Meal prep gift guide has all the essential items needed to make your meal prep time more efficient. This guide includes canning sets, containers and recipe ideas.

There are so many ways to make meal prep time more efficient.

From finding the right equipment and recipes to find the right travel bag for the food containers, this list is designed to make your life much easier.

Do you meal prep every week?

Collage of 9 images with the title "Gift Guide for Meal Prep"
Meal prep items designed to be seamless and efficient.

Meal prep tips

  • Buy food items in bulk from those membership type stores. Things like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and other veggies.
  • Whenever possible, use glass containers for the meal prep so that bad chemicals don’t leak into the food like plastic containers.
  • Try to use up the food within one week of cooking it because it will be fresh. Also, the nutrition in veggies will be viable for about a week.
  • If you can, avoid microwaving the food when you are ready to eat it. Using glass containers will make it easier to heat them in the oven or Instant pot. Microwaving kills the nutrition and makes the food more rubbery.
  • Store sauces and dressings in separate containers. I know it’s a no-brainer, but I have actually seen people eat soggy food.
  • Refrigerating is better option, but you can also freeze the containers.

For the planning process

Meal planning fridge calendar – This magnetic meal planning board is a good way to see the whole week at a glance.

A woman pointing to meal prep calendar magnetically attached to fridge door - Meal prep gift guide

Meal prep paper and pen planner – For those who like to write down their recipes on a piece of paper. Can be magnetically put on a refrigerator

A handwritten calendar where you can enter your meal prep information along with grocery list.

Weekly & Daily Meal Prep Journal – This is for individuals and those who like to journal / have a food diary. Includes grocery list.

A image of a pink meal prep journal.  The available stickers are on the side.

Cookbooks

When I was planning for this meal prep gift guide, I heard from a lot of people that they like giving cookbooks more than any other gift.

Buying in bulk

Arrowhead Mills Organic Amaranth Grain – When you are making amaranth tabouli for meal prep, this grain is going to be good to have on hand.

Front side of the Arrowhead Organic Amaranth grain

Related: What is amaranth?

Organic Royal White Quinoa, 20 Pounds – Quinoa doesn’t go back and it’s cheaper when you buy in bulk.

Pack of 2 quinoa packets, one behind the other.

Organic Chia Seeds with Omega-3 – Chia seeds are a meal preps favorite ingredient, especially in puddings and smoothies.

Front view of plastic container filled with chia seeds.

Organic Hemp Seeds – Hemps seeds are a must have for soups, salads, smoothies, tofu and so much more.

Front view of the front of the hemp seeds package

Cooking aids

Over the Sink Colander Strainer Basket – When you have many veggies that need cleaning, this colander is going to make you wash them at high speed.

Collage of 2 images that show 2 pink rectangular colanders at various lengths.

Canning Kit with canner – What better way to save the sauces! Canning is a very easy process and this kit will make it even easier.

Front view of a black canner with strainer and other canning essential utensils

Canning Supplies Starter Kit – The kit has jar holders, jar lifters, tongs and canning rack.

All the essentials needed for canning, like jar lifters, tongs, canning rack and utensils.

Magic Mushroom Foldable Kitchen Funnel – This funnel is useful to pour in sauces, fill up the spice containers and other dry/wet ingredients in your pantry.

Front view of a packaged mushroom funnel with red and white polka dots.

Meal prep containers

No meal prep gift guide is complete without meal prep containers.

5 Pack 36oz Glass Meal Prep Containers with Lids – These glass containers have a leak-proof and come with their own insulated bag.

Front view of 5 meal prep containers with the grey bag in the background

5-Piece Food Storage Containers with 2 Compartments and Lids – These food containers make it easy to carry cauliflower rice on one side and salad on the other.

Five 2-compartment glass containers stacked on top of each other.  There is generic food around it.

3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers with Lids – If you want plastic containers, then these are the better choice. I used these containers to store udon noodles.

20 plastic meal prep containers with 3 compartments - meal prep gift guide

Round Meal Prep Containers with lids – these containers are great for salad prepping.

30 plastic circular meal prep containers - Meal prep gift guide

Adult bento boxes

Lunch Box Adult Bento Box, Stackable – When you have to eat a lot in one meal, these bento boxes are a huge help.

front view of the many stackable layers of the bento box

Calculus Print Bento box – For when you want show off your love for calculus while eating.

2 layers of stackable bento boxes.  The top box has multiple calculus equations printed on it.

Bento Box Adult Lunch Box with Insulated Bag, Spoon & Fork – When you want your food to stay hot, this bento box is going to be your best bet.

3 Stackable round bento box with insulating bag, spoon and fork.

What is a bento?

Containers for liquids

Stainless Steel Salad Dressing Container 6 Pack – Can be used for salad dressings, dips and spreads.

For Smoothies and juices – These bottles seal tightly, so there will be no leakage.

Front view of 3 bottles with different color liquids.  3 more bottles in the back.

Breakfast yogurt containers with sections for fruits, nuts and oats – These containers are great for overnight oat recipes.

Front view of a pink and clear plastic container with 3 layers for storing yogurt, toppings.

Ziploc aids

Chances are, you will be using ziploc bags in your meal prep. Here are some creative aids for using them more efficiently.

Ziploc bag holder – wrap your ziploc bag inside this rectangle container and then pour in the sauces. This will make sure that your marinara sauce or Alfredo sauce stays in the bag while pouring.

Baggy Rack Holder for Food Prep Bag – These little clamps will hold up the bag as you add liquids or solids. Then you can easily seal the bag and store it.

Ziploc bag being cradled between a 2-clamp holder.  Meal prep gift guide

Bamboo Ziplock Bag Organizer For Drawer – Get to your ziploc bags easily by organizing them according to size, type and color.

4 different sized bamboo ziploc containers with their size type written on top. Meal prep gift guide

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