

Meal Prep Monday Podcast™
Allison Schaaf
Meal Prep Monday Podcast™ brings you 10 minutes of actionable meal prep advice, helping you answer the dreaded "What's for Dinner?" question with ease. Host Allison Schaaf is a personal chef, dietitian, mom and founder of meal planning website PrepDish.com. Listen along as she teaches you how to save time, money & energy through meal prep. Her healthy gluten free, paleo & keto meal plans have helped thousands! And in this podcast, she's sharing all of her time saving tips and tricks with you! Tune in every Monday to up your mealplan and mealprep game!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 7, 2023 • 11min
We’re Hiring! Marketing Position at Prep Dish l EP#182
Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares details about an open position here at Prep Dish. We’re looking for a Marketing Assistant and Content Creator. The position includes: Writing show notes for this podcast Content creation - this includes graphics in Canva for both Prep Dish customers and marketing materials Assisting in managing the affiliate program and marketing, including writing newsletters and putting together sales copy Helping with the Prep Dish Instagram account, including creating graphics and writing captions Updating content on the website - this includes knowledge of Wordpress Learning new software as needed Testing recipes on occasion 8-12 hours per week We’re a small but mighty team here at Prep Dish. We all work independently and offer a lot of flexibility in terms of hours. This is the kind of job you can feel passionate about but that will still allow you plenty of time to prioritize family. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Details about the position: https://prepdish.com/about/hiring/

Jul 31, 2023 • 9min
Kitchen Gadgets that are Worth it (and Those that Aren’t) l EP#181
In episode 181, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares 3 kitchen gadgets that are worth it, and which ones she does not find worth it. Kitchen Gadgets that are Worth it 1. A Great Peeler Little gadgets like this can make a big difference in your day to day cooking. The best one will depend on your preferences but find one that’s easy to use that you love. 2. Hand-held Citrus Squeezer While I generally don’t love gadgets that only serve one purpose, I do squeeze a lot of citrus and find this useful. 3. A Quality Grater / Microplane These are great for zesting citrus, grating ginger, grating garlic, fresh nutmeg, etc. The smallest bit of fresh nutmeg can be so delicious in pureed soups! Kitchen Gadgets I Don’t Think are Worth it I really steer clear of gadgets that do only one thing like egg slicers, avocado slicers, etc. Instead, I recommend Googling the best way to chop various items. (Or, check out my YouTube channel where I share things like how to slice watermelon!) Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! 5 Tips on How to Simplify Life and Actively Fight Complexity: prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep179/ How to Chop Watermelon: https://youtu.be/0jUsBcopRdY My YouTube Playlist on How to Chop Various Items: https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLZFbto5QrmmjJxk57t9G11lr1YahPZTea/edit Choosing Quality Kitchen Knives: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep160/

Jul 24, 2023 • 8min
The Importance of Lab Work - PSA l EP#180
In episode 180, meal prep expert Allison Schaaf discusses the importance of lab work in maintaining your health. One of the best ways to determine where you may have some deficiencies is lab work. If you find someone who specializes in functional medicine, they are more likely to offer more lab work and more specific information about your results. You can fund nurse practitioners or dietitians who specialize in functional medicine. The specific things you should get checked will vary based on your personal health history. You may want to get things like vitamin D, hormones, lipid panels, etc. tested. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Find a Functional Medicine Provider:[https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/](https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/ "")

Jul 17, 2023 • 13min
5 Tips on How to Simplify Life and Actively Fight Complexity l EP#179
In episode 179, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf discusses an idea mentioned in the podcast, I will Teach You to Be Rich. The concept is actively fighting complexity and embracing simplicity. This episode includes 5 tangible tips on how to simplify life. 1. Finances When it comes to something like credit cards, I do a lot of initial research but then commit to it and stick with it. I use this same strategy for investing. I don’t continually research once I’ve made a decision. This saves so much brain space! 2. Food & Meals As you likely know, I’m a big fan of having a meal plan and figuring out the food for the week upfront. That way I don’t have to continually revisit and start from scratch. 3. What I Drink I’ve determined that what I usually want to drink at a restaurant is a white French wine. I don’t have to go through a complicated decision making process each time. This applies to other things like what I order for breakfast out, etc. Knowing your preferences simplifies things. 4. Clothing With our house renovations, we have a new closet. I’m trying to be very intentional about only keeping items I really love and having many things I can mix and match so I don’t have an overwhelming volume of clothes. 5. Scheduling I try with both the kids’ schedules and my schedule, to keep things simple. I try to avoid having too many meetings and calls. Instead, we have regular calls at Prep Dish with the same order and process each time. This keeps things simple and efficient. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! I Will Teach You to Be Rich podcast: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/podcast/ Simple Path to Wealth: https://www.amazon.com/The-Simple-Path-to-Wealth-audiobook/dp/B0725RFDPY/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=410026134426&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3141049689044845714&hvtargid=kwd-242242542487&hydadcr=21937_11243204&keywords=the+simple+path+to+wealth+jl+collins&qid=1687464084&sr=8-1 The Curated Closet: https://www.amazon.com/Curated-Closet-Discovering-Personal-Building/dp/1607749483/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=241895256400&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12682220489114390089&hvtargid=kwd-196831307824&keywords=the+curated+closet&qid=1687464254&sr=8-1

