POV: You have tried meal prepping a million times, you buy all the ingredients, prep an entire weeks worth of food only to realize the recipes suck and you can’t force yourself to eat that.

I am a sucker for a meal prep recipe book. I have bought so many thinking this is the book that is going to help me lose the weight. When in reality it is the book that I wasted $50 on and never use.

I currently am trying to glow up a little. I am doing a “That Girl” challenge on Tik Tok because I want to feel more put together, organized, and like the woman I thought I would be when I was a kid. For me part of that is losing some pounds. I’m 5’3, 180 pounds and that’s just not the health I aspire to have. I can feel the excess weight in my joints and bones, so I want to do something about it. I keep going back to the idea that I was my healthiest when I meal prepped food because my meals were preplanned. But that takes us back to the message before where I buy a $50 cookbook and hate every recipe I make.

Meal Preps that Actually Taste Good

I recently found Makayla Thomas Fitness on Tik Tok and her recipes look soooo good. The key difference I have noticed with her food is that she is using normal food. She isn’t trying to replace everything with cottage cheese. (I’m sorry but if you consider cottage cheese and berries to be the same as a berry cheesecake we can’t eat together). She just measures all her food so that she is eating an appropriate portion.

I still haven’t bought her books because I told myself I have to try 10 recipes and love them before I can buy the book. It is a lot more work to pause the video with each step and write the ingredients but it is doable. I am linking and sharing the recipes below. As I make them, I will let you know what I think. And if I can find at least 10 I will buy the books because I will be confident that she cooks food l like.

Marry Me Chicken Bowls

The first recipe I tried, Marry Me Chicken and Pasta.

Review: Good lord!!! This is one of the best things I have eaten. She used tortellini which I loved, but I chose to use orzo pasta. The recipe below makes 3 servings. I looked forward to this meal prep every day and was sad when it was gone. I will be making this again. Plus it was SUPER filling. 10/10

Calories – 546 Carbs – 51g Fat – 19g Protein – 39g Fiber- 10g

• 1 cup dry orzo pasta
• 12 oz chicken breast (well seasoned)
• 3 tbsp Sun dried tomatoes 
• 1 Onion – Caramelized
• 1 bunch Spinach
• 3 tbsp Parmesan 
• 6 tbsp Alfredo (Raos)
• 3 tsp sun dried tomato pesto (Raos)

@makayla_thomas_fit Replying to @tatiyanarawls96 healthy meal but make it ✨lazy girl fancy ✨ #mealprep #healthymeals #mealideas #highprotein #quickmeals #dinnerideas #easymeals #marrymechicken ♬ The Weekend (Funk Wav Remix) – SZA & Calvin Harris

Cowboy Butter Chicken Bowls

Mashed Potatoes & Cowboy Butter Chicken! Say no more. This makes 3 servings.

Review: I DEVOURED these bowls. I was nervous about two things; one it wouldn’t be enough food and two the french fried onions would get soggy. I was wrong about both. It was so full after these meals and the french fried onions were perfection. 10/10

Calories – 358 Carbs – 30g Fat – 12g Protein – 29g Fiber- 1g

• 2 cups riced cauliflower 
• 2 Mashed potatoes pack
• 6 chicken tenderloins
• Kinders cowboy butter seasoning
• zucchini
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1/2 tsp cowboy butter seasoning 
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tbsp light cream cheese
• 3 tbsp French fried onion for crunch

@makayla_thomas_fit Yee haw 🤠 I get my cowboy butter seasoning from walmart or amazon but an alternative to this would be mixing—chili powder, garlic, paprika, dry mustard, seasoning salt, pepper and lemon juice! #mealprep #highproteinmeals #healthymeals #healthylunches #highproteinlowcarb #cowboybutter #summermeals ♬ WHISKEY WHISKEY – Moneybagg Yo

Chicken Satay Bowls

I love a bowl for lunch if that isn’t clear.

Review: I didn’t love the peanut sauce she uses, so I decided to replace it with a drizzle of the teriyaki sauce and that was a game changer. 7/10

Calories – 346. Carbs – 31g Fat – 10g Protein – 27g Fiber- 2g

• 1/4 cup coconut jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup cauliflower rice
• 2 tbsp coleslaw mix
• 4 oz chicken breasts cut in chunks
• paprika
• garlic
• pepper
• salt
• 2 tbsp Teriyaki Sauce
• 1 tbsp Peanut sauce
• 1 tbsp Light Yum Yum Sauce
• 2 tsp chopped peanuts
• 1 lime wedge

@makayla_thomas_fit soaking up the last bit of summer with one of my fav fresh + flavorful meal preps 🥡🍋‍🟩 #mealprep #healthymeals #mealideas #highprotein #lowcarb #lunchideas #dinnerideas #easymeals #peanutchicken ♬ Mamushi (feat. Yuki Chiba) – Megan Thee Stallion

Garlic Parm Stuffed Flatbread

Comfort food to the MAX!

Review: I made this one and it was a 5/10 but I cut corners so I need to make it again correctly to properly judge.

Calories – 495 Carbs – 45g Fat – 28g Protein – 46g Fiber- 31g

• 2 low carb tortillas
• 1 light laughing cow cheese
• 3 oz chicken breast
• 1 tbsp bacon bits
• 2 tbsp caramelized onions
• 1 tbsp buffalo wild wings garlic Parmesan sauce
• 1/4 cup shredded skim mozzarella

@makayla_thomas_fit Replying to @Ansu2714 this the one 😮‍💨 ((I love carbs btw, this one just happens to be low carb/high protein 🤪)) #mealprep #healthymeals #mealideas #highprotein #lowcarb #lunchideas #dinnerideas #easymeals ♬ DJ Earworm Decade of Pop 2010 to 2019 – DJ Earworm

Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Bowls

When we moved to Tennessee, I was introduced to Nashville Hot Chicken and my world changed a little. It is so good. So excited to try this meal prep! This makes 3 servings.

