In our busy lives, I think we could all benefit from some easy, quick, healthy meal ‘hacks’.
So today- I want to share with you one way of getting organized, and that’s to have some Mason Jar meals. You know the ones: clear glass, wide mouth, screw-on lid. They're great because they hold up well and can be used over and over again, compared to plastic storage containers. They also take up minimal space, and they're easy to stick in a bag and go.
When most people think of Mason Jars, they assume we're prepping a salad. That's how they got popular as a means for preparing a week's worth of salads, and while I do still love this idea, Mason Jars can be used for so much more. I see breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks filling these containers. If you're wondering how to jump on this bandwagon and enjoy more simplicity for easy food options, follow along. I am going to share some of my go-to Mason Jar ideas.
For breakfast
Recipes like chia pudding, overnight oats, yogurt parfaits, granola, easy scrambles and even smoothies. All of the items are tossed into the jar and are either eaten immediately from the refrigerator, or put in fridge overnight to be eaten the next day. For smoothies, you can make a few days worth of ingredients at once, then when it’s time throw everything into the blender and then dump it back into the jar to take on the go.
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
The Best Summer Smoothie Recipe
For lunch
Traditional (leafy greens) and nontraditional (pasta, egg, chicken) salads, bone broths and soups, and power bowls. Mason Jars even make it easy to package up leftovers in an air-tight container to take to work with you the next day easily. With so many lunchtime favorites, it's hard to get bored.
One of my favorite is mason jar salads. Very easy to make, and customize however you like. Start with the dressing on the bottom, and add beans, veggies, quinoa, sprouts, lettuce, spinach or whatever YOU like. By adding the dressing to the bottom, your lettuce doesn't get soggy and you can give it a good shake and eat! Close the lid again when you are done, and you don't have to worry about washing dishes (until later)
For dinner
It's easy to layer in grains or gluten-free pasta with a sauce and protein. This makes it incredibly easy to cater to a variety of tastes. This formula can be customized to create Asian, Mexican, or Italian recipes. For example, hearty meals like chili topped with cornbread are easy to transport in Mason Jars, and you can even create good old comfort food recipes, like a healthy version of Shepherd's Pie.
If your family is often on the go, or maybe you eat dinner at the office some nights, these are handy to have on hand.
When it comes to snacks
You can get creative. Put a dip in the bottom and the item I'm dipping on top. So this could be a layer peanut butter, celery, and then a few pretzels on top. Or maybe dill dip, carrot sticks, and a few cubes of cheese. Even hummus, red peppers, and pita. But Mason Jars are also great for carrying other snacks like chips, trail mix, fruit, popcorn, granola, and more.
The options truly are endless, so use your family favorites and get creative. You get to enjoy delicious meals that are pre-portioned and feel good about them being packaged free of the harmful chemicals that plastic can contain.
By being prepared, you might eat out in restaurants less, spend less money, and you’ll be more in control of the ingredients in your meals.
Stock up on a few mason jars and give it a try! If you have ideas- pop them below.
