7 Fun Ways to Meal Prep for the Family
You hear it all the time: meal prep is the answer to family dinner woes. While the habit can save time and reduce stress during hectic weekdays, let's face it—the thought of spending hours in the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon isn't very thrilling for most of us. The good news is that meal prep doesn't have to be a chore. With a little creativity and teamwork, it can become a fun family activity that everyone looks forward to. Here are a few exciting ways to create enjoyable experiences as you meal prep for the whole family.
1. Turn Meal Prep Into a Cooking Show
Transform your kitchen into a mock TV studio and let your kids be the stars of their cooking show. Set up a camera or smartphone to record the action, and encourage your little chefs to explain what they're doing as they help with meal prep. This not only makes the process more entertaining but also helps children learn about cooking techniques and ingredients.
How to make it work:
Assign roles like head chef, sous chef, baker, and taste tester.
Create simple acting scripts or talking points for kids to follow (unless they’d rather wing it).
Edit and share the videos with family and friends for extra excitement.
Record people’s reactions to the final meal and encourage more cooking shows in the future.
If all participants are open to it, share the video on social media to inspire others.
This is a fun way to capture the unique personalities, skills, and contributions as your family meal preps for the week!
2. Host a Family “Chopping” Competition
Turning meal prep into a friendly competition can make even the most mundane tasks exciting. Organize a chopping contest where family members compete to see who can prepare the most food items the fastest (with proper safety measures in place, of course).
Competition ideas:
Who can peel the most carrots in one minute?
Fastest to dice an onion (for older kids and adults)
Best cheese grater in the house
Most creative vegetable arrangement on a plate
Most helpful measurer (let kids measure items for the recipe if they can’t handle sharp kitchen tools yet)
Remember to prioritize safety and adjust tasks based on age and skill level.
3. Create a DIY Salad Bar
Let everyone contribute to a week's worth of lunches by setting up a DIY salad bar. Prep a variety of vegetables, proteins, and toppings, then let each family member assemble their own unique salad combinations for the week ahead.
Salad bar components:
Leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale)
Chopped vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers)
Proteins (grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, beans)
Toppings (nuts, seeds, dried fruit)
Homemade dressings in small containers
This approach ensures that everyone gets meals they enjoy while still participating in the prep process. This is also a great option for hosting large family gatherings!
4. Implement a "Choose Your Own Adventure" Meal Plan
Involve the whole family in meal planning by creating a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style system. Prepare a list of main dishes, sides, and snacks, then let each family member pick components for different meals throughout the week.
How it works:
Create a menu board with options for each meal category
Let family members take turns selecting items for each day
Prep ingredients for the chosen meals together
This method gives everyone a sense of control over the menu while still maintaining a structured meal plan. Similarly, you can let different family members choose meals for one day each week and then take on the responsibility of prepping them.
5. Have a Dinner Theme Party
Make meal prep more exciting by theming it around a particular cuisine or holiday. For example, have a "Taco Tuesday" prep session where you make various fillings, salsas, and toppings for the week's Mexican-inspired meals.
Theme night ideas:
Italian night: Prep pasta sauces, grate cheese, and make meatballs.
Asian fusion: Chop veggies for stir-fries, make dumplings, or roll sushi.
Breakfast for dinner: Prepare pancake batter, cut up fruit, and cook bacon.
German brats: Prep authentic bratwursts and serve with sauerkraut and potato salad.
Encourage family members to dress up or play themed music to enhance the experience.
6. Set Up a Sandwich Station
Create a sandwich assembly line to prep a week's worth of school and work lunches. Lay out various breads, spreads, proteins, and veggies, then work together to build and wrap sandwiches for easy grab-and-go meals.
Sandwich station tips:
Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes for younger kids
Experiment with different flavor combinations
Wrap sandwiches in parchment paper and label them with fun messages
This method allows for customization while still being efficient for batch preparation.
7. Play "Meal Prep Bingo"
Create bingo cards with various meal prep tasks and ingredients. As family members complete tasks or prep specific items, they mark off their cards. The first to get "bingo" wins a prize, like choosing a special dessert for the week.
Bingo card ideas:
Chop 3 different vegetables
Measure spices for a recipe
Wash and dry salad greens
Pack 5 snack containers
This game adds an element of fun and motivation to the meal prep process.
Family Daily App: More Family Meal Prep Ideas
Meal prepping doesn't have to be a solitary or boring task. By involving the whole family and adding elements of fun and creativity, you can turn it into a bonding experience that also teaches valuable life skills. Not only will you have a week's worth of meals ready to go, but you'll also create lasting memories and potentially spark a lifelong interest in cooking for your children.
Ready to take your family meal planning to the next level? Download the Family Daily app for more meal prep ideas, recipe suggestions, and a shared family schedule that makes coordinating mealtimes a breeze. With Family Daily, you'll have all the tools you need to make meal prep a fun and efficient part of your family routine.
