mason jars: the secret to meal prep

Mason jars have now become my major Sunday meal prep tool.  It may sound nuts but once I started using them, they have made my food last way longer than it would just buying it from the store and putting it in my fridge.  I have told many friends about this and they have told me it has done wonders for them.  The mason jars seal the food air tight so it stays way more fresh than regular containers.  For those Amazon prime lovers like me, you can just buy them here:  Mason Jars.

So here is what I do:

Fruits and Veggies

Wash your fruits and let them totally dry on a paper towel.  Once they are dry cut them the way your family likes to eat them and put each fruit in it’s own jar.  It will last over a week if not longer.  If you need cut veggies for dinner that week, just cut them and throw them in a jar.  My husband and kids tend to eat much healthier because everything is washed and ready to go.  They don’t have to wait for mommy to get it for them.  Here are some things I put in my jars:

• Strawberries
• Watermelon (yup it stays fresh)
• Grapes
• Blueberries
• Pineapple
• Apples (with a splash of lemon juice)
• Carrots
• Cut bell peppers
• Cut cucumber
• Celery
• Cilantro
• Spinach
• Kale

Meals
I put salads for the week in my jars.  They don’t get soggy because you have to layer them in a certain way.  Here is the order.

• Layer 1:  Dressing
• Layer 2:  Hearty Vegetables (you want to choose ones that will be able to last in the dressing such as tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, celery, carrots, peppers)
• Layer 3:  Beans and other less hearty vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini, sprouts, avocado)
• Layer 4:  Pasta and Grains (quinoa, pasta, rice)
• Layer 5:  Protein and Cheese (meat, any cheese)
• Layer 6:  Greens, seeds, nuts (spinach, kale, nuts, flax seeds

During breakfast or any other meal it makes it so much easier take the already washed and cut fruit and veggies to give your kids or prepare your meals.  On top of that your food will last way longer.  The cucumbers stay super crispy.