Produce prep is one way I make sure my family eats a variety of fruits and vegetables each week. One hour of washing and chopping produce each week helps with meals and snacks!
When it comes to healthy eating, produce prep has by far been the biggest step in ensuring my family and I are getting a few servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Notice I didn’t say we are getting 5 or 6 servings of fruits and veggies. Guys, as much as I try, that’s not the reality of our daily meal plan. But I’m trying and keeping my eyes on that prize. Goldfish and animal crackers just seem to get in the way!
So here’s a snapshot of my weekly produce prep, with examples to share how I cut and prep various produce items for snacks and/or meals. While many prep whole recipes [i.e. 10-minute tomato sauce or shredded chicken], when I’m short on time I always make sure I have prepped some fruits and veggies to get a jump-start on our week. Or on meals.
I love cooking, and it’s often the most relaxing part of my day. But if I can skip a few steps for skillet orecchiette with sausage and broccoli by prepping the broccoli ahead of time, well then I’m golden!
Note: When you see washed, chopped, or steamed veggies, I won’t mention it. I’m guessing you know what chopped broccoli looks like! But if there’s a recipe in a photo or trick or tip to produce preppin’ it, I’ll be sure to let you know!
12 Weeks of Produce Prep:
Week 1: Paprika roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and onions for burgers and hot dog toppers.
Week 2: Lots of green veg! This week was focused on snacking and a simple side of asparagus.
Week 3: This week must have been summer. Look at the fresh berries!
Week 4: Cinnamon applesauce muffins + randomly chopped veg + those delicious mushrooms and onions again!
Week 5: Pumpkin banana snack bites + all. that. veg.
Week 6: sheet pan sausage and veggies, slow cooker pork chops, apples, and onions, quinoa, chocolate overnight oats, and a few more veggies!
Week 7: Overnight oats [again], crispy bacon, mushrooms, and onions [again]— but this time I know I used it for flatbread pizzas, and roasted veggies for soup.
Week 8: Pizza sauce and some mushrooms. Must have been for more flatbread pizzas!
Week 9: Stop judging my love for make-ahead mushrooms, onions, and pizza sauce! Oh, and those sweet potatoes were pre-baked for taco stuffed sweet potatoes.
Week 10: Chicken tortilla soup! Wuhhht wuhht!
Week 11: Simply fresh fruit and veggies washed and prepped and stored!
Week 12: Same as week 11. Except this week was a little more colorful.
If you follow me on Instagram then you’ll notice these are a few recent pictures of produce prep. I’m hoping to be more diligent and share more of what I’m prepping each week. Of course, it all depends on my trio and what else they have in store for me on the weekend!
12 weeks of produce prep to help your family eat more fruits and veggies each week! Share on XTell me: What’s one or two foods you prep each week?!
