Need some help with Meal Prep and not sure which meal prep tools will help with meal planning? Meal planning on a budget can be tough and finding the right meal prep supplies and meal prep containers can add up. Knowing where to find meal planning tools and meal planning ideas will help make family meal planning easier. Keep reading to see these 42 Meal Prep Tools From The Dollar Tree Meal!
Meal prep for the week using these Dollar Store finds and Dollar Tree meal prep tools! The Dollar Tree even has supplies so you can make your own Meal Planning Binder and meal planning menu board! These Dollar Store meal planning tips will blow you away!
These cheap meal prep tools can help meal prep for the week for beginners and will save you money from buying meal prep containers at Walmart or Target meal prep containers
Meal Prep Tools From The Dollar Tree
Lunch Totes/Bags
Store your meals for the week in a fun $1 tote or lunch bag! These bags with a handle from the Dollar Tree are perfect to store snacks and lunch for the day.
–>>Get Dollar Tree Lunch Bag here
The Dollar Tree also has totes with double handles if you prefer those and these can be personalized using a Cricut or Silhouette machine to add a cute quote or monogram!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Lunch Tote here
Use this hot/cold insulating bag with your meal prep meals to keep items warm or cold. I love packing a meal on road trips so I’m not forced to eat fast-food. This insulated tote will help you eat healthy meal prep meals while on-the-go!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Thermal Hot/Cold Bags here
Lunch Containers
I found these plastic food containers at the Dollar Tree that are very similar to my favorite Lunch containers and I was shocked! They even come with a handy fork and knife!
These are perfect to pack a side salad with carrots and hummus or a sandwich and snack on the side!
Soup Containers
I love making soup on Sunday and eat the leftovers throughout the week. These soup containers are perfect to store meal prep soup, chili, and more!
Dressing/Sauce Containers
These dressing and sauce containers from the Dollar Tree are almost exactly like these! I use this version for salad dressing, hummus, guacamole, ketchup, & more! They fit perfectly into a large container so you can carry one packaged meal prepped item!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Dressing/Sauce containers here
Food Containers
Use these larger food containers to store your meal prep items for the entire week. Add a label to the lid or the front and your meal prep is organized!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Food Containers here
Snack Containers
These snack containers are perfect to store sliced apples, baby carrots, almonds, and more for those hangry moments you need food but don’t want to resort to vending machine snacks.
–>>Get Dollar Tree Snack Containers here
Dry Goods Containers
Use these Dollar Tree dry food containers to store nuts, cereal, granola, crackers, and more! These containers will keep your dry good fresh so they don’t go stale!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Dry Goods Containers here
Glass Jars
The glass jars at the Dollar Tree are perfect to store mason jar salads to-go! Layer a salad starting with the wet ingredients on the bottom and store in your fridge for your weekly meal prep!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Glass Jars here
Freezer Meal Containers
If you love meal prepping freezer meals, you need to shop at the Dollar Tree for some aluminum containers to easily store your freezer meals. The Dollar Tree has all shapes and sizes whether you are making a casserole, lasagna, or roasted veggies! These containers are also perfect for meal prep food gifts!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Foil Pans here
Adhesive Labels
Write the details of your meal prep containers and use these labels to keep your meal prep items organized in your fridge, freezer, and pantry!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Labels here
Dollar Tree Dishes
If you need some extra dishes (plates, cups, mugs, silverware, etc) the Dollar Tree has it all for your meal-serving needs.
Zip Lock Bags
Ever make a salad in a bag? I have while on road trips! These ziplock bags are perfect to store snacks, salads, freezer meals, and more for your meal prep needs!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Ziplock Bags here
Plastic Wrap
I use Plastic Wrap to wrap up half an avocado, other cut veggies/fruit, and to cover pre-made meals. Grab some plastic wrap from the Dollar Tree so you are ready for Meal prepping!
–>>Get Dollar Tree plastic wrap here
Aluminum Foil
I use aluminum foil when roasting veggies and wrapping food to store in the fridge. Aluminum foil is an essential item for meal prep!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Aluminum foil here
Parchment Paper
Use parchment paper to make baked chicken, use to wrap baked goods (bread, muffins, etc), and other parchment paper recipes.
