Peapod was here bright and early dropping our weekly groceries which included all things for meal prep. As I got everything out and started cooking my bacon, boiling my eggs, and getting my lettuce ready, I noticed the lettuce was looking a little sad. I have NEVER got bad produce before from Peapod. Typically their produce is much fresher than at the store. Anyways, I started chopping and realized this lettuce was already browning and appeared to have bugs eating at it. So in the trash it went! Now we have new snack boxes this week! Which is okay because they have healthier choices in them.

What's in the box?:

• Carrots
  
• Celery
• Ranch Dressing
  
• Grapes or Apple Slices
  
• Hard boiled eggs
  

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Quick and easy!

I typically do a snack box each week. I love this idea because not only does it help my husband and I make healthier eating decisions, but it fills us up and eliminates crazy grocery bill's for junk food! 

My other snack boxes typically contain meats & cheeses along with a fruit.

As a first time mom 2 years ago, cooking dinner was the last thing on my mind. We ordered out a lot and sometimes had cereal for dinner. The first week or so family members and friends made us some meals. It was very nice and extremely helpful! This time around I knew things had to be different. 

About 3 months ago I took a whole day and made about 10 crock-pot meals and put them in the freezer. I would pull them out as needed and it was super helpful with my husband and I's busy work schedules. 

I was pretty impressed with myself! I took a whole day and had my 22 month old son home with me while accomplishing 20 freezer meals for once the baby arrives. I am obsessed with PeaPod. If you are not familiar, it is through Giant and is a service where you can order your groceries online, select a date and time, and have your groceries delivered! That is how I got all of these ingredients to my house!

I wrote instructions on everything so either myself or my husband can prepare dinner. By preparing I mean placing in the crock pot or in the oven. How simple is that!

Beef Enchiladas:
Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 jar of Chi-Chi's Queso
• 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. Brown beef in pan over medium heat
2. Once beef is brown add all other remaining ingredients and stir
3. Remove from heat once all is melted/ incorporated
4. Place in a casserole pan and let cool
5. Once cooled add lid and place in freezer
6. When ready to serve, let dish thaw in the fridge, wrap meat in flour tortillas, place in crock-pot & add shredded cheddar to the top, cook on low for 2 hours

Chicken & Dumplings:
Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• salt & pepper
• 2 cans cream of chicken
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 can water
• biscuit dough

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a gallon bag EXCEPT the biscuit dough.
2. Place in freezer
3. When ready to eat, thaw in fridge overnight, place in crock-pot for 6 hours on low, shred chicken, add small pieces of biscuit dough and cook for 30 more minutes.

Pot Roast w/Veggies:
Ingredients:

• Baby carrots
• Potatoes
• 1 packet McCormick pot roast seasoning
• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 1 cup water
• salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients EXCEPT the water in a gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to serve thaw in fridge overnight, Place in crock-pot and add water, cook on low for 6-8 hours

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham: (This made 2 meals)
Ingredients:

• 12 potatoes cut into round slices
• 2 cans cream of potato
• 2 cans water
• 2 ham steaks
• 8 oz shredded cheddar
• salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place in crock-pot for 8 hours on low

Swedish Meatballs:
Ingredients:

• Frozen meatballs ( or you can make your own)
• 1 can cream of mushroom
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• salt & pepper
• 1 cup sour cream

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to serve. thaw in fridge overnight, place in crock pot for 4 to 6 hours on low, add sour cream 30 mins prior to serving
4. Serve over egg noodles

Sweet and Sour Meatballs: (this made 2 meals)
Ingredients:

• Frozen meatballs
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
• 2 TBSP soy sauce
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 garlic powder
• salt & pepper

Directions:

1. ​Place all ingredients in gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to sever, thaw in fridge overnight, place in crock-pot on low for 4 to 6 hours.
4. Serve with rice or egg noddles

Potato Soup:
Ingredients:

