Meal planning can be tough, especially planning out healthy meals! Here are some easy tips and tricks to get you started planning healthy, balanced meals without a lot of work!
Thank you to Rubbermaid® for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting brands that make A Kitchen Addiction possible!
Do you ever get frustrated with meal prep? Struggle with how to take a healthy lunch to work? Wonder how to make eating a balanced diet easier? I’m sure all of us have had at least one instance where we could have used a little help in these areas! So, today I’m going to share how we have been making healthy meal prep a bit easier.
Thanks to some help from the Rubbermaid® Balance Meal Kit, meal planning is simple! (Be sure to check out the giveaway below to see how you can win one!) Have you seen these kits before? They basically take all of the guesswork out of preparing a balanced meal!
This kit contains specifically portioned containers that all fit inside a larger compartment. Each container holds the correct serving size to create one balanced meal. No measuring, just fill the container with whatever label it contains!
Since the containers are both freezer safe and microwave safe, you can both plan ahead your meals and freeze them for later, and you can heat them up if you want a warm meal. Oh, and they’re dishwasher safe! The fewer dishes you have to hand wash the better!
We usually eat leftovers for lunches during the week since that’s the easiest to take to work. So, the ability to heat up the meal right in the container works well for us. We can heat up the chicken, rice, and broccoli without having to have a separate microwave-safe dish. And if we want, we can take out the divider and combine the individual portions by mixing them together in the large compartment.
Do you like meals that are more like a snack or don’t have access to a microwave? Make a meal of hummus, veggies, berries, and crackers. Throw the whole container in the fridge at work and then pull it out when you’re ready to eat.
The meal kit also comes with a handy booklet full of recipes, healthy eating tips, meal preparation tips, and more so you can find a routine and foods that fit your needs and tastes!
Does it seem like you never have food on hand when you’re going to pack your lunch for the next day? Here are a couple tips to get you started:
- When you’re making meat for a meal, make a little extra so you have leftovers for the next day. Making taco meat? Save some for the next day. Pack it with a whole wheat tortilla, sliced peppers, and some berries and you have a meal!
- Chopping vegetables for dinner? Chop some extra to take with you for your lunch the next day!
- Washing fruit for a snack? Wash some extra and set them aside for lunch the next day!
- Don’t have whole grains? Keep whole grain crackers on hand for when you don’t have any leftover rice or pasta.
- Have some extra pasta salad/mixed vegetables/fruit leftover? Take it with you for lunch!
- Don’t like leftovers? Look at the lists below to create a balanced meal that fits your tastes!
Below are some options to get you started with coming up with your own ways to pack a well-balanced meal that fits your tastes!
Protein Options
- Chicken
- Tuna
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Yogurt
- String cheese
- Nuts
- Beans
- Hummus
Grain Options
- Whole grain crackers
- Brown rice
- Whole grain pasta
- Quinoa
- Whole wheat tortillas
Vegetable options
- Baby carrots
- Snap peas
- Sliced peppers
- Brocoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Cucumbers
- Corn
Fruit options
- Apple slices
- Berries
- Melon
- Grapes
- Mandarins
- Bananas
- Pineapple
Just pick one option from each category, fill the corresponding container with your choice, and you have a healthy, balanced meal ready to go!
Now for the fun part. You can win a Rubbermaid Balance Meal Kit for yourself! All you have to do is a leave a comment telling me your favorite meal on-the-go!
Vunda V says
my favorite meal on the go would be crackers with cheese and a side of fruit!
Kristen Chidsey says
My family absolutely LOVES these containers.
Stacey Raymond says
Sandwich, fruit and chips! Boring but easy.
Natalie says
I’m a sucker for hummus & veggies on-the-go! Super flavorful, packed with good nutrients.. and it curbs any cravings!
Meg Flaming says
We love veggies and hummus. Plus an apple.
Taylor Kiser says
Great tips for meal planning! And I LOVE that Balance Meal Kit from Rubbermaid!
libby rouse says
Would be a sandwich, cheese and crackers
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I love sandwiches and crackers/pretzels, and apples!
Marty says
Hummus, pita, and fruit. It’s tasty and you don’t have to worry so much about refrigeration.