–>>Get Dollar Tree parchment paper here
Portable Cutting Board
When you work in an office, you may not have access to basic kitchen meal prep supplies (like a cutting board). Keep these portable cutting mats at your desk when you need to slice a lemon (for your water or salad dressing), slice an apple or hardboiled eggs!
–>>Get Dollar Tree chopping mats here
Bamboo Cutting Board
A good cutting board is hard to find. I have not used the Dollar Tree bamboo cutting board myself, but I’m sure it does the job when you need to meal prep and chop lots of veggies, fruit, and meat!
–>>Get the Dollar Tree Bamboo Cutting Board here
Apple/Food Slicer
Use this handy Apple core slicer when you need sliced apple in minutes. Reduce your meal prep time with this handy kitchen gadget from the Dollar Tree!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Apple/food slicer here
Food Chopper
This food chopper will speed up meal prep chopping! It’s also a scraper and scooper that you can use to quickly scoop food from a cutting board into containers.
Food Grater
This handheld food grater from the Dollar Tree is perfect for slicing veggies and cheese when recipes call for grated food!
Vegetable Peeler
Use a vegatable peeler in your meal prep to remove the skin from fruits and veggies easily. This handy tool is a must-have kitchen meal prep essential tool!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Vegetable Peeler here
Can Opener
Another meal prep essential tool is a can opener. I personally prefer a hand-held can opener over an electric one because it’s portable! So if you’re at work and need a can opener for soup, etc, head to the Dollar Tree to find one for $1!
–>>Get a Dollar Tree Can Opener here
Measuring Cups
Use measuring cups from the Dollar Tree to measure ingredients in yoru meal prep recipes! These cups also double as a bowl in a pinch!
–>>Get Dollar Tree measuring cups here
Silicone Spatulas, Spoons, & Turners
Silicone lasts longer than plastic and the Dollar Tree has this fun set of silicone spoons, spatuals, and more! Use these for all your meal prep tool needs!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Spatulas, Spoons, & Turners here
Colander
A colander can be used to drain and wash veggies, boiled noodles, and doubles as a bowl in a pinch during meal prepping.
–>>Get Dollar Tree Colander here
Mixing Bowls
I use several mixing bowls during meal prep… some for storage and some for mixing ingredients. Mixing bowls are meal prep essential tools!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Glass Food Prep Bowls here
–>>Get Dollar Tree Glass Plastic Mixing Bowls here
Cookie Sheets
I use cookie sheets to roast veggies, make one-pan meals, and baked goods. Cookie sheets are an essential meal planning item in your kitchen!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Cookie Sheets here
Muffin Pans
Have you ever made egg muffins? I love making 21 Day Fix Egg Muffins in our muffin pan and we eat them during the week for a quick breakfast or snack. Add the muffin pans from the Dollar Tree to your meal prepping kitchen tools.
–>>Get Dollar Tree Muffin Pans here
Meal Prep Knives
Sharp cutting knives are a meal prep essential tool and every kitchen should have at least one good chopping knife. The Dollar Tree has several knives to choose from to help you with meal prepping!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Knives here
Citrus Juicer or Lemon Squeezer
I squeeze a lot of lemons to make salad dressing and more and these handy lemon squeezers and citrus squeezer is a life saver during meal prep!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Lemon Squeezer here
Pitcher
Store your Blended shakes and smoothies in your fridge with these Dollar Tree pitchers!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Pitchers here
Ice Cube Trays
Use ice cube trays to make ice cubes, homemade broth base, freeze fresh spices, freeze coffee to add to smoothies, make your own baby food, and more meal prep ideas!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Ice Cube Trays here
Reusable Ice Packs
Store your meals for the week using a $1 ice pack and a fund lunch tote from the Dollar Tree!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Reusable Ice Packs here
Plastic Refrigerator Storage Bins
Organize your meal prep in these Dollar Tree plastic bins with a handle. These Dollar Tree bins are see-through and easy to pull out from your refrigerator with a convenient handle. Place all your meal prep items (snacks, shakes, etc) in bins and label them by each day or meal to keep your meal prep storage organized!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Handle Storage Bins here
Plastic Pantry Storage Bins
Organize your pantry with Dollar Tree storage bins! Just add a label to organize your Pantry as I did in this post!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Pantry Storage Bins here
Various Food Spices/Seasonings
The Dollar Tree also carries various spices and seasonings (basics like salt, pepper, garlic, etc) that you can use in your meal prep recipes!
