Meal prep doesn’t have to mean spending your entire Sunday in the kitchen. These simple strategies can help you save time, reduce the stress of figuring out what’s for dinner, and make healthy eating easier throughout the week.

1. Pick a prep day

Choose one day each week to do a little meal prep. It doesn’t have to take hours— even 30 to 60 minutes of planning and preparation can make the rest of the week feel much easier.

2. Choose recipes that share ingredients

Choose a few meals that use some of the same ingredients. Buying a larger package of chicken, vegetables, rice, or other staples can save money and make your prep time more efficient.

3. Prep ingredients, not just full meals

You don’t have to prepare every meal from start to finish. Washing and chopping vegetables, cooking a batch of rice, or preparing a protein ahead of time can give you building blocks for several different meals.

4. Keep easy staples on hand

Keep a few dependable staples in your kitchen, such as rice, pasta, canned beans, frozen vegetables, eggs, and your favorite proteins. Having easy ingredients available makes it much easier to pull together a meal when the week gets hectic.

5. Don’t overcomplicate it

The goal of meal prep is to make your week easier, not to create another job. Start with a few simple meals you know your family will eat, and build from there. Even a little preparation can make a big difference.