Review: COMING SOON

Calories – 309 Carbs – 39g Fat – 8g Protein – 21g Fiber- 3g

• 2 medium russet potatoes
• 9 oz lightly breaded chicken breast chunks
• 3 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp greek yogurt
• 1 tsp ranch seasoning
• splash hot sauce
• 3 tbsp cheese
• pickles

@makayla_thomas_fit Replying to @Briana Fitzpatric450 soooo…these are a YES 🔥 high protein, low cal meal prep you want to eat 👏🏼 #m#mealpreph#healthymealsm#mealideash#highproteinl#lowcarbl#lunchideasd#dinnerideaseasymeals #nashvillehotchicken #hothoneychicken ♬ Luke Combs Real Hypha Remix – RealHypha

Honey Garlic Low Mein

Asian noodles are a weakness of mine. This recipe makes 3 servings

Review: COMING SOON

Calories – 451 Carbs – 70g Fat – 8g Protein – 23g Fiber- 2g

• 5 oz dry fettuccine
• 1/4 cup broccoli
• 1/4 cup cabbage
• 2 tbsp carrots
• 1/2 cup teriyaki
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp garlic
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 9 oz breaded chicken breast chunks

@makayla_thomas_fit Best 10 minute meal you’ll eat all week !! 🤤🔥 approx 430 cal + 31 protein #mealprep #healthymeals #mealideas #highprotein #lowcarb #lunchideas #dinnerideas #easymeals #lomein ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS) – Tommy Richman

Sushi Roll Bowl

Sushi but make it low cal.

Review: I don’t love the peanut sauce she uses so I doubled the yum yum sauce. It was a 6/10. I ate all 3 but I’m not planning to make it again.

Calories – 510 Carbs – 61g Fat – 19g Protein – 24g Fiber- 7g

• 1/2 cup instant white rice
• 1/2 cauliflower rice
• 10 shrimp
• 1/4 cup cucumber
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 avocado
• 2 tbsp wonton strips
• 1 tbsp light yum yum sauce
• 1 tbsp peanut sauce
• lime juice

@makayla_thomas_fit 10 minutes + you’re one step closer to crushing your goals (without the misery) 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 #mealprep #healthymeals #summermeals #highprotein #quickmeals #mealideas #sushibowl #bowls ♬ MILLION DOLLAR BABY – Tommy Richman

Cheesy Beef Taco Bowl

My only caveat here is I don’t eat queso, it’s giving plastic cheese at the football snack shack vibes. Eric thinks I am such a snob when I saw that. Anywho I will be replacing that with freshly shredded cheddar.

Review: COMING SOON

Calories – 540 Carbs – 45g Fat – 21g Protein – 37g Fiber- 8g

• 1 low carb tortilla
• 1 cup instant rice
• 1 cup water mixed
• 1 tsp knorr caldo de tomate
• 4 oz ground turkey
• taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese

@makayla_thomas_fit Replying to @Becca Lynn easy, high protein meal 🔥 5 min mexican rice (lazy girl style 🤪): 1 cup instant rice 1 cup water mixed with 1 tsp knorr caldo de tomate (from walmart) Mix + microwave 6 min then fluff with a fork—i used about 1/2 cup here 🙂 #healthymeals #mealprep #healthydinners #quickdinners #cincodemayo #tacobowl #easymeals #highprotein ♬ A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey

Fiesta Lime Street Corn Chicken Bowls

I could eat Mexican food every single day of my life.

Review: COMING SOON

Calories – 423 Carbs – 22g Fat – 23g Protein – 3g Fiber- 2g

• 1/4 cup instant jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup cauliflower rice
• 3 tbsp fire roasted corn
• Mojito Lime seasoning
• 4 oz chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp Chick Fil A Avocado lime Ranch
• 1 tbsp queso fresco

@makayla_thomas_fit make this high protein meal prep + slay your warm weather goals w me 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽 #highproteinmealprep #mealprep #healthymeals #healthylunches #healthybowls #quickmeals #streetcorn ♬ original sound – Dj Jhanzkie

Chicken Parm Stuffed Flatbread

This looks amazing. And I love that it is a flatbread because I know I will get tired of bowls.

Review: COMING SOON

Calories – 447 Carbs – 52g Fat – 25g Protein – 34g Fiber- 31g

• 2 low carb tortillas
• 2 tbsp marinara sauce
• 1 air fried chicken strip chopped
• garlic & Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup lite mozarella
• 1/2 tbsp butter

@makayla_thomas_fit Week of Thanksgiving calls for minimal effort, lazy girl meals until turkey day 🤪 but that doesn’t mean our goals sleep 👏🏼👏🏼 from my Heat + eat cookbook #Mealprep #healthymeals #quickmeals #easymeals #healthyrecipes #caloriedeficit #mealsforweightloss #highproteinmeals ♬ Do It To It – Tiësto Remix – ACRAZE

How I Will Be Meal Prepping

I personally love comfort foods and I think so many of these meals hit that mark. I am excited to try them all and I will update this each week as I try a new recipe. I am looking to try two each week. I only plan on mela prepping for lunch because I’m generally not hungry at breakfast so I save those calories for dessert and I am planning to eat normal dinners with my family, I will just be measuring the portions.

In addition to sharing if the meals are tasty, I will also share if they did in fact help me with my weight loss goal.

Makayla’s recipes all look so good. Just choosing 10 was a challenge, so honestly I am really hopeful they will be amazing and then I will HAPPILY pay her for her cookbooks.