Does the thought of meal prepping for an entire week feel like too much work? It doesn’t have to be!

Instead of preparing several complete meals at once, try batch cooking just one ingredient that you can use in different ways throughout the week.

For example, cook a big batch of beans and use them in tacos, grain bowls, salads, soups or wraps. You could also cook a pot of brown rice or quinoa and use it as the base for several different meals.

Roasted vegetables are another great option. Roast a large tray of your favorite vegetables and add them to bowls, salads, wraps or simply serve them as a side dish.

The beauty of this approach is that you’re doing some of the work ahead of time without locking yourself into eating the same meal every day.

One ingredient, several possibilities and less meal-prep pressure!

The next time you’re planning your meals, try cooking just one versatile ingredient ahead of time and see how many different ways you can use it.

What would you batch cook first, beans, grains or vegetables?