If you’re a busy person, chances are you understand the convenience of fast food. However, if you want to maintain a healthy body and save money, it’s best to avoid fast food and cook at home. However, most people don’t have the time. Thankfully, meal prepping is the happy medium. Consider these five ways you can effectively meal prep without too much difficulty.

1. Use automated tools. If you love mashed sweet potatoes, wash and dry raw sweet potatoes and wrap them in wax paper. Follow up the wax paper with aluminum foil.

Place the sweet potatoes in a crockpot and allow them to cook on high for four hours. Once they’re done, you can easily mash them up, add your favorite spices and toss the dish in the refrigerator.

Use a rice cooker to make a bunch of rice or quinoa to eat as a side dish. The tools are easy to use and don’t involve any major work on your part.

2. Season and prepare meats and vegetables on the same pans. If you’re a lover of salmon, chicken and beef, season all three and place them in a large pan. Place the pan in the oven and roast them until they’re ready to come out.

You can do the same with vegetables. Add brussel sprouts, broccoli and carrots in the same pan and roast them as well.

3. Purchase pre-made meals. If there are certain dishes that take a lot of time and you don’t have the energy, consider using the services of a catering company or a chef. You can also purchase different pre-made dishes like casseroles and heat them up in the oven.

4. Place meals in freezer-friendly Ziploc bags. Smoothies are a major hit in the morning. In small Ziploc bags, stuff all of the ingredients in – spinach, bananas, strawberries and Chia seeds – and throw the bags in the freezer.

When you’re ready for your shake, pull the bag out of the freezer and throw the ingredients into a blender along with your choice of liquid.

5. Stock up on ready-made ingredients. Fill up your plate with easy, fresh foods like nectarines, spinach and avocados. Fresh ingredients don’t take any time to prepare and most of them are quite healthy.

Great food presented and prepared with care is our philosophy for producing fabulous events ranging from white tablecloth cuisine to beachside clambakes and boardroom lunches. Our menus are here to guide and inspire you, while making the process of planning your event an enjoyable and seamless one.