Guide to lunch planning

Summer is coming to an end, vacations are almost over! Who says return to routine, says preparing lunches! And yes, it's time to bring out the lunch boxes and small dishes! To help you with the transition, we offer you our best tips for making quick and healthy lunches as well as some recipe ideas!

Prepare menus

Start by determining a day in your schedule where you will prepare your meals for the week. This way, you can organize yourself to have all the necessary foods at home at the start of the week. In addition, this will allow you to prepare certain meals or side dishes in advance. For example, you can already cut certain vegetables or cook basics like pasta or rice. Planning your meals for the week will save you from rushing around in the morning wondering what you might eat for dinner.

If you're new to meal prep, don't put too much pressure on yourself! Go gradually so as not to get discouraged. Make familiar recipes to avoid being overwhelmed.

Keep inventory of your fridge

One of the benefits of preparing your meals in advance is using the ingredients you have on hand. You will save time while avoiding waste. Take the time to analyze the contents of your fridge before planning the menu for the week.

Cook in large quantities

Preparing meals in larger quantities than necessary is another good option for preparing your lunches. During your evening meals, prepare in larger quantities to have enough for the next day at noon. You can reuse the same meal for your lunches or you can reuse certain components of this meal to prepare something new, which will allow you to diversify your menu while being efficient. Turn your leftover chicken into a sandwich or your leftover pasta into a salad.

You can also cook in batches on the weekend. Your meals prepared on Sunday will stay fresh in your refrigerator for a few days, which can serve you for a good part of the week. Our article offers you 3 healthy recipe ideas to cook simultaneously . Otherwise, you can even use our next tip, very useful when cooking in large quantities… 👇

Freezing Meals

After cooking in large quantities, do not hesitate to freeze your meals in individual portions. This way, you only have to take your meal out and reheat it when you need it.

Keeping Food in the Freezer

In addition to freezing your meals, it is important to keep food in your freezer at all times. If you have produce in your freezer, you won't have a problem finding something to eat without having to leave the house. You can store these foods for several months, plus they are just as nutritious as fresh produce. This will allow you to be efficient, healthy and avoid the temptations of going to the restaurant next to your office.

Know your classics

All families have their classic recipes that work every time. Why not use these recipes during your exhausting weeks to make your daily life easier. Use an app on your phone or a recipe book to jot down dishes that are a hit at home. You will be able to return to your notes often to find an idea for a quick dinner or lunch. You can also regularly purchase the ingredients used in these recipes so that you don't miss anything.

Have “convenience foods”

Along the same lines, it is important to have “convenience store ingredients” on hand at all times. Canned legumes, crackers, fruit compotes, rice, quinoa, oats, canned tuna... In short, it's having foods that keep for a long time and are easy to cook for help you out on your busy mornings. You can then supplement with the fresh food you purchased for the week. These foods are practical for quickly making lunches!

Rearrange your refrigerator into sections

Save time preparing lunches by reorganizing your refrigerator. You can install storage bins to organize it and separate it into sections. By having clear sections, you will avoid forgetting what you bought for the week and thus avoid wasting!

Use herbs and spices

Don’t hesitate to use spices and herbs to enhance your dishes. It’s also a great way to change up flavors and add variety to your meals. Mix different spices to create combinations and find your favorite flavors.

Clubhouse offers us 5 spice combinations to try :

• Cinnamon and chili powder
• Turmeric and pumpkin spice
• Smoked paprika and garlic powder
• Cumin and coriander
• Ginger and cayenne pepper

Choose “one pot” or “one pan” recipes

In addition to their simplicity, these recipes save time and dishes, since they require only one frying pan or saucepan.

Here is a “one pan” style recipe:

Baked pork and garlic vegetables

Ingredients :

• 2 pork tenderloins
• 1 1/2 lbs baby potatoes
• 1 lbs of green beans
• 1/4 hoisin sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Garlic to taste
• Butter

Steps :

1. Preheat the oven to 450°C.
2. Cut the potatoes and place them on a pan with the beans.
3. Add the pork to the baking sheet and season with the hoisin sauce.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the pork has an internal temperature of 140°C.
6. Meanwhile, mix the butter and garlic.
7. Once cooking is complete, brush the pork and vegetables with the garlic butter.

Here is a “one pot” style recipe:

Orzo with sausage, spinach and corn

Ingredients :

• 1 package of mild Italian sausages
• 3 cups of spinach
• 1/2 onion
• 1 cup corn (ideally frozen)
• 3 cups of chicken broth
• 1 cup orzo
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Parmesan to taste

Steps :

1. Remove the skin from the sausages and add the meat to a pot.
2. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
3. Add corn and onion and sauté for 10 minutes.
4. Add the orzo and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce the heat and cook for around ten minutes, making sure to stir regularly.
6. Remove the pot from the heat and add the spinach. Cover the pot with the cutlery until the spinach is cooked.
7. Add the parmesan and season to taste.

By adding these tips to your routine, you'll save time and money and be able to cook healthy, nutritious meals. You can now begin the return to class and the office in control!

Discover all our frozen products, ideal for lunches, on our online store !