10 Tips to Control Meal Prep Costs

Want to keep your meal prep business profitable? Here's how to cut costs without sacrificing quality:

Source ingredients smartly
Manage inventory efficiently
Design a cost-effective menu
Optimize kitchen operations
Use order management software
Implement portion control
Reduce packaging expenses
Minimize food waste
Lower labor costs
Adjust pricing strategically

Quick Comparison:

Cost Area	Key Savings Strategies
Food	Buy in bulk, use seasonal produce
Labor	Train staff, improve efficiency
Packaging	Choose reusable, eco-friendly options
Equipment	Invest in durable, energy-efficient tools
Marketing	Leverage social media, word-of-mouth

By applying these tips, you'll streamline operations, reduce waste, and boost your bottom line. Let's dive into each strategy to help your meal prep business thrive.

1. Get Better Ingredients for Less

Getting good ingredients at lower prices is key to keeping meal prep costs down. Here are some ways to do this:

Buy seasonal produce
- It's often cheaper
- Usually better quality
Buy in bulk
- Plan meals around what you buy in large amounts
- Helps cut down on waste
Use low-cost proteins
- Examples: canned tuna, eggs, chickpeas
- Mix with fresh veggies for healthy, cheap meals

Ingredient	Why It's Good for Meal Prep
Sweet potatoes	Cheap, filling, easy to cook
Broccoli	Affordable, nutritious, versatile
Gluten-free crepes	Can be used for various meals

2. Manage Your Inventory Better

Good inventory management helps meal prep services save money and reduce waste. Here are some tips:

Use the FIFO method
- Put older items in front
- Use them first
Try inventory software
- Tracks stock levels
- Sends alerts when items are low or near expiry
Check stock often
- Find slow-moving items
- Avoid overstocking
- Prevent using expired products

Inventory Management Tips	Benefits
FIFO method	Reduces food waste
Inventory software	Automates tracking, saves time
Regular stock checks	Prevents overstocking and expired product use

By using these methods, you can:

Cut down on food waste
Save time on manual work
Make smarter choices about what to buy

This helps your meal prep service run smoother and cost less.

Creating a menu that saves money is key for meal prep businesses. Here's how to do it:

Strategy	Description
Use seasonal ingredients	Cheaper and fresher
Choose affordable proteins	Beans, lentils, eggs instead of meat
Buy in bulk	Save money on rice, pasta, canned goods
Offer fewer options	Less waste, simpler kitchen work
Flavor with herbs and spices	Cheaper than sauces, healthier too

Tips for a budget-friendly menu:

Plan meals around what's in season
Mix cheap proteins with veggies for filling meals
Get big amounts of foods that last long
Don't make too many different meals
Use herbs and spices to make food taste good without spending a lot

4. Make Kitchen Work Better

Making your kitchen work better helps meal prep businesses save money and time. Here's how to do it:

Set Up Your Kitchen Well

A messy kitchen slows things down. Make sure your kitchen is well-organized:

Put tools and equipment where they're easy to reach
Have different areas for preparing food, cooking, and storing things
Keep everything tidy to avoid mix-ups and accidents

Use a Work Plan

Create a step-by-step plan for all kitchen tasks. This helps:

Find problem areas
Cut down on waste
Use workers' time better

Give each team member specific jobs and make sure they know what to do.

Get Good Equipment

Buy equipment that helps you work faster:

Equipment Type	Benefits
Big fridges and ovens	Can handle lots of food
Strong dishwashers	Clean more dishes quickly
Food processors	Speed up cutting and mixing

Cut Down on Waste and Cleaning

Try these tips to make less mess and clean up faster:

Use containers and tools you can wash and use again
Don't use too many throw-away items
Clean the kitchen often to keep it safe and clean

5. Use Software to Handle Orders Better

Good order management helps meal prep businesses work smoother, make fewer mistakes, and keep customers happy. Using software can help with this. Here's how meal prep software can help:

Feature	How It Helps
Weekly subscriptions	Makes ordering regular
Automatic repeat orders	Saves time for you and customers
Discounts for long-term customers	Keeps people coming back
Custom meal plans	Lets customers choose what they want
Shopping cart on website	Makes ordering easy
Order deadlines	Helps you plan your work better

By using this kind of software, you can:

Make ordering easier for customers
Plan your kitchen work better
Waste less food
Save time on paperwork

This helps your meal prep business run smoother and can save you money in the long run.

6. Use Portion Control to Save Money

Portion control helps meal prep businesses save money by reducing waste and using ingredients wisely. Here's how to do it:

Know the Right Portion Sizes

Learn what a good portion looks like for different foods. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has guidelines that can help. Knowing this helps you serve the right amount of food to customers.

Use the Right Tools

Tool	Purpose
Measuring cups	Measure dry ingredients
Kitchen scales	Weigh meats and produce
Portion scoops	Serve consistent amounts

Use these tools to make sure you're using the same amount of ingredients each time. This helps keep your meals the same and stops you from using too much.

