Help with prepping meals/premade meals

[Anonymous]

We are currently spending up to $5k a month on a family of four on food. I'd like to cut it in half. Here is the situation- we both work outside of the house and our kids have extracurriculars 5-7 days a week. Time is a premium, hence we do a lot of convenience items/take out. I'd appreciate tips on what you keep stocked at home for easy, quick dinners. And prep tips for the weekends would also be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Menu plan 101. Try to make a double batch of some entrees. Meatballs, meatloaf and soups for the next day or to freeze for later. Do you use a crockpot? $5000 each month is insane and probably very high in fat/carbs.

[Anonymous]

I don’t meal prep really but do really easy dinners. We also both work outside the home and I work 12s. We have an 11yo in activities Mon thru Thurs.
tonight is Perdue chicken burgers. They take 7 minutes in the air fryer, I have hamburger buns and I’ve already cut up veggies.
Buy a couple of rotisserie chicken, shred as soon as you bring them home, use to make quesadillas or nachos, or to put in a soup.
We do a lot of bagged salad ( adults) and DD eats a lot of cut up raw veggies, she doesn’t like lettuce.
If you know you’re eating in the car, or if the kids are, plan ahead for that so you’re not buying food. My kid eats in the car twice a week in the Spring. Her favorite car dinner is the naked chicken bites you get from Costco, they’re like chick fil a knock offs. 8 mins in the air fryer. She has fruit/veggies with it in a bento box style container.

[Anonymous]

Easy things on weeknights: Roast a chicken on Sunday, chicken on a green salad or quesadilla with chicken on Monday, taco Tuesday, salmon or shrimp or other seafood on Wed, sloppy Joe's or eggroll in a bowl on Thursday, make your own pizza on Fri (buy pre-made dough from TJs) - everyone picks their own toppings).

The key is planning ahead. I also make large batches of various stews over the weekend and throw some in the freezer for nights where I'm just to exhausted to cook

[Anonymous]

5k a month is a lot. Are you all eating out 3 meals a day?

Breakfasts—make it easy—cereal, granola and yogurt, eggs, oatmeal, fruit.
Lunches—whole wheat bread and turkey sandwiches, veggies and fruit, some chips or pretzels. I take leftovers or salads with easy protein on top.
Dinners—I use a crockpot and an instant pot or I cook on the weekends to make the week easier. They key is to plan ahead and figure out whay your family likes. My family likes chili and that’s an easy one for the crockpot or instant pot.

Make it a family project; everyone learns how to meal plan and cook. It’s not all on you.

[Anonymous]

There are literally 1 million YouTube and Instagram solutions for this. Search the type of food you like or want and “meal prep”, plenty of options will come up.