Working moms, let’s be real—balancing work, parenting, and feeding the family is no joke. But what if I told you that meal prep could be the secret to saving time, energy, and your sanity? Living in Germany, where shops close early and Sundays are sacred, I’ve found my rhythm with a once-a-week shop and Sunday meal prep routine. Here’s how I make it work:

My Weekend Meal Prep Routine

1. Saturday: Strategic Grocery Shopping

• I hit the store on Saturday morning armed with a detailed list. My rule? No list, no shop.

• Hack: Plan meals in advance and categorize your list by sections (produce, dairy, pantry) to minimize backtracking in the aisles.

2. Sunday: Meal Prep Like a Pro

• Sunday is prep day, and I treat it like a project with clear deliverables. Meals are cooked, portioned, and stored for the week ahead.

• Bonus: It’s a family activity! My partner handles chopping while the baby supervises from the high chair.

Meal Prep Hacks to Save Your Week

1. Plan Your Menu Around a Core Ingredient

• Use one main ingredient (like chicken or lentils) in multiple recipes. Think roasted chicken for dinner, wraps for lunch, and chicken soup for midweek comfort.

2. Batch Cook Staples

• Cook large batches of pasta, rice, or grains to mix and match throughout the week.

• Hack: Freeze portions in silicone molds for quick reheating.

3. Prep Snacks, Too

• Wash and chop fruits or veggies for grab-and-go snacks.

• Hack: Pack snacks into containers, so morning chaos doesn’t derail healthy eating.

4. Leverage the Freezer

• Double recipes and freeze half for the following week. Soups, curries, and stews are lifesavers!

• Hack: Label everything with dates and contents to avoid “mystery meals.”

Why Meal Prep Works

Meal prep isn’t just about saving time; it’s about reducing stress. Knowing you’ve got meals ready to go means fewer last-minute decisions, fewer takeout orders, and more energy for your family.

How do you handle meal planning in your home? Do you meal prep, or are you more of a day-to-day planner? Share your tips (or funny mishaps!)—let’s inspire each other to make mealtimes easier!

One response to “Mastering Meal Prep in Germany – Time Hacks for Busy Moms”

  1. […] is our day to get our act together. We meal prep, pack daycare bags, and plan out our week. It’s basically adulting on steroids, but the […]

    Like

Leave a comment

I’m Nawel

Hey there!

I’m Nawel, a project manager who once used to keep it cool under pressure—until motherhood came along and made me louder, bolder, and somehow even more organized!

Who knew that managing a baby would be the ultimate leadership training?

By day, I’m deep in the world of tech, leading projects, coordinating teams, and getting stuff done. But 24/7, I’m a mom, figuring out the balance between deadlines, diaper duty, and everything in between.

After years of navigating the tech world and now motherhood, I’ve learned that with enough grit, grace, and a sense of humor, we moms really can do it all. And that’s what Techie Mama is all about—finding the joy and the challenge in balancing a career, family, and a little bit of me-time.

Here, I’ll be sharing tips on leadership, work-life hacks, and my own journey of juggling it all—because if we moms know one thing, it’s that we get it done!

Let’s connect