Meal Prep Taking For-e-ver? Steal These Quick Meal & Snack Hacks to Save You Time & Sanity This Summer

Because the Lord didn't say "Thou shalt live in the kitchen all summer long." 😉

🥴 Does Summer Meal Prep Feel Like a Full-Time Job?

You know that moment when you're sprinting out the door—kiddo’s half-dressed, coffee half-drunk—and your stomach growls like a hangry lion? Yep. That’s when it hits you: You forgot to plan lunch again. 😩

Or maybe you’ve stared longingly at your Pinterest board full of dreamy meal prep ideas... but somehow your fridge still looks like a chaotic “before” photo on a makeover show.

Friend, if any of this sounds familiar, you are so not alone. 🙋‍♀️ In fact, you’re exactly who this post is for.

If you're ready to stop the summer snack-time scramble and ditch the "ugh, what's for dinner?" stress, I’ve got some real-life-tested, mom-approved, Christ-centered hacks that’ll help you meal plan without the madness.

👉 And if you're a podcast kinda gal, you’ll wanna catch the full episode over on Faith-Filled Food Freedom.

🌟 Why Food Planning Feels So Dang Hard in Summer

Let’s be honest. Summer is wild in the best—and messiest—way.

You're juggling VBS, splash pads, road trips, surprise playdates, and maybe even work deadlines on top of it all. Planning ahead sounds amazing in theory... until real life walks in like:

“Surprise! Your toddler just dumped applesauce in her shoes and your teen ate all the snacks you were saving for the trip.”

Can I get an amen? 🙌

When we don’t have a plan, it’s like trying to go on a road trip without a map (or GPS). You're not just likely to get lost—you’re definitely ending up hangry.

So, let’s fix that.

⏰ Hack #1: Make a Meal & Snack Planning Appointment With Yourself

Yes, literally schedule it.

Before you roll your eyes like, “Brittany, I barely have time to pee alone”, hear me out. This isn’t about adding another thing to your to-do list. It’s about protecting your peace by planning ahead—just 10–15 minutes a week.

Here’s the move:

• Block off time like it’s a doctor’s appointment.
  
  
• Set a recurring reminder in your phone (bonus points if it has emojis 💡🍽).
  
  
• Treat it like sacred time—because your sanity is sacred.
  
  

And if you haven’t yet listened to episode 156 of the podcast with habit-stacking expert Jess Przulj, go queue that up next. 📱 She’ll show you how to actually make this a habit (instead of another thing you try once and forget by next Tuesday).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hack #2: Don’t Do It Alone — Get the Fam Involved

If you’re carrying the full weight of meal prep for your whole crew… girl, no wonder you're exhausted. You were never meant to do this alone. So let’s crowdsource!

Ask your people:

• What are your top 2–3 favorite meals this summer?
  
  
• What’s one snack you’d love to have next week?
  
  
• Which fruit sounds good? (Bonus if it’s on sale 🍉)
  
  

Let your child pick the fruit of the week. Ask your spouse for a lunchbox staple. Not only does this help you brainstorm, it buys you buy-in at mealtime—aka less whining and more eating. 🙌

Plus, your five-year-old is way more likely to eat those grapes when she picked them out.

🧠 Hack #3: Do a 20-Minute Brain Dump to Make Meals Portable

Summer eats ≠ sit-down dinners every night.

Most days, you're probably eating in the car, on the bleachers, or at the park. So let’s make your favorite meals grab-and-go friendly.

Set a timer for 20 minutes and ask: How can I make our go-to meals more portable?

Some easy examples:

• 🌮 Tacos → Burrito wraps or taco bowls in containers
  
  
• 🥨 Chips & dip → Pretzel sticks + hummus/PB in individual cups
  
  
• 🥪 Sandwiches too messy? → Deli meat & cheese rollups + fruit on the side
  
  

You can even prep mason jar meals, bento boxes, or snack bags on Sunday so you’re not left scrambling when life gets chaotic.

🧺 Hack #4: Keep Your Go-To Grab-and-Go List Handy

You know those days when your brain is running on empty and you literally can’t think of one single snack idea?

Girl, same. That’s why you need this list in your phone or taped to the fridge:

✅ My Top 10 Go-To Snacks & Meals for Travel:

1. Bell pepper strips or baby carrots + hummus
   
   
2. Deli meat or cheese wraps (add greens or a fun spread!)
   
   
3. Snack bars (ones you actually like—not the chalky protein ones 🤢)
   
   
4. Pre-washed & pre-cut fruit in baggies
   
   
5. Breakfast cookies or protein balls
   
   
6. Hummus + veggie wraps or tortilla roll-ups
   
   
7. Pre-packed nuts or DIY trail mix
   
   
8. Microwavable oatmeal or pancake cups (like Kodiak!)
   
   
9. Whole-grain crackers + cheese slices
   
   
10. Pre-packed popcorn or a sweet treat (cookies totally count!)
    
    

And let’s be clear:
👉 Snacks don’t have to be “clean” to be good.
👉 There’s no wrong snack if it’s satisfying.
👉 These are ideas—not rules.

🙏 Faith + Food Freedom Reminder

Listen, you don’t need a fridge full of color-coded, Pinterest-perfect Tupperware to nourish your body well this summer.

A little planning + God’s grace = more peace, less panic.

Scripture reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:31 —

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 

That includes eating a sandwich in the church parking lot without shame, friend.

🔁 Let’s Recap These Time-Saving Hacks

Before we wrap, let’s hit the highlights:

• ⏰ Hack #1: Schedule your planning time weekly (habit stack it!)
  
  
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Hack #2: Ask your family for input—buy-in = less whining
  
  
• 🧠 Hack #3: Brain dump ways to make fave meals more portable
  
  
• ✅ Hack #4: Keep a top 10 snack list handy for no-brainer prep
  
  

📣 Ready for More Support?

If you’re loving these tips but still feeling stuck in the mental spiral of food guilt, body shame, or overthinking every snack choice… I see you. And I’ve got you.

👯‍♀️ Come join our free Facebook group:
Food Freedom & Body Image Support for Christian Women
It’s full of encouraging women (just like you!) who are ditching diet culture and choosing freedom—one snack at a time.

And if you’re tired of doing it alone?
✨ Let’s talk about The Joy-Filled Eater LIVE—my Christ-centered coaching program where we walk together toward food peace, body confidence, and joy in Jesus. Every single week.

💛 Final Thought: God Didn’t Call You to Food Obsession

Your worth isn’t defined by how “clean” your snacks are or how perfectly you meal prepped this week. And if the enemy’s been whispering lies that say otherwise? Shut him down with truth.

You are already fully known, fully loved, and fully equipped to make peace with food and honor your body—on the go or not.

So here’s to less stress and more joy in your meals and snacks this summer. 🎉
You've got this, friend—and God's got you.

🎧 Missed the podcast episode?
Listen to “Meal Prep Taking Forever? Steal These Quick Hacks” on the Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast now!

Cheering you on always,
🧡 Brittany

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD
Faith-Based Food Freedom & Body Image Coach
Host of The Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast
www.brittanybraswellrd.com