what to meal prep for lunch on a budget this week

how to make four at-home Chipotle bowls for the price of one!

Happy Friday and hello from sunny Charleston, SC! Before I left for my trip yesterday I was eating homemade burrito bowls all week, and can I just say I don’t think there’s a better lunch out there??? They’re absolutely delish, packed with veggies, full of protein, and overall so satisfying. Plus, they make for the perfect meal prep!

My burrito bowl kick was inspired by my latest trip to Chipotle. When I got to the checkout my total was over $15 for one bowl, and while I do love Chipotle (especially when I’m traveling or on-the-go) all I was thinking was I can do this in a much more cost-efficient way. So as a result, today’s newsletter includes my guide to meal prepping at-home burrito bowls in a budget-friendly way, including a list of the groceries you’ll need + all of the steps to follow to make them.

All in, I spent about $18 on the groceries to make four bowls AKA just about my typical Chipotle order price. Plus, I had my lunch prepped and ready for me all week!

Today’s newsletter will walk you through how to shop for and prepare these four simple components for your homemade burrito bowls:

• Cilantro lime rice (or cauliflower rice)

• Spiced shredded chicken thighs

• 5-minute homemade salsa (you can also opt for store-bought)

• Simple homemade guacamole

With some simple additions, you’ll have all of the prep done to enjoy four servings of at-home Chipotle bowls. It’ll be up to you whether you want to store as ingredient prep or as individually made bowls!

And if any of this doesn’t sound like your jam, don’t worry, I’ve got substitution options below, including plant-based options. Or just ask me in the comments 😊 Let’s get into it!