20+ Recipes to Meal Prep for Back to School

Back to school time can be a time of relief for lots of moms, myself included- occupying the kids all summer (not to mention endless snack requests) can feel like a lot- even dotted with the best memories of family time spent together. But it’s also a serious juggling act. Between school runs, soccer practice, work, and endless errands, finding time to prepare healthy, real food meals can feel like a lot. That’s where meal prep makes all the difference in making your busy mom life easier.

Meal prep doesn’t just save you time- it also empowers you to serve delicious, homemade meals for your family without sacrificing time spent together after school and yes- on the weekends. Meal prep truly doesn’t have to take all day– and a little prep goes a long way. It all starts with prioritizing what matters to YOU and what will make the biggest difference in your family’s life. For many moms, this is breakfast for the whole family, lunch for those busy runaround days- and snacks, for the kids and yourself.

Scroll down for 20+ of my favorite prep-able recipes for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

If you’re struggling to get breakfast on the table in the morning, having something prepped ahead- for you, the kids or both- can be a game changer.

Easy Meal Prep Breakfasts:

1. Meal Prep Egg Cups
2. The Best Peanut Butter Granola
3. Banana Bread Oatmeal Cups
4. Cranberry Orange Breakfast Cookies
5. Three Ingredient Drinkable Yogurt
6. Breakfast Quesadillas

If you’re stuck in the packing-lunches-for-the-kids-every-day and forgetting about yourself boat- it’s time to prep something simple to nourish yourself, mid-day! The better fuel you have mid day, the easier it will be to tackle the rest of the day.

Easy Meal Prep Lunches:

1. Cucumber Dill Chicken Salad
2. Herby Chopped Chicken and Chickpea Salad
3. Mason Jar Grinder Salads
4. Peanut Chicken Salad
5. Greek Quinoa Mason Jar Salads
6. Pesto Chicken Salad
7. Black Bean, Corn and Quinoa Salad

If your kids are ravenous after school like mine are, little bags of crackers won’t cut it. These are some of our family’s favorite nutrient-dense (but also fun– Hulk Dip? Monster Energy Balls? Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins? YUM!) snacks for lunchboxes, after school and beyond.

Easy Meal Prep Snacks:

1. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
2. Green Goddess (‘The Hulk’) Dip
3. Lemon Blueberry Snack Bars
4. Salted Caramel Energy Balls
5. Homemade Herb Ranch & Veggies
6. Monster Energy Balls
7. Sundried Tomato White Bean Hummus
8. Cookie Dough Energy Bars

Want more where this came from? Check out my signature course, Healthy Mama Meal Prep, with all the tools you need to master meal prep as a busy mom– plus over 150 prep-friendly recipes and so much more!