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a healthy alternative to cooking food instead of using margerine, etc and I’m happy to see the Dollar Tree carries Coconut Oil to help with recipe preparation!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Coconut Oil Here
Magnetic Clips
These magnetic clips can be used to display a printed weekly meal plan on your fridge or used to keep bags (bread, snacks, etc) secure to keep them fresh.
–>>Get Dollar Tree Magnetic Clips Here
Pot Holders/Oven Mitts
If you’re meal prepping and cooking items using an oven or Instant Pot, some oven mitts are a must-have meal prep essential tool!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Pot Holders/Oven Mitts Here
Recipe Cards
Use Dollar Tree index cards to write down your favorite recipes and store them in your kitchen for convenience!
–>>Get Dollar Tree Index Cards Here
Dollar Tree Meal Planning Notebook
Grab my Free Printable Meal Planning cheat sheets, print on Dollar Tree copy paper, Place in a 3-Ring Binder, use Dollar Tree Plastic Dividers to make a Meal Planning/Recipe Notebook!
See the full post to make a Dollar Tree Meal Planning Notebook here
Dollar Tree Supplies needed to make a Meal Planning Notebook:
- Copy paper
- 3-Ring Binder
- Plastic Dividers
- Labels
- Sheet Protectors (Use sheet protectors to instantly “laminate” meal planning forms and use dry-erase markers to write weekly meal plans)
- Dry-Erase Marker/Pens
- Favorite Recipes
- Monthly/Weekly Calendars
Dollar Tree Meal Planning Menu Board
See the full post to make a Dollar Tree Menu Planner here.
Dollar Tree Supplies needed to make a Meal Planning Notebook:
- 8×10″ Frame
- Cookie Sheet
- Paper (wrapping paper, construction paper, card stock etc.)
- Glue
- Notepad
- Ribbon
- Dry-Erase Marker
- Pen/Pencil
- Double-Sided Tape
I hope you discovered some meal planning tools and learned where to find cheap meal planning essential tools after reading this post!
Meal Planning Printable Resources
Lastly, to be the most successful meal planner and cook in your home, grab this bundle of printable meal planning cheat sheets and checklists.
The Meal Planning Bundle includes:
- ONE (1) Cheat Sheet with Dinner Ideas for Mon-Sun (each day is a different meal category to simplify things even more!)
- ONE (1) Detailed Menu Planner Form (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Snacks – Mon-Sun)
- ONE (1) Dinner Only Menu Planner Form (Mon-Sun)
- ONE (1) Cheat Sheet with Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, and Snack Ideas (use as a reference when meal planning)
- ONE (1) Pantry Staples Cheat Sheet (use as Inventory Checklist when making your shopping list)
- ONE (1) Meal Planning Checklist (To-Do list for the beginner meal prep and meal planner)
Get instant access to the only printables you need to master meal planning today!
Now you know what you need in the kitchen to make meal planning, prepping, and cooking so much easier!
The Ultimate Healthy Meal Planning Bundle
Are you making your life more difficult than it needs to be?
If you’ve ever stood in front of your fridge, hoping that this time when you opened the door, you’d find thawing meat, or maybe a little inspiration, or even – miracle of miracles! – a ready-made meal, I totally get where you’re coming from.
There’s one thing I can think of that will help… meal planning.
When you know what’s for dinner every day, you’ll be more efficient, less stressed, and you’ll have more margin in your life. While meals won’t throw themselves together, you might be surprised at how much easier (and even enjoyable) it feels.
You probably already know that, but do you want a way to make it even easier?
The Healthy Meal Planning Bundle 2019 is on sale now and it will help you put healthier meals on your table, in less time, with less stress.
With over 1000 recipes, a clickable index, ready-made meal plans (with grocery lists), nutritional information for every recipe, and more, the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle is designed to save you from the pain of the frantic, pre-dinner hour. 😉
–>>Pick up your copy of the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle today!
I have the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle myself and it’s full of amazing recipes and info that has already helped my family with healthy meals and eating better ????
–>>Go here to get the Healthy Meal Planning Bundle
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