• 1 bag diced hash browns ( I used real potatoes cut up this time just because I forgot to grab these at the store)
• 32 oz chicken broth
• 1 can cream of chicken
• Bacon
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Cook your bacon
2. Place all ingredients EXCEPT cream cheese & cheddar in a gallon bag
3. Freeze
4. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place in crock-pot on low for 4 to 6 hours, add cream cheese and cheddar 30 mins before ready to eat

Chicken Soup:
Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 TBSP chicken bouillon
• 2 chicken breasts
• carrots
• celery
• onion
• fettuccine noodles

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients EXCEPT water and noodles in a gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place in a pot on the stove, add water and noodles, boil until chicken is cooked, shred chicken, boil until noodles and soft

White Chicken Chili:
Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken 
• 1 onion
• 3 TBSP minced garlic
• 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 15 oz Northern beans
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 can cream of chicken
• 1 cup sour cream
• Shredded Monterrey jack cheese

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients EXCEPT sour cream and cheese in a gallon bag
2. Freeze
3. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place in crockpot on low for 6 to 8 hours, add sour cream and cheese 30 mins before serving
4. Serve with bread

Beef BBQ:
Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can of sloppy Joe mix

Directions:

1. Brown burger on stove
2. Add sloppy Joe mix
3. Place into foil pan and let cool
4. Once cooled secure lid
5. Freeze
6. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, Heat meat in microwave
7. Serve on burger buns

Bacon Chicken Alfredo Pasta:
Ingredients:

• Bacon
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 box of penne pasta
• 1 jar of Alfredo sauce

Directions:

1. Cook chicken and shred
2. Cook bacon
3. Cook noodles
4. Combine all ingredients and place in a foil pan
5. Let cool
6. Freeze
7. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place foil pan in oven 350 degrees for 40 mins

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas:
Ingredients:

• 3 chicken breast
• 10 oz red enchiladas sauce
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. Cook chicken
2. Shred chicken
3. Combine all ingredients
4. Place in foil pan
5. Freeze
6. When ready to serve, thaw in fridge overnight, place chicken mixture in flour tortillas, roll up, place in casserole dish, top with enchilada sauce & more cheddar
7. Bake 350 degrees for 20 mins

Pancakes:
Ingredients:

• 2 cups bisquick
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp sugar

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together
2. Pour onto skillet, fill when one side is golden brown
3. Let cool
4. Place in freezer bag
5. Freeze
6. Pull out as needed, heat in microwave for 30 seconds or until not frozen

Tuscan Chicken Pasta:
Ingredients:

• chicken
• 1 box of bow tie noodles
• minced garlic
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz jar sun dried tomatoes
• 2 cups milk
• 8 oz Parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper
• 4 TBSP butter

Directions:

1. Cook chicken and chop or shred
2. Melt butter over medium heat, add garlic
3. Add cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and milk
4. Keep stirring until all combined, all sun dried tomatoes
5. Cook pasta according to box
6. Combine chicken, pasta and sauce.
7. Pour into a foil pan and let cool
8. Freeze
9. When ready to serve thaw in fridge over night, Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 40 mins.

Cheesy Baked Ziti:
Ingredients:

• Ziti Pasta
• 1 lb ground beef
• onion
• jar of spaghetti sauce
• 1 cup sour cream
• 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to box
2. Brown ground beef; add onion; once browned add spaghetti sauce
3. In foil pan layer half the pasta, 1 1/2 cup sauce, sour cream, other half of pasta, sauce, mozzarella & Parmesan. Let cool
4. Freeze
5. When ready to serve thaw in fridge over night, bake at 350 degrees for 40 mins

Lasagna Roll ups:
Ingredients:

• Lasagna noodles
• onion
• garlic
• ground beef
• spaghetti sauce
• salt and pepper
• 2 eggs
• 30 oz ricotta
• 8oz parmesan cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package
2. brown ground beef; add onion & garlic; add sauce
3. Combine eggs, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, salt & pepper
4. Assembly: put some sauce mixture on the bottom of foil pan, spread about 3 TBSP of cheese mixture onto lasagna noodle and roll up. Place in foil pan and continue process until one layer is complete. Top with sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan.
5. Freeze
6. When ready to serve thaw in fridge over night, bake covered with foil at 350 degrees for 40 mins

