Sure, everyone knows how great meal prep can be – throwing a bunch of stuff in the slow cooker and having meals for a week in six to eight hours is be wonderful. That said, for those of us who are too busy or lazy to wait those six to eight hours, there are tons of amazing no-cook recipes that are tailor made for meal prep. Let us level your lunch up.
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Coconut, Banana, Oats and Hemp Seeds
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You'd be hard-pressed to find a recipe easier than make-ahead oats. You literally put a bunch of ingredients in a mason jar, let it sit overnight, and you're rewarded in the morning with a delicious, healthy breakfast. This recipe, via Oprah.com, features hemp seeds as well, so it's healthy for you to boot! Full instructions are here.
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Mediterranean Pesto Falafel Wrap
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Though the recipe calls for homemade falafel, buying yours from the store will make this recipe a true no-cook star. The combination of the falafel and the homemade pesto is a true winner. Our mouths are watering already. Check out the recipe here.
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Turkey Spinach Wraps
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These wraps are not only delicious, they're incredibly versatile. Either make 7 ahead of time for lunches, or chop them into pinwheels for snacks! Betty Crocker has the full recipe here.
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Mason Jar Salad
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Mason jars aren't just for hipster living room decor and whiskey sours. Used correctly, they can be a great way to store meals for later! They'll make more appearances on this list, but for now, try making this Greek chicken salad, made with feta, cucumbers, and tomatoes. As an added bonus, since you're prepping this beforehand, the tomatoes and cucumbers will have time to soak in the delicious dressing! The full recipe can be found here.
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Crab Rolls
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Just because you're not cooking doesn't mean you can't have seafood. This recipe for crab rolls will take you no more than 15 minutes from start to finish, is scaleable, and is perfect for socking in a Pyrex container until you feel like loading up a bun with your delicious crab salad. Real Simple has the full recipe.
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Kale Slaw
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Sure, kale might not be as hip as it was last year anymore, but it's still incredibly healthy. This recipe for a kale slaw gets better as the kale absorbs the dressing and wilts, so load up your mason jars! We also recommend sprinkling some bacon bits on top. The full recipe is right here!
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Savory Curry Granola Bar
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If you're feeling confident making overnight oats, why not mix your breakfast up with these savory curry granola bars? The sweet and spicy flavors of mango and curry really work well together. Follow along with step by step instructions here.
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Summer Rolls
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Like wraps, summer rolls are easy to make in batches, and if you store them correctly, they're perfect for meal prep –especially if you use this vegetarian recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction. Follow along here!
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Chickpea Salad
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This recipe is for those of you who don't think a salad can be a full meal. This easy chickpea salad from BBC's Good Food is sure to sate even the strongest appetite – and it's perfect for meal prep to boot. Follow along with the full recipe right here.
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Cucumber Avocado Soup
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Gazpachos and other veggie soups are some of the best, healthiest, and easiest meal-prep recipes out there. This cucumber-avocado soup is no exception – rich, creamy, and refreshing. Get to filling up those Tupperware containers: the recipe is right here.
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Thai Chicken Pita
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They say it in the recipe as well, but the real star here is the deep, flavorful peanut sauce. Make the chicken salad and sauce ahead of time, then stuff your pita full of it before you leave for work. You'll thank yourself when lunchtime rolls around. The full recipe is right here.
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Green Smoothie
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This smoothie, chock full of greens, protein, and flaxseed, will help you start your day happy and healthy. The full recipe is right here, via Health.com.
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Sesame Lime Chicken Salad
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You can make this meal-prep recipe in under 15 minutes and have meals for the whole week. Plus, despite how good the sesame-lime chicken might taste, it clocks in at under 500 calories per serving! Check out the recipe here.
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Green Gazpacho
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If you've never had a tomatillo gazpacho before, there's no time like the present to start. This recipe is incredibly refreshing and summery, and is perfect for make-ahead meals! Follow along with step by step instructions here.
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Elvis Wraps
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Now for something sweet. These healthy (yes, really!), protein-packed wraps will have your sweet tooth saying "Thank you, thank you very much." The full recipe can be found here.
Sam Greszes is unlockable by beating the game on Very Hard difficulty without losing a life. You must then defeat him to unlock him for Arcade and Versus modes. You can follow him on Twitter @samgreszeseses, and check out his podcast with David Rappoccio here. He also hosts weekly twitch streams at twitch.tv/robotsfightingdinosaurs.
