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Easy Family Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Mums

Easy Family Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Mums

Watching my meal prep videos, one might think I have a passion for food and cooking. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In 2022, I had my son Clancy, which inspired me to start creating TikTok videos. Over time, I found myself juggling parenting, work, and endless to-do lists. Cooking quickly became a chore, especially during the busy harvest season when I work long hours.

To make life easier, I started batch cooking family freezer meals—recipes I could prepare in bulk and freeze for later. These meals became a lifesaver for my family, giving us quick, delicious options that didn’t require me to cook every single day. On workdays, I simply grab a frozen dinner for my family and thaw my lunch in my OiOi insulated lunch bag. After sharing my freezer meal prep videos on TikTok, they went viral, and I’ve had countless requests for my recipes—so here they are!

Quick Links to Recipes

Why Meal Prep Works for Busy Families

If you’re a busy mum like me, balancing work, family, and everything in between, meal prep can be a game changer. By dedicating a few hours once a month, I save time, reduce stress, and ensure my family eats nutritious, home-cooked meals every day.

I live in a coastal rural farming town in southern WA. The majority of our town is involved in agriculture, and I work for our state's largest grain-handling company. During the busy harvest period, October to December, I often work 65+ hours a week, all while parenting. My partner Bradley’s work week is Monday to Friday, which allows me to work nights, and with the help of family, we’ve been able to avoid daycare for our son. While this schedule can be challenging, creating a smaller workload for myself through meal prep gives me more structure and frees up valuable time.

Key Benefits of Family Meal Prep

  • Saves time: No more scrambling to figure out dinner after a long day.
  • Budget-friendly: Buying ingredients in bulk and planning ahead helps reduce food waste and cuts costs.
  • Healthier options: Prepping your meals at home lets you control ingredients, portion sizes, and nutritional content.
  • Stress-free evenings: Knowing dinner is sorted gives me more time to spend with my family.
Clean and organized kitchen counter with labeled meal prep containers ready for freezer storage.

Being Organised

First things first. Being a mum comes with massive amounts of responsibility and organisation. Being organised is a skill I’ve had to learn. I align my schedule so that on my days off I am able to do these massive cooking sessions in my kitchen. A lot of the meals I make are trusty Australian household staples that I know my family will actually eat, and I know that will freeze well. Then for lunch options, I often opt for a toasted sandwich, which I’ve found to be the biggest life hack for work! After prepping these meals, my only food shopping is mainly fruit and dairy.

Cost-Effective Meal Prep

Not only does cooking this way give me more valuable time with my family, but it is also cost-effective. After I have chosen my prep session menu, I head to my online Woolworths app and create a shopping list of all the ingredients I will need. Buying in bulk really helps, then also shopping the special options and the Woolies home brands.

We are also fortunate to get our beef and lamb off farmer friends, which saves us hundreds per year. I know this isn’t a luxury for many, but I would highly recommend checking your local butcher for things like bulk mince. Not to mention the quality would be much better.

Prepped chilli con carne meal stored in a glass container, perfect for cost-effective family meal prep.

Family Favourite Freezer Recipes

Lasagne

This recipe has been a family staple with a few twists. The kewpie mayo is a game changer, adding a creamy texture and enhancing the taste. We have this weekly, and it works best when thawed before cooking.

Freezer-friendly family lasagne recipe with a creamy twist using kewpie mayo, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

Curry

I cook this when I’m short on time, and the whole family loves it in my household. I use less curry paste when I need it to not be as spicy for the kids.

Quick and easy freezer-friendly curry recipe for families, customizable spice levels for toddlers and picky eaters.

Chilli Con-Carne

This has been my favourite since I was a teen. A special tip would be to try eating it with corn chips.

Classic chilli con-carne recipe with a special serving tip to pair with corn chips for a family-friendly meal.

Burritos

When I cook these at work, everyone is always asking me for the recipe. It’s the best if you’re short on time and also helps me reach my protein goals. Try dipping them in Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Protein-packed burrito recipe, perfect for meal prep and busy mums, with a dipping suggestion of Greek yogurt or sour cream.

Egg Cups

These are great for my toddler’s lunch box fillers. I defrost them overnight when I prep lunch boxes, or heat them in the microwave. They’re a healthy snack full of protein and hidden goodies.

Healthy toddler-friendly egg cup recipe, ideal for lunchboxes or snacks, full of protein and hidden vegetables.

Meal Prep FAQs

How do you prepare for a meal prep session?

I always start with a clean kitchen. This makes the process much smoother and helps me stay organized during the session.

How long does meal prep take?

On average, I spend 5–6 hours, including cleanup.

What containers do you use for freezing meals?

I use foil containers that I purchase from Red Dot, as well as glass containers. I replaced my plastic food containers with glass after learning that some plastics may leach BPA or other chemicals into food when reheated. Since all my meal prep is frozen and reheated, switching to glass containers felt like a better choice for my family.

foil meal prep containers filled with freezer-friendly meals, organized for easy reheating.

About the Author & Meal Prep Resources

This meal prep blog was shared by Olivia Small, a busy mum and meal prep enthusiast, who has perfected her freezer-friendly recipes for her family of three. Olivia’s practical tips and recipes are perfect for anyone looking for:

  • Meal prep ideas for family with toddlers
  • Family dinner meal prep ideas for picky eaters
  • Cost-effective meal prep for a family of 4
  • Weekly meal prep ideas for busy families

For more practical meal prep solutions, check out OiOi’s Insulated Lunch Bags. Designed with families in mind, these lunch bags are perfect for keeping meals fresh and ready to enjoy. Whether you’re freezing meals for the week or prepping school lunches, OiOi has you covered.

OiOi insulated lunch bag packed with fresh meal prep, perfect for busy parents and family outings.

Disclaimer: The information and tips provided in this blog are based on personal experiences and are not intended as professional advice. Always consider dietary needs and safety guidelines when preparing meals for your family.

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