This post has been sponsored by Newell Brands but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make CB&BP possible! Now, go get some of these amazing containers!
I don’t know if it’s a common problem in your home, but we waste a lot of the fresh produce/food we buy. Every week I have great intentions. I meal plan, purchase and then it’s like all that nutritious food gets lost in the dense forest of our refrigerator. Then, because I can’t see what I’ve actually bought (i.e. the healthy stuff), I end up in the pantry grabbing a cookie or something of that nature. It’s a vicious cycle and Aaron and I realized we were not only wasting a ton of money on food that was ending up in the trash, but I was reaching for unhealthy options because of this too. So the other day when Penelope was napping, I was like “this is ridic!” I did a total sweep of our fridge and it’s helped so much that I thought I’d share some meal planning tips for actually eating what you buy which in turn helps us make healthier decisions in a pinch!
Meal Planning Tips:
- Make a list for the week and actually stick to it. I SO often just go bat sh*t crazy and start grabbing all these veggies with good intentions, but I have no plan for them. DON’T. Make a list of snacks and meal ingredients you need for the week and ONLY buy those.
- Clean that fridge out and keep it organized (also get rid of all the junk in your pantry…yes, even the cookies). I went through every single item (even condiments) and threw out what was bad, what we weren’t using, etc. Then, I wiped the entire fridge down to have a fresh start!
- Make sure you can see what you bought! When I was in Target the other day, I saw the new Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver containers and picked up a few different sizes (among one million other things because…well, Target gets me). I LOVE them! They are clear in the front so you can actually see what you have, they are stackable and they help our produce last longer with a CrispTray bottom that keeps your fruits and veggies elevated away from moisture. Seriously though, we had strawberries stay fresh for two weeks! That NEVER happens!
- Meal Prep/Snack Prep. In addition to coming home and using our FreshWorks containers make it so easy to prep ahead for the week, because they keep all your produce fresher, longer!, I cut everything up and pre-washed it before placing it in the containers which means easier access for grabbing things like fresh fruit. It only took me an hour to wash/chop and prep for the week and honestly, once it’s there and convenient, it’s amazing how much more likely you are to reach for those items.
- Use containers that are EASY. As I mentioned above, the FreshWorks containers are clear so you can see what’s inside, but they are also dishwasher safe which means easy clean up once you’ve used everything inside. That’s so important to me. Sure, we still use the produce drawers, but more for the hard skinned items (i.e. lemons, limes, apples, etc.). The containers are perfect for those items that come pre-packaged like berries, lettuce, etc. (and also the items in my opinion that never stay fresh!) because they actually regulate the flow of air in and out of the container. In addition, the built-in lid filter never needs to be replaced and will last a lifetime unlike our drawer crisper.
I know what you’re thinking, “easier said than done,” but I kid you not, these tips have helped us so much and with the FreshWorks containers it makes it so much easier to see/use what you’ve purchased. I swear we’ve been wasting less and eating more of what we buy which is not only great for our waistline, but for our bank account which means more money to spend on other things at Target! ☺(And save even MORE money by redeeming a $2 cash back offer from ibotta!)
If you have additional meal planning tips for prep I’d love to know! I am determined that now is the time to get this baby weight off, swimsuit season is almost upon us!
Lastly, if you’re looking for more meal planning tips and tricks on how to keep produce fresher, longer with FreshWorks Produce Saver containers, head here for some inspiration!
Have a great day and thank you for reading always, always, always!
