Friday, February 13, 2026
12.1 C
New Delhi

5 Healthy Meals You Can Cook Once And Eat All Week

Curated By :

Last Updated:

In a world that never slows down, batch cooking offers a way to stay ahead without compromising on health or taste

font

Overnight oats are the perfect no-cook solution for busy mornings: nutritious, customisable, and ready to grab on the go.

Overnight oats are the perfect no-cook solution for busy mornings: nutritious, customisable, and ready to grab on the go.

Eating healthy every day often feels like a full-time job, especially when you’re juggling packed schedules, endless notifications, and dinner-time decision fatigue. That’s where batch cooking comes in. Not only does it help you save time, but it also ensures that you’re making better food choices throughout the week.

The key? Pick recipes that are nutritious, hold up well over a few days, and don’t sacrifice flavour or freshness. And when paired with the right kitchen tools like appliances that support steam cooking and gentle heat you can retain more nutrients, aroma, and natural textures in your meals. The result is healthier food that’s easy, efficient, and never boring.

Recommended Stories

Whether you’re cooking for one or for a whole family, these five ideas will help you prepare once and enjoy a week’s worth of great food with zero compromise on taste or freshness:

1. Roast Veggie and Quinoa Bowls for Easy Mix-and-Match Meals

Roasted veggies and quinoa are a meal-prep dream. Chop up zucchini, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and broccoli, then toss them in olive oil and your favourite spices. Roast until golden and slightly crisp. While that’s happening, cook up a large batch of quinoa. Store them separately and assemble fresh bowls through the week with toppings like hummus, pesto, or lemon yogurt dressing. For vegetables that stay tender inside and crisp outside—even after reheating use the Bosch Combi Steam Oven with Steam Function. Its gentle steam keeps food moist and flavourful, making every bowl taste as good as Day 1.

2. Flavour-Packed Baked Chicken – Three Ways, One Tray

Batch cooking protein doesn’t have to mean eating the same thing every day. With just a bit of prep, you can create three flavour variations of baked chicken in one go. Start by dividing chicken breasts into three portions and marinating each batch differently: think lemon garlic for something fresh and zesty, peri-peri for a spicy kick, and tikka masala for a bold Indian twist. Use foil partitions or silicone dividers on a single baking tray to keep the flavours separate, then bake them all together in the oven. Once cooled, store them individually for the week ahead.

3. One-Pot Comfort – Veggie Dal or Khichdi

Nutritious, easy to digest, and endlessly comforting, dal or khichdi is perfect for batch prep. Simmer lentils, rice, and veggies like spinach, carrots, or bottle gourd together with light spices. Finish with a simple tempering and portion it out for the days ahead. These meals not only reheat well but also give your gut a break from heavy cooking without skimping on nourishment or taste.

4. Homemade Roasted Tomato Pasta Sauce for the Week

A good tomato sauce is a batch-cooking essential: versatile, flavourful, and able to elevate almost any meal. To prepare a fresh homemade version, roast ripe tomatoes along with garlic cloves, sliced onions, and a handful of fresh basil until they’re soft, slightly charred, and fragrant. You can also toss in bell peppers or carrots to add depth and natural sweetness. Once roasted, blend everything into a smooth sauce, adjusting the seasoning with salt, pepper, and a dash of olive oil. This richly layered sauce can be used across the week in more ways than one tossed with pasta, spread over flatbreads or pizzas, stirred into soups, or spooned onto grilled vegetables and proteins. Store it in an airtight glass jar in the fridge, and it’ll stay fresh for up to five days.

5. Overnight Oats in Five Flavours for Effortless Breakfasts

A fridge full of breakfast jars? Yes, please. Overnight oats are the perfect no-cook solution for busy mornings: nutritious, customisable, and ready to grab on the go. Simply mix rolled oats with chia seeds and your choice of milk or yogurt, then divide into jars for the week. The best part? You can get creative with flavours—try mango coconut for a tropical twist, banana cinnamon for comforting warmth, or chocolate peanut butter for something indulgent yet wholesome. Add toppings like nuts, berries, or seeds to finish. Let the jars sit overnight, and you’ll have a creamy, ready-to-eat breakfast waiting each morning. For cold meals like these, maintaining consistent freshness is key.

In a world that never slows down, batch cooking offers a way to stay ahead without compromising on health or taste. It helps you make smarter food choices, reduce waste, and reclaim your time during the week. With the right prep and the right appliances, you can take the stress out of everyday cooking and rediscover the joy of homemade meals.

About the Author

authorimg
Lifestyle Desk

Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi…Read More

Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi… Read More

Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated.

Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Loading comments…

Go to Source
Author: News18

Hot this week

Japan captures Chinese vessel for ‘trying to flee’ as tensions soar with Beijing

The Chinese boat was captured in Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture when it was intercepted by the Japanese authorities, following which the captain was arrested Go to Source Read More

‘He Deserves Better’: Ex-US Envoy Hails Court’s Medical Order For Imran Khan, Calls For His Release

Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed Pakistan’s top court’s order for Imran Khan’s medical examination, citing vision loss in his right eye and urging Khan’s release from jail. Read More

Rera only facilitating builders in default: SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Thursday said it is high time all states rethought the constitution of the real estate regulatory authority (Rera) as the institution is doing nothing except “facilitating” defaulting builders. Read More

Bangladesh PM Salary vs Indian PM: Who Earns More And How Do The Perks Compare?

Show Quick Read Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom Bangladesh election results: Bangladesh is conducting its 13th parliamentary elections, with vote counting still in progress. Read More

Who Is Tarique Rahman? Khaleda Zia’s Son Set To Become Bangladesh’s Next PM

Tarique Rahman’s rise in Bangladesh’s politics marks a dramatic comeback following his 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. Read More

Topics

Japan captures Chinese vessel for ‘trying to flee’ as tensions soar with Beijing

The Chinese boat was captured in Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture when it was intercepted by the Japanese authorities, following which the captain was arrested Go to Source Read More

‘He Deserves Better’: Ex-US Envoy Hails Court’s Medical Order For Imran Khan, Calls For His Release

Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed Pakistan’s top court’s order for Imran Khan’s medical examination, citing vision loss in his right eye and urging Khan’s release from jail. Read More

Rera only facilitating builders in default: SC

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Thursday said it is high time all states rethought the constitution of the real estate regulatory authority (Rera) as the institution is doing nothing except “facilitating” defaulting builders. Read More

Bangladesh PM Salary vs Indian PM: Who Earns More And How Do The Perks Compare?

Show Quick Read Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom Bangladesh election results: Bangladesh is conducting its 13th parliamentary elections, with vote counting still in progress. Read More

Who Is Tarique Rahman? Khaleda Zia’s Son Set To Become Bangladesh’s Next PM

Tarique Rahman’s rise in Bangladesh’s politics marks a dramatic comeback following his 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. Read More

Use earphones on planes or face action

NEW DELHI: Next time you play music on an aircraft without using earphones, you may face penal action. Read More

Just move your heels: A 3-min trick may reduce post-meal sugar spike

NEW DELHI: What if lowering your blood sugar did not require a treadmill, gym membership or even standing up? Read More

Kiren Rijiju releases video of women Congress MPs in verbal confrontation in Speaker chamber

NEW DELHI: The row over Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s statement that last week he was forced to request PM Narendra Modi not to speak during the debate on motion of thanks to President because of the fear that some of Congress’ women M Read More

Related Articles