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
My favorite meal on the go is simply some lunch meat on a bagel thin with a side of baby carrots 🙂
DealinDiva says
My favorite on the go meal is a huge wrap with chicken, cheese, spinach and dressing.
Vera K says
My meal on the go is a protein shake and a protein bar – not very good…..
Stephanie Phelps says
My favorite meal on the go is tuna salad with saltine crackers oh so yummy!
Banana cake says
My favorite on the go meal is hummus with veggie sticks (carrots, peppers, cucumber etc.).
Kristen says
My favorite is a pita sandwich with grilled chicken, black beans, salsa, cheese and lettuce.
Deborah W. says
I love hummus, fresh veggies like celery and carrots, and bagel chips. Add in some fresh fruit and you have a complete meal.
Mary Beth Elderton says
I like a half a wrap–hummus, veggies, chicken strips or sliced turkey—side of fruit, maybe peanut butter bites (homemade) as a dessert.
Amy C. says
My favorite meal on the go is deli meat, cheese, crackers and fruit.
Xena says
Cheese, crackers and grapes are always my go to for snacking
Heather king says
Ham and cheese
Heather says
I love a big salad, but don’t always like tomatoes or croutons mixed in with it till I’m ready to eat it. This looks like a great “salad kit” with compartments to keep everything from getting soggy.
Amy says
My favorite on the go meal is wraps!
Alexandra Robertson says
My favorite meal on the go is a collard green turkey wrap!
Kristen @ Dinner for Two Blog says
I love an easy salad on the go!
Heather B says
Peanut butter and crackers.
Susan Broughton says
I guess a sandwich is the go to I also like nuts and fruits
Karen D says
My favorite on the go meal is a cheese sandwich with tomatoes and lettuce added just before eating.
Auntiepatch says
Fried chicken, Potato Salad, broccoli, and jello or fruit.
Auntiepatch says
Fried chicken, potato salad, jello, and fruit.
Michelle says
I really don’t have one favorite.But love peanut butter and apples. I love to take leftovers the next day.
Diane Tompkins says
Cheese, wheat crackers and grapes. Delish !
Kelly says
Such great tips! And this kit look awesome for helping with meal planning!
Susan Christy says
When I need a meal on the go, I usually make a turkey wrap.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Love these tips! Since I started meal prepping more often, I’m not as stressed during the week trying to figure out what to eat. 🙂
Debbie F says
Eesh. i can’t have gluten so most on the go meals are off limits to me but if I have to rush off I’ll usually take a banana with me and a little snack size package of almond butter.
Bananas are pretty filling and the almond butter has plenty of healthy fat to get me by. 🙂
thanks!
jessica m says
My favorite on the go meal is banana, honey, and peanut butter wrapped in a corn tortilla!
Mandy says
Avacado hummus sandwich stuffed w/greens recently is my go to. Or for the kids it’s always just PB&J.
Heather S says
My favorite meal on the go is spinach, hard boiled eggs, sliced carrots, avacoado and cucumbers 🙂 thank you for the super RAD giveaway! Cheers! 🙂
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Great tips.
Natalie J Vandenberghe says
I love fruit–fresh and dried and toasted nuts
Jennai says
My favorite thing is Buffalo Chicken Wraps — any wrap, to be honest!
DealinDiva says
I like buffalo chicken salad in a wrap as an on the go meal.
Laura S says
I love a ham and cheese sandwich with an apple! Those look like wonderful containers!
Ashleigh says
I love having items like cheese sticks or crackers with hummus in my bag for when I get hungry on the go.
Nicole Taggart says
I love veggies with dip or fruit cup up with pb. I love getting to be active with it. love finger foods
judith says
mason jar salads!
DealinDiva says
My favorite on the go meal is buffalo chicken in a wrap with lettuce.
Granny Dee says
Our go-to on-the-go meal is apples with peanut butter, yogurt and sweet peppers sliced with my secret dippin’ sauce.
Edye says
Salads are my go-to meal for whenever I’m busy!
Dee Johnson says
I always love a good PB & J sandwich for lunch.
Christy Spurlock says
I love sun-dried tomato hummus with veggies or chocolate chunks and cool whip!
Jillian Too says
I love hummus and veggies with strawberries as a side.