Meal Prep for Working Moms:

Save Time with Batch Cooking Seasonal Produce

Do you ever find yourself scrambling to get dinner on the table between work and shuttling your kids to their after-school activities? I know the feeling. During those activity-filled school nights, I crave hearty, comfort foods that I can quickly heat up and enjoy before heading out the door. My go-to dishes are Wild Rice Soup, Chili, and Tomato Basil Soup—made with fresh, peak-season produce so I can savor them all year long.

If you’re wondering how to make this work for your family, stick around! I’m going to go over how to batch cook with seasonal produce, so you can enjoy the same convenience and flavor. By using local, in-season produce to create quick, nutritious meals for those busy nights filled with activities.

Benefits of Batch Cooking Seasonal Produce

Pick a day when seasonal produce is at its peak, and batch-cook multiple meals to get you through those busy school nights. Plan ahead, buy in bulk, and cook up a variety of meals at once. Here’s why it works:

• Save Time: Prepping meals on one summer day saves you time during the school year when you’re too tired after work and need to rush to evening activities. With batch cooking, your freezer becomes your pantry, reducing the number of times you have to run out for groceries.

• Save Money: Buying produce at its peak from local farmers’ markets can help you stretch your budget further.

• Convenience: On busy weeknights, simply warm up your pre-made meals, and enjoy the taste of fresh, peak-season produce.

• Healthier Options: Using seasonal produce means your meals are packed with nutrients, even when you don’t have time to cook from scratch.

While planning your batch cooking, consider prepping extra veggies for snacks. Carrots, peppers, and celery are perfect grab-and-go options. Pair them with single-serving portions of peanut butter, nut butter, or hummus for a quick, balanced snack that you and your teens will love.

Sauté carrots, celery and onions for meals to come

Essential Ingredients for Batch Cooking

When it comes to seasonal produce in the Upper Midwest, some of the best ingredients for batch cooking are carrots, onions, peppers, and garlic. These are versatile, nutrient-rich, and form the base of many meals. As you prep your batch-cooking day, think about how the vegetables will be used in your favorite recipes. Are they chopped for sautéing or quartered for roasting?

When working with grains, beans, or meats, take the same approach: cook enough for multiple meals so you can easily grab and reheat them when you’re pressed for time.

Time-Saving Meal Prep for Busy Weeks

As you plan your batch-cooking day, think about meals that use summer produce and can be prepped before the school year starts. For example, I love making Tomato Basil Soup in the summer, using peak-season tomatoes and basil. On my batch-cooking day, I’ll roast extra tomatoes, onions, and garlic, to freeze them for a later date. This way, when I want to enjoy a bowl of fresh tomato soup, all I have to do is pull out my pre-roasted veggies and cook them up with the rest of the ingredients cutting the cook time in half.

Simple Steps for Batch Cooking

1. Plan Ahead: Choose a few recipes you love that use peak-season produce.

2. Schedule Your Batch-Cooking Day: Pick a time in summer or early fall to prep your ingredients.

3. Prep and Freeze: Cook up batches of your favorite meals, like soups, stews, and casseroles. Let them cool before packaging, and freeze in single-serving portions for easy reheating.

4. Label Everything: Clear, detailed labels make it easy to grab exactly what you need.

Note: Always let your cooked food cool before you package and freeze it. This prevents ice crystals from forming and keeps your meals tasting fresh.

More Time-Saving Meal Prep Ideas

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Bonus Giveaway:

To help you get started on your journey, I’ve created a free 5-Step Guide to Planning Nutritious Meals for 2025, and discover just how easy it can be to embrace sustainable, seasonal cooking.

Enjoy the season you’re in, and happy cooking!

Until next time!

AnnaBelle