Make Dinner in a Dash With This Genius Formula

You can't seem to scroll through your Pinterest feed or open a health magazine without coming across the concept of meal prepping. More than just a buzzword, meal prep can help curb the urge to pop in a frozen pizza or call for your favorite delivery dish on chaotic nights or busy workdays. If you are overwhelmed by planning a weekly menu, find chopping tedious, are intimidated by selecting the right spices or despise the attention needed to follow a recipe, though, this mix-and-match Meal-O-Matic tool will be liberating.

This simple formula is genius, allowing even the most rookie chef to create delicious, nutritious dishes. There are countless ways to mix and match healthful meals, meaning you'll never get bored. Use the chart below to pick your preferred protein, vegetables, fat, flavor and grain and you'll have a complete meal every time. To make, cook the meat and veggies using your desired preparation method, then just add the preferred grain to complete the meal. If you're ready to take cooking to the next level or need a little more guidance, check out one of the recipes listed below, each of which contains a few more ingredients and detailed directions. Each recipe gives a one- and four-serving option.

To make it even easier, prepare a double or even a triple batch of your preferred combination for leftovers later in the week. Additionally, you can prep extra servings of just your protein, allowing you to change up your veggies and grain for a quick, but varied meal throughout the week. Successful meal prep is all about planning, so consider planning a few fallback meals for those nights when you have to stay late at work or the kid's game goes into overtime. Keep your kitchen stocked with some canned meat, frozen or canned vegetables, an instant-cook grain and a few meals in mind and you'll be able to throw together meals no matter what comes up—no drive-thru required.

Recipe Inspiration