January 18th Weekly Meal Prep

Thankful Homemaking
Jan 18
4 min read

Updated: Jan 19

There's something about a few hours on Sunday spent in the kitchen that just sets the whole week up for success. When I open my fridge on those busy days and see food ready to go? That's the feeling we're going for. No more scrambling to figure out what's for lunch or dealing with the "I'm hungry" chorus when there's nothing quick to grab—it's all handled. This week's prep session was one of those where I really focused on getting back to basics while still keeping things interesting. We've got meal-prep bowls that'll actually excite us for lunch, homemade snacks that beat anything store-bought, and comfort food that's already halfway done. Let me walk you through what we prepped and why these recipes are going to make your week so much easier

What We're Making This Week-

Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

Can we talk about how good these are? It literally tastes like you're eating cookie dough for breakfast, but it's actually fueling your body well. I prep these in individual jars on Sunday, and by Monday morning, breakfast is already done. The kids think they're getting a treat, and I know they're getting fiber, protein, and sustained energy. Win-win.

Bang Bang Chicken Bowls

These bowls are about to become your new lunch obsession. It's the kind of meal that makes you actually look forward to lunchtime. I love prepping these on Sunday because they hold up beautifully in the fridge all week long.

Brownie Bites

Because we all need a little chocolate in our lives, right? These bite-sized treats are perfect for when you need something sweet but don't want to go overboard. They're rich, fudgy, and so much better than anything you'd grab at the store. Plus, the kids love having their own "portion" to look forward to.

Fresh Fruit & Veggies

Sometimes the best prep is the simplest. I spent time washing, cutting, and portioning out fruit so it's ready to grab throughout the week. When healthy snacks are this easy to reach for, we actually eat them.

Chili

There's nothing quite like having homemade chili ready to go when the week gets crazy. This is pure comfort food that feeds a crowd, freezes beautifully, and gets better as it sits. I love knowing that on those nights when I'm exhausted, I've got this waiting for us.

Homemade Z Bars

One of my Kitchen Collective exclusives! These are my answer to those expensive store-bought bars that are loaded with ingredients I can't pronounce. Homemade versions taste better, cost less, and I know exactly what's going into them. Perfect for lunch boxes or afternoon snacks.

Homemade Sandwich Bread

This is always at the top of my prep list. A quality loaf of sandwich bread at the store runs $5-7 these days, and half the time I can't even pronounce the ingredients on the label. When I make it myself, I know exactly what's going in it, and the cost is a fraction of store-bought.

Why Sunday Prep Helps:

I know spending a couple hours in the kitchen on Sunday might not sound like everyone's idea of a good time, but here's what I've learned: those few hours give me back SO much time during the week.

Time Savings: When Wednesday hits and everyone's hangry and I'm tired, I'm not standing in front of an open fridge wondering what to make. Everything's already there. Dinner comes together in 15-20 minutes instead of an hour. Lunches are grab-and-go. Snacks are ready when the kids ask.

Money Savings: Can we talk about how much money this saves? Just bread alone—a quality loaf at the store is easily $5-7. When I make things like sandwich bread, graham crackers, or these muffins on prep day, we're saving so much and getting better ingredients. Those savings add up fast when you're feeding a family.

Better Eating: This is the big one for me. When we have real food ready to go, we're not tempted by convenience foods or takeout. We're eating WAY better than anything we could grab on the go, and I feel so much better about what we're putting in our bodies.

Making It Work for You:

You don't have to make everything I made. Maybe you just pick 2-3 things to start with. The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. Even prepping one or two components can make your week so much smoother.

And remember, this gets easier the more you do it. The first few times might feel overwhelming, but once you find your rhythm, it becomes second nature.

You'll find the homemade Iced oatmeal "z bars" in my snack stash recipe book. You can get It 30% off when you purchase the Ultimate Homemade Bundle which includes 4 of my best selling books!

OR you can get access to them (and the full weekly on the menu plan this week) by subscribing to The Kitchen Collective down below!

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