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Why: Streamline your meal planning process by effectively utilizing the prep and leftovers features. This allows you to organize food preparation tasks and maximize the use of ingredients, ensuring your members enjoy fresh meals while minimizing waste.
Navigate: App Station > Content Library > Meal Plans > [Meal Plan] > Grid tab
Quick Start
Go to the Meal Plans section in your App Station.
Click on the desired meal plan and navigate to the Grid tab.
Add items to the Prep Row by clicking the "+" button and selecting either Prep Session or Cook-Ahead Meal.
Use the Advance Prep area to schedule tasks for 2-4 days before the meal plan starts.
Specify any meal as a leftover source by using the Make Extra option when needed.
Overview
Meal plans in your app have two dedicated areas for preparation work: the Advance Prep area above the grid and the Prep Row within the grid. These features help you organize food preparation tasks for your members effectively. Any meal recipe can serve as a source for leftovers without requiring any special toggle.
The Prep Row
Each day in the meal plan grid features a special Prep Row at the top. In this row, you can add two types of items:
Prep Sessions: Task-based checklists with instructions that members can check off as they complete them.
Cook-Ahead Meals: Recipes that are prepared but not consumed at that meal, allowing all servings to be available as leftovers.
When adding an item to the Prep Row, a toggle lets you choose between a Prep Session and a Cook-Ahead Meal.
Advance Prep
The Advance Prep area appears above the main grid and is designated for preparation work done before the meal plan week starts. You can set a date range (e.g., 2-4 days before the start of the meal plan). Both prep sessions and cook-ahead meals can be added in this area.
Prep Sessions (Tasks)
To create a Prep Session:
Name the session (e.g., "Sunday Prep" or "Day 1 Morning").
Add manual tasks by typing instructions and clicking Add.
Optionally, import tasks from recipe prep-ahead instructions.
Reorder tasks using the up/down arrows.
Members will see these tasks as a checklist and can check off completed items.
Leftovers
To manage leftovers:
Any meal recipe can be a leftover source. Optionally, use the Make Extra feature to specify additional servings beyond what is consumed at the meal.
On the days when the food will be eaten again, add Leftover Sessions that reference the source meal and specify how many servings to consume.
For meals in the Prep Row, all servings are automatically available as leftovers.
Nutrition Behavior
Understanding how nutrition is displayed is crucial:
Prep Row meals show 0 nutrition because nothing is consumed during the prep session. Nutrition appears on the days leftovers are actually eaten.
Advance Prep meals also show 0 nutrition.
Shopping lists include ingredients from both prep row and advance prep meals because the food needs to be purchased.
When using Make Extra on a regular meal, the source meal's nutrition only reflects the servings eaten at that meal.
Tips
Name prep sessions clearly (e.g., "Sunday Prep" or "Morning Prep").
Use the Prep Row for same-week cook-ahead meals and the Advance Prep area for tasks done before the meal plan starts.
By leveraging these features effectively, you can create a more organized and efficient meal planning experience for your members.