My New Meal Plan for Weekday Lunches

Hey guys! Sarah here, excited to tell you about a new meal delivery service that I recently found (which I’ve been loving!). If you’ve listened to our show then you’ve probably heard me say more than once how much I struggle in the kitchen – and how I can feel very overwhelmed with everything from the grocery shopping to the actual execution of meals. You’ve also heard me say that I’m trying hard to make better decisions when it comes to my food intake and how I really do feel so much better when I’m eating less processed, cleaner ingredients. And let’s be real – it’s hard to find those things when you’re looking for a quick solution… hence, why I was falling back on takeout so often.

In our episode this week (ep. 138) you heard us chat about Freshly, but I wanted to expand on it a little here. And give you a little more info about the subscription service I’ve been using. For years now, I’ve tossed around the idea of using a delivery meal service… as a podcast listener myself I’ve heard countless ads over the years for other brands but for whatever reason I just never pulled the trigger.

Well, cut to about a month ago – I was feeling really frustrated and beat down with my own personal meal options. As a full-time working mom I was finding myself running to the local taco joint way too often to grab a quick bite for lunch. (And then regretting it shortly after). So, after researching a few different brands, I ended up going with Freshly to give me some healthier lunch options. And here’s why I chose them above the rest:
1.)  I loved that their meals were prepared FRESH and are never frozen. I was legit blown away to see the meals delivered on dry ice to my front door with the instructions to refrigerate and enjoy that week. And I have to say… HANDS DOWN the fresh (not frozen) option is the way to go. It tastes sooooo much better (go figure!).

2.)  The service is really flexible. The Freshly subscription service is super flexible which I’ve totally appreciated and their website is user-friendly. I’ve been able to do my weekly meal planning in 5 minutes on their website and it’s just been a gamechanger. Having the ability to make these healthier decisions ahead of time for my week has really helped.

3.)  And finally, I’ve totally saved money! OK, hear me out… I know what you’re saying… “it’s pricey”, “it’s so much cheaper to shop and do your own meal prep” – but guys, for me this has been such a more economical route. It’s stopped me from overbuying at the grocery store and more importantly wasting food! Because my Freshly meals are delivered ready to go and involve nothing on my end – you literally don’t need much more at the grocery store for the week. Both my husband and I have been eating them now and and it’s stopped our reliance on takeout for lunch (which has saved major $$$) and my waistline is totally thanking me. Ha! We still grocery shop for our weekday family dinners and like to eat together as a family then. But, if you work outside the home (or even for your husband) you should seriously consider this.

So, as we’re heading into the new year, maybe give this some consideration. We have a great deal going with Freshly right now where you can save $15 off any Freshly meal plan for the 1st four weeks using code MOMVOICE15AFF. So, go check it out here and tell us what you think! xo

FREEZER MEAL: Crockpot BBQ Spareribs

This is a kid friendly slow cooker “dump” meal that you can prep ahead of time & freeze. No cooking is required at the time of freezer meal prep!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 lbs pork ribs
  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp seasoned salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

  • No cooking is required for this freezer meal.
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (including the raw pork ribs).
  • TO FREEZE: Combine everything in a Ziplock bag, evenly coat meat, label and freeze.
  • TO SERVE: Thaw in fridge overnight. Empty all contents into a crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours). Serve with vegetable, rice or salad of choice.

FREEZER MEAL: Mongolian Beef

This is a delicious crowd favorite that requires no cooking during meal prep!  For a healthier option, we recommend serving over cauliflower rice – although the kids might prefer their favorite noodle!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak (or skirt steak)
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 3/4 low sodium soy sauce
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 cup red bell pepper
  • rice or noodles of choice (for serving)
  • green onion (for serving)

DIRECTIONS:

  • No cooking is required for this freezer meal.
  • Cut steak into bite sized pieces.
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (including the raw steak).
  • TO FREEZE: Combine everything in a Ziplock bag, evenly coat meat, label and freeze.
  • TO SERVE: Thaw in fridge overnight. Empty all contents into a crockpot and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours (or HIGH for 2-3 hours). Serve over rice or noodles of choice and garnish with green onions.

FREEZER MEAL: Apple BBQ Pork Tenderloin

This is a kid friendly slow cooker “dump” meal that you can prep ahead of time & freeze. No cooking is required at the time of freezer meal prep! For a healthier option, we recommend serving over cauliflower rice – although the kids might prefer their favorite noodle!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 – 2 lbs. pork tenderloin
  • 1 cup chunky applesauce
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tbsp minced dried onion

DIRECTIONS:

  • No cooking is required for this freezer meal.
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (including the raw pork tenderloin).
  • TO FREEZE: Combine everything in a Ziplock bag, evenly coat meat, label and freeze.
  • TO SERVE: Thaw in fridge overnight. Empty all contents into a crockpot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (or HIGH for 3-4 hours). Shred pork and serve over rice or noodles of choice.

FREEZER MEAL: Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken

This is a kid friendly slow cooker “dump” meal that you can prep ahead of time & freeze. No cooking is required at the time of freezer meal prep!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 – 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

  • No cooking is required for this freezer meal.
  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (including the raw chicken breasts).
  • TO FREEZE: Combine everything in a Ziplock bag, evenly coat meat, label and freeze.
  • TO SERVE: Thaw in fridge overnight. Empty all contents into a crockpot and cook on LOW for 8 hours (or HIGH for 4 hours). Chicken should come out whole but super tender. Serve with vegetable, rice or salad of choice.