Family Meal Prep Made Easy—Even When Life Gets Crazy 😜

Let’s be real. Cooking for a family of five isn’t quiet, organized, or particularly clean. But it can be fun, nourishing, and even (kind of) efficient—if you embrace the chaos. This past weekend, I decided—last minute, naturally—to knock out three days’ worth of meals in one go.

Step 1: Quick Grocery Run, Big Picture Thinking

I ran to Whole Foods with my youngest and decided on the spot to get:

• Dinner for that night

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next day

• And breakfast and lunch for the third day

Tip: Think in “meal pairs.” One protein can stretch across two meals (e.g., roast chicken for dinner, chicken salad for lunch). Bonus points if it works for both grown-ups and picky little eaters.

Step 2: Tag-Team Dinner (a.k.a. Chaos in Motion)

Nick and I tackled dinner “combo style.” He handled the steak while I worked on veggies. We didn’t exactly plan it—but hey, Asian marinades and garlic always pull things together.

Tip: When cooking with a partner, split up based on heat sources. One on the stove, one on the oven or Instant Pot = less crowding, fewer elbows bumped.

Step 3: Congee for Breakfast, the Lazy Mom’s Hero

I prepped our favorite breakfast congee in the Instant Pot using:

• Black rice, sticky rice, and whole grain rice

• Dates (let the kids rip and pit them—it’s actually fun!)

• Goji berries, and normally beans, though I forgot those this time

Tip: Congee is forgiving. Toss in leftover grains or whatever dried fruit and seeds you’ve got. Add water at night, set the timer, and it’s ready when you wake up.

Step 4: Sweet Treats After Bedtime (Just for Us!)

After the kids went down, I snuck into the kitchen to make our favorite no-bake dessert:

• Dates

• PB Fit (or peanut butter)

• Melted dark chocolate

• Chopped cashews

I layer it bark-style and freeze it. Think Snickers meets pantry clean-out.

Tip: Want it crunchier? Use peanuts. Want it fancier? Add flaky salt. Want it hidden? Make it quietly. 😂

Step 5: Sourdough and Learning as I Go

I fed my sourdough starter to prep a loaf for our chicken salad lunch the next day. My loaves are still a bit dense, but I’m figuring it out.

Tip: If your starter smells strong but still rises, you’re probably okay. And don’t toss all the discard—try pancakes or crackers!

Check out the full recipe and step-by-step on YouTube!

Step 6: Chicken Salad, My Way

Using leftover cooked chicken, I made a simple chicken salad with:

• Organic mayo and mustard

• Cornichons (or pickles—use what you have)

• Red onions and celery

Optional add-ins: Grapes, apples, walnuts, herbs—whatever makes it feel fancy to you.

Tip: Let the kids mash it up with clean hands—engaging them keeps them interested in actually eating it later.

Step 7: Filipino Fried Rice Finale

To finish off our meal prep marathon, I made bacon garlic fried rice (Filipino-style, of course) with broccoli thrown in.

Tip: Save leftover rice from dinner and refrigerate it—cold rice makes the best fried rice. Add whatever veggies are about to go bad.

If you take anything away from this, let it be this: meal prep doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. It’s not about looking Pinterest-worthy—it's about feeding your people and having fun along the way.

So go ahead—cook with a kid on your hip, forget the beans, eyeball the marinade. If the rice is fluffy and the bellies are full, you’ve won.

Watch the full vlog and come hang out with us in the kitchen—onions, Instant Pots, sourdough fails, and all.

Related blogs:

8 Positive Things About Having 3 Kids Under 4 ✨

Scrunchy Mom Snacks: Keeping It Real and Healthy!

My Parenting Philosophy: Defining “crunchy” vs “silky”

Fun Activities to Stay Active with Toddlers (to Benefit Both of You!)