December 08, 2023
There are many benefits to planning and preparing meals ahead of time at home before you go food shopping. Having a menu plan before hitting your wholesale food supply store can keep impulse buys at bay. Meal prep also reduces food waste since your ingredients are used before spoilage happens. Furthermore, when you have healthy meals prepared ahead of time, you’re less likely to turn to unhealthy, fast food alternatives. All of these benefits ensure your grocery budget stays in check and your healthy lifestyle remains intact.
To maximize your grocery budget and get all your supplies—from healthy eats to cooking and storage essentials—visit your local wholesale food supply store. You’ll find a treasure trove of bulk ingredients perfect for cooking meals for a week or even more!
A Beginner's Guide on How to Meal Prep
If you are new to meal prepping or want to get back into meal planning, starting on the journey is easy. Here are five tips to help you plan your meals at home.
1. Schedule a Consistent Planning Time
The first step in a successful meal prep program is to devote time to your planning process. Set aside the same time every week to sit down and sketch out your meals and write a grocery list.
Pro Tip: Arrange your grocery list by aisle to make shopping a breeze!
2. Keep an Inventory List of Items on Hand
Meal planning is designed to use ingredients you have on hand. Before traveling to your wholesale grocery store for items, do a quick inventory of dry goods, meats, dairy, and produce in your pantry and fridge. This will ensure you don’t double-buy ingredients and can help you make more room in your kitchen for new items.
Pro Tip: Create a home inventory sheet to keep on your fridge or cabinets, and check off items as you use them.
3. Stock Up on Spices
Bulk spices are great to make part of your meal-planning repertoire. They are nearly calorie-free and can give a kick of flavor to any dish. Some versatile herbs and spices every kitchen should have are:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chile blend
- Paprika
- Dried herbs such as oregano, parsley, and thyme
- Turmeric
Pro Tip: Create your own house spice blend that you can use for a quick dry rub or as an addition to soups, dressings, and marinades.
4. Go for a Mix of Fresh and Frozen
Meal planning doesn’t have to eat up your whole day. Utilizing frozen foods, like fruits and vegetables, means less time in the kitchen and great health benefits. Frozen entrees and sides such as turkey burgers, vegetable fried rice, and plant-based proteins are quick and easy options.
Fun Fact: Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh, so keep the following on hand for wholesome meal options.
5. Experiment with Batch Cooking
One of the beauties of wholesale food stores is they carry culinary-grade foods in bulk quantities at wholesale prices. This allows home cooks to grab bulk ingredients, batch-cook meals, freeze them, and have them ready for weeks' worth of meals. Chili, casseroles, soups, and stews are just a few healthy meals that can be cooked, portioned, and frozen.
Pro Tip: Pre-seasoned and diced proteins, like chicken breasts, are excellent for easy, batched freezer meals.
Remember to mix things up no matter what wholesale meals you plan on making. Consider having theme weeks like Mexican or Greek to ensure your meals are always exciting.
Essential Healthy Ingredients Found at Your Restaurant Supply Store
Stock up on these items to ensure you always have meal-planning basics in your fridge and pantry:
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Brown rice and whole-grain pastas
- Canned and dried beans
- Peanut and nut butter (unsweetened)
- Raw nuts and seeds
- Vegetable broth
- Canned tuna fish
Meal Storage Ideas from Your Wholesale Grocery Supplier
Now that you have your meals figured out, it’s time to think about how you want to store them. Your restaurant supply shop has everything you need to keep your meals fresh or frozen.
- Cambro Containers: There’s a reason restaurants use these storage containers. They are reusable, dishwasher safe, and come in various sizes. Use them to store everything from salad dressings to sauces, soups, and diced vegetables.
- Round Deli Containers: These are great for individual portions from batch-cooking. They come in sizes ranging from 8 oz up to 32oz.
- Foil Pans: What makes these pans great for meal planning is that you can use them for a variety of hot foods. Build a lasagna or casserole in the foil pan, pop on its lid, and reheat at your leisure.
Shop Healthy Ingredients and Save Money at US Foods CHEF’STORE
At CHEF’STORE, we stock top-of-the-line bulk ingredients and cooking essentials at affordable prices. You can also get groceries delivered to you with our third-party grocery delivery partners.
Start your next order online or visit your local CHEF’STORE today for exceptional goods.
