pepper and as much cilantro as you want. Divide mixture evenly between two food containers. Add 1 cup roasted cauliflower to each container. Seal containers and place in fridge.

12. Prepare three small containers with ¼ cup hummus and 2 large lettuce leaves. Count out 2 servings each of 20 pistachios.

13. Sit back and celebrate the fact that you’ve prepped all your food for the week in just 90 minutes or less!

Grocery List

Vegetables: 2 cups cherry tomatoes 6 cups spinach 1 medium red bell pepper 1 head romaine or butter lettuce 3 cups arugula 1 bunch cilantro 1 bunch fresh basil 1 head garlic 1 spaghetti squash (about 2–3 lbs.) 1 small head cauliflower or 1 bag cauliflower florets

Fruits: 3 small apples 2 medium oranges 1 bag frozen strawberries 1 bag frozen peaches

Bulk: 1 cup quinoa 40 pistachios 4 Tbsp. sunflower seeds

Dry and Canned Goods: 1 jar all-natural nut butter 1 can white beans 1 can cooked lentils

Proteins: 6 oz. lowfat cottage cheese (or ricotta) 8 eggs 6 oz. nitrate-free, low sodium deli sliced turkey 3 cans light tuna, packed in water, no salt added 20 oz. ground turkey

Deli: Prepared hummus

Pantry: Dried oregano Crushed red pepper Red wine vinegar (or sherry vinegar) Balsamic vinegar Cumin Chili powder

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