Batch cooking can be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be! Meal prepping is a great way to make the most of your food, save money, and reduce waste, all while taking the stress out of mealtimes.

Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a family, these simple tips and tricks can help.

Catering packs aren’t just for parties – they’re a meal prep hero! Surplus stock means we often get large packs of an ingredient, and they’re perfect for batch cooking. Using a 2kg bag of mozzarella instead of 10 small packs means saving money, reducing the amount of packaging going to waste, and once it’s all prepped, easier storage!

Stack it, twist it, move it! First things first: check you’ve got the room for all your tubs in the fridge and freezer. Try different layouts and see which boxes are better for the specific space – you don’t want to make a week’s worth of dinners and have nowhere to put them!

Make mealtimes a breeze with a bit of forward planning. Who’s eating, what’s for dinner, and is it in the fridge or freezer? Keep track of portions, prep time, and all those last-minute family activities and make your meals work for you.

Variety is the spice of life, so try a different accompaniment every day. Whip up pasta on Monday, rice on Tuesday, maybe bread on Wednesday – mix it up and try different combinations to find your new favourite!

There’s no such thing as cheating when it comes to batch cooking! Frozen vegetables mean you can still get your 5 a day, and jarred sauces are great time-savers that taste just as good. They’re convenient, affordable, and perfect for cooking in a flash.

One person’s trash is another’s seasoning! Make your food go further by keeping ingredient trimmings: veg peelings are great for making into stock, and bones from meat are perfect for the base of a rich broth.

Stock up on sticky notes and slap a label on each portion. Split the meal evenly into your boxes and let it cool completely before storing. You can keep track of your meals much easier this way by making a note of:

• Which meal is going in the box

• The date the meal is made

• When it needs to be eaten by

• Where you’ll store it

You’ll only need to reheat 1 portion at a time, helping prevent leftovers from being wasted.

Batch cooking doesn’t need to be stressful. Start with one meal, experiment with new flavours, and find what works for you. Before you know it, you’ll be saving money, reducing waste, and have delicious, ready-made meals waiting when you need them.