October 5th Weekly Prep

There's this misconception that meal prep has to be this huge, all-consuming event where you spend your entire Sunday cooking and portioning out every single meal for the week. And honestly? That's exhausting just thinking about it.

Our life on the homestead with seven people under one roof is full—beautifully, wonderfully full—but it's also slow and intentional. We homeschool, we work outside, we move through our days with purpose but without the frantic pace the world seems to run at. And yet, even in our slower rhythm, I've learned that having just a few things prepped and ready to grab makes everything flow so much better.

This week, I kept it simple: cottage cheese muffins, egg bites, hot honey chicken salad, and apple peanut butter dip. That's it. Four things. But let me tell you, these four things are going to carry us through the week in ways that feel almost magical.

I used to think that if I wasn't doing it all, I wasn't doing enough. If I wasn't prepping every breakfast, lunch, and snack, then what was the point?

But here's what I've learned: having even just a handful of items ready transforms your week.

When my kids come in from feeding the chickens in the morning and they're starving, they can grab something easily. When we're deep into a science lesson and someone's stomach starts growling, there are snacks in the fridge. When we break for lunch and I'm mentally spent from teaching fractions to three different grade levels, I don't have to think—I just pull out the lunch I prepared and we eat.

It's not about having everything figured out. It's about giving yourself options so you're not starting from scratch every single time someone says, "I'm hungry."

This Weeks Simple Lineup

Cottage Cheese Muffins

These have become a staple in our house. They're protein-packed, slightly sweet, and the kids genuinely love them. I make a big batch and we eat them for breakfast or as snacks. They're versatile, and that's exactly what I need.

Egg Bites

Honestly, egg bites are my secret weapon. I can customize them based on what we have (this week I threw in some cheese and little bacon), and they reheat perfectly. My husband grabs them when he's heading out to work, the kids and I heat them up for a quick breakfast.

Hot Honey Chicken Salad

That sweet and spicy combo is chef's kiss, and it works on so many things. We'll eat it on crackers, stuff it in wraps, put it on top of greens, or honestly just eat it with a spoon. It's one of those recipes that feels fancy but is so simple to throw together.

Apple Peanut Butter Dip

Sometimes the simplest things are the best. This is just a creamy peanut butter dip that I serve with apple slices, and my kids go absolutely wild for it. It's the after-school snack that keeps them satisfied while they're playing outside.

Taking Back Your Kitchen

Here's what I want you to hear: you don't have to do it all.

You don't have to have a perfectly curated meal plan. You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen every Sunday. You don't have to have 47 containers of perfectly portioned meals lining your fridge.

But what if you just prepped a few things?

What if you made one breakfast option, one lunch option, and one snack? What if you gave yourself permission to keep it simple and see how much lighter your week feels?

Your kitchen should serve you, not the other way around. And I know it can feel like the kitchen is running you—like you're constantly cooking, constantly cleaning, constantly trying to figure out what to feed everyone next.

But when you take just an hour or two to prep a handful of items, you're taking back control. You're creating margin. You're giving yourself the gift of not having to think so hard every single time someone needs to eat.

It Does NOT Have to Be Perfect

Some weeks I prep five or six things. Some weeks it's just two. Some weeks life gets away from me and I don't prep anything at all, and we make it work because we always do.

This isn't about perfection. It's about progress. It's about finding what works for your family, your rhythm, your life.

For us, living on this homestead with our slow, full days, having a few grab-and-go options means more time outside, more time learning together, more time just being instead of constantly doing.

And that's worth an hour or two of my Sunday.

Your Turn

I want to encourage you this week: pick just a few things to prep. Not everything. Not a week's worth of perfectly planned meals. Just a few things that will make your mornings easier, your lunches simpler, your afternoons less chaotic.

And if you're ready to completely transform the way you feed your family? 

I've poured everything I know into my recipe guide bundle—280+ pages of the exact recipes, meal prep strategies, and homemade staples that have saved our family thousands of dollars and countless hours of stress. Imagine opening your pantry and fridge knowing you made everything in there, that your kids are eating real food, and that you're not spending a fortune on processed junk you can't even pronounce. This is how you take back your kitchen for good. Grab the bundle here and save 30%!

To shop my favorite kitchen items / storage containers: click here

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