Jul 10, 2023 • 11min
3 Tips for How to Eat Seasonally l EP#178
In episode 178, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares 3 ways you can incorporate seasonal items into your weekly meal planning. Visit a Farmer’s Market Farmers markets are a great way to support local farmers and to also keep in touch with what’s in season. Go on an In-Person Grocery Trip If you’re like me and do most of your grocery shopping online these days, take an in-person trip to the grocery store to see which produce is in season at the moment. Be on the lookout for local items as well! Grow Your Own Fruits & Veggies If you’re growing anything edible, talk to a friend or neighbor about doing a swap. For instance, you may be able to swap some of your tomatoes for some of their zucchini so you can enjoy more local, seasonal produce without growing many different items. Bonus - Use Prep Dish meal plans! Our Prep Dish meal plans take advantage of seasonal produce items so you don’t have to think about it. Whether it’s cherries in the summer or delicata squash in the fall, we’ll help you tap into those seasonal items. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! My Experience with Lettuce Grow: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep97/

Jul 3, 2023 • 13min
Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way - Giving Up TV for 1 Week l EP#177
In episode #177, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares what happened when she gave up TV, podcasts and reading for a week based on Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans!

Jun 26, 2023 • 11min
Daily Journaling l EP#176
Episode #176 is inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. It’s a morning workbook so it is a bit of a commitment. One aspect of the program is daily journaling, first thing in the morning. I really look at mealtime as a sacred time I want to be present for. I find practices like daily journaling can help me achieve that presence. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! The Artist’s Way: https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Spiritual-Higher-Creativity/dp/1585421472/ref=sr_1_4?hvadid=616863381057&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9019256&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16098706020834368236&hvtargid=kwd-468317885&hydadcr=24659_13611768&keywords=the+artists%27+way&qid=1685528325&sr=8-4

Jun 19, 2023 • 13min
8 Ways to Avoid Toxins in Your Home and Create a Safer Home Environment l EP#175
In this episode, host Allison Schaaf shares 8 simple ways to avoid toxins in your home. 1. Removing Shoes in the House This is such an easy one that keeps dirt and other things your shoes have picked up out of the house. 2. Reduce Exposure to Cell Phones, Wifi, etc. You can set your wifi on a timer or simply unplug it. We also try to keep our phones away from our bodies, and especially away from our kids. We also have a kill switch that switches off the electricity in our house. The exposure is so constant, I like having some breaks. 3. Cleaning Products I love the brand Force of Nature for household cleaning. You receive a little pouch and make the cleaning solution fresh every week or so. 4. Laundry Detergent We love the Molly’s Suds laundry detergent in our home. 5. Cloth Diapers We used cloth diapers for both of our boys and found that it really wasn’t that time-intensive. 6. Using Microfiber for Cleaning Microfiber picks up a lot of germs even just with water. 7. Use Cloth Napkins This is more environmental than about avoiding toxins but it is a nice habit that also elevates our meals a bit. 8. Opening the Windows Letting in some fresh air can help clean the air in your home, especially if you use a gas stove, a fireplace, have just cleaned a lot or have recently painted. Even if you have air filters, opening the windows is helpful as well. Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Force of Nature Cleaner: https://www.forceofnatureclean.com/ Laundry Detergent: https://mollyssuds.com/collections/powder-laundry-detergent?tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19509948361&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4NujBhC5ARIsAF4Iv6f2snGzT6EdGlNgqM0w922kKGQCAqiFjG8cnuqAZYr5Ofl0GnOi3q8aAo9hEALw_wcB

Jun 12, 2023 • 15min
Our New Family Habit - Teaching Kids Spanish l EP#174
In episode 174, Prep Dish founder Allison Schaaf shares how she’s used the same habit formation tools she uses for meal planning toward a new family goal - teaching kids Spanish. The hardest part about meal prep isn’t the chopping and cooking, it’s forming the weekly habit so that meal prep becomes a way of life. It’s the same way for other habits! Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Ep #77 - Creating Prompts for New Habits (Habit Stacking): https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep77/ Flip Flop Spanish - https://www.flipflopspanish.com/

Jun 5, 2023 • 19min
Road Trip Snacks for Kids l EP#173
This page contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! Prep Dish founder and meal prep expert, Allison Schaaf, talks about perhaps the #1 road trip key to success with kids: Snacks. Road trip snacks for kids (and adults!) are essential for the flexibility in routine a road trip requires. With meal times thrown off, kids may need more snacks on road trips. Keep in mind, your kids may eat less at meals if they’ve had a snack, but that beats a meltdown in my book! My Ten Favorite Road Trip Snacks for Kids: 1. Fruit - Apples, berries, oranges, bananas. Bonus - fruit is hydrating, unlike salty snacks! 2. Crackers 3. Cheese sticks 4. Chips or popcorn 5. Meat sticks 6. Baby carrots 7. Olives 8. Nuts 9. Veggie sticks or a veggie tray 10. Almond Butter Rice Crispie Bars (or other homemade treat) Bonus - If you buy eggs at an Airbnb, hard boil any leftover eggs for the road! Connect with Allison: PrepDish.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepdish/ Get your FREE mealplan at PrepDish.com/podcast OR text the word mealprep to 33777 Resources mentioned in this podcast: Get your free trial at prepdish.com/mpm for two weeks of free meal plans! Planning a Road Trip with Kids: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep171 Road Trip Meals with Kids: https://prepdish.com/podcast-show-notes/ep172 Kids Cook Real Food (