Breakfast sandwiches:
Ingredients:

• 10 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• salt & pepper
• bacon
• sausage
• Velveeta slices
• shredded cheddar
• English muffins

Directions:

1. Combine eggs, milk and salt & pepper.
2. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan
3. Cook bacon
4. Add bacon and sausage to pan. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 mins
6. Once baked start assembling. Open your English muffin, add a slice of cheese and a square of egg. Wrap the sandwich in a damp paper towel, then wrap in wax paper, then store in a plastic baggie.
7. Freeze
8. Put out as needed and place in fridge to thaw. Heat in microwave for 35 seconds.

Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole:
Ingredients:

• 1 box rice a roni
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 can cream of chicken
• salt & pepper
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• chicken ( for this one I used a rotisserie chicken and picked it apart)

Directions:

1. Cook chicken is not using a rotisserie chicken
2. Cook rice according to box
3. Combine sour cream, soup, salt & pepper 
4. Combine chicken and rice with sour cream mixture. Add 1 cup shredded cheddar
5. Place in a foil pan and top with remaining shredded cheddar
6. Freeze
7. When ready to serve thaw in fridge over night, Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 40 mins

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Not all meals are pictured!

I knew the day was coming. It had been about 2 months that I have been doing a meal prep every sunday for our lunches during the week. We have been having salad every day for 2 months for lunch. I have switched up the salads every week. I can honestly live off salad. I really do love salad! I knew it was coming and today he finally said it. Husband: "I'm over salad, I am not a rabbit, Can we please have something else for lunches". I can't believe he made it 2 months! 

I started making these snack boxes as well. They have been a huge hit and very convient! Literally if the food is not already in baggies and all together in one box and all you have to do is grab and go, It wont get eaten. I am guilty of this as well sometimes due to lack of time in the mornings. 

Well as I opened the cabinet today I found alot of great things I could used and create3 an Adult Lunchable! I ran to the store for the fresh items and came back to assemble this weeks meal prep!

Ingredients:

• Cheese slices
• Pepperoni
• Ritz Crackers
• Mixed nuts
• Grapes
• Slim Jims

I love how you can change the items in the box even each week. These will probably be our newest lunch edition for the next month or so!

Directions:

• Wash your grapes
• place your cold cuts in the container
• place other items in snack baggies

While I love my snack boxes/ Adult lunchables, I would really like to find something other than baggies to hold some of the items. I tried dressing cups but they do not hold alot. Suggestions would be great! =]

If you have been following my meal prep you have realized lunch almost always consists of a salad. Under categories you can find our 3 favorite salads that we have been having for lunches. Switching up our salads help us not get bored with eating so many salads. If the salad is not prepped though and in its special containers and all the extra add ins right there, no one will eat salad in my house. This week is taco salad!

Ingredients:

• ground beef
• rice
• sour cream
• lettuce
• shredded cheddar
• fritos
• salsa (optional)
• taco seasoning

Directions:

• Brown burger on the stove; once browned add in taco seasoning & 2/3 cup water
• Make rice according to package
• Chop lettuce and place in containers
• Add shredded cheddar to lettuce and place a paper towel on top
• Once meat & rice is cooled place in dressing containers
• Place sour cream in a dressing container
• Put fritos in a snack baggie

I am so giddy to share these snack boxes with you guys! I am all about convenience! I am all about being prepared. And lastly if it's not in front of my husbands face, well then it doesn't exist. So what did I do, I created a snack box! All we do is grab the box and throw it in our lunch. Also these are great for me while being pregnant. We are an on the go family. Now I just grab a box and head out the door and can eat in the car! I love that these are not filled with junk food and my kiddo can share with me!

Ingredients:
Cheese slices
Pepperoni slices
Grapes
Almonds

Directions:

• Wash your grapes
• Place a handful of grapes in a snack baggie
• Place a small handful of almonds in a snack baggie
• Place cheese and pepperoni in your container
• Add your snack baggies to container
  
• Place in fridge

These did not take long at all the whip up! Also I love how nutritious they are and how they actually fill you up!