Offer Smaller Meals

Give customers the choice to buy smaller meals. This can:

Help people who want to spend less
Cut down on food waste
Make it easier to track how much food you're using

7. Cut Down on Packaging Costs

Using the right containers can help meal prep businesses save money on packaging. Here's how:

Use Containers You Can Use Again

Reusable meal prep containers are good for:

Prepared meals
Hot or frozen side dishes
Meals with different parts (they have dividers inside)

These containers:

Last a long time
Can go in the microwave
Can be recycled
Help make less waste
Don't need to be replaced often

Choose the Best Container Type

Here's a look at different container types:

Type	Good Things	Not So Good Things
Glass	- Good for the earth - Lasts long - Can go in the oven	- Can cost more
Plastic	- Cheap - Light to carry	- Might not last as long - Can make more trash
Stainless Steel	- Safe to use - No bad chemicals	- Can cost more at first

Pick the type that works best for your business and customers.

8. Reduce Food Waste

Cutting down on food waste helps meal prep businesses save money. In Canada, people throw away about 140 kilograms of food per household each year. This wastes money and resources. Meal prep can help fix this problem.

Here are some ways to reduce food waste:

Use food that will go bad soon
Check what you already have before buying more
Make a meal plan using what you have

When you shop:

Buy in large amounts
Use fewer plastic bags
Bring your own bags and containers

For storing food:

Container Type	Good Points	Bad Points
Glass	Lasts long, can go in oven	Costs more
Stainless Steel	Safe, no bad chemicals	Costs more at first

These tips can help you waste less food and save money on meal prep.

9. Cut Labor Costs

Cutting labor costs is key for meal prep businesses. Here's how to do it:

Plan Staff Shifts Better

Make sure you have the right number of workers at the right times. This helps you avoid paying for extra staff when you don't need them.

Train Your Staff Well

Good training helps workers do their jobs better. This means:

Fewer mistakes
Less time wasted
Less money spent on fixing errors

Teach Workers Different Jobs

Let your staff learn how to do different tasks. This helps because:

You can run your business with fewer people
Workers understand each other's jobs better
It's easier to cover shifts if someone is sick

Use Good Software

The right software can make meal prep work easier. It can:

Help plan meals
Keep track of orders
Make kitchen work smoother

This means you might not need as many workers, which saves money.

Way to Cut Costs	How It Helps
Better shift planning	Avoid extra staff when not needed
Good staff training	Fewer mistakes, less wasted time
Teaching different jobs	Run with fewer people, easier to cover shifts
Using good software	Makes work easier, might need fewer workers

10. Check and Change Prices Often

It's important for meal prep businesses to look at their prices often and change them when needed. This helps them stay competitive and make money. Here's how to do it:

Look at Different Ways to Set Prices

There are many ways to set prices. Here are some:

Pricing Method	What It Is	Good Points	Bad Points
Cost-plus	Add a set amount to your costs	Easy to do	Might not match what people will pay
Value-based	Set price based on what customers think it's worth	Can make more money	Hard to figure out
Subscription	Charge a set amount for regular service	Steady income	Not for everyone
Changing prices	Change prices based on demand	Can make more money	Can be hard to do
Different levels	Offer different prices for different services	Appeals to more people	Can be confusing

Find Out What Customers Want

To set good prices, you need to know what your customers want and will pay for. Here's how:

Look at what other businesses charge
Ask your customers what they think
Listen to what people say about your food and prices

Change Prices When You Need To

Keep checking your prices and change them if you need to. You might:

Raise or lower prices
Add new meal choices
Offer deals to get more customers

Conclusion

Using these 10 tips can help meal prep businesses save money and work better. Here's a quick look at what we talked about:

Area	How to Save Money
Ingredients	Buy in bulk, use what's in season
Kitchen work	Set up well, use good equipment
Menu	Make simple meals with cheap ingredients
Orders	Use software to handle orders
Portions	Serve the right amount of food
Packaging	Use containers you can use again
Food waste	Use food before it goes bad
Workers	Train staff well, teach different jobs
Prices	Check and change prices when needed

By doing these things, you can:

Waste less food and money
Make customers happy
Keep up with other businesses
Make more money

Remember to:

Look at your costs often
Use technology to help
Train your workers well

These tips can help your meal prep business do better and last longer.

FAQs

How to save money while meal prepping?

Here are some ways to cut costs when meal prepping:

Tip	How it helps
Use seasonal foods	Cheaper and fresher
Store food well	Less waste
Use same foods in many meals	Less waste, cheaper shopping
Shop at night	Get discounts
Buy non-perishables in bulk	Save money

How to make meal prep cheap?

To keep meal prep costs low:

Strategy	Benefit
Plan meals around sales	Lower grocery bills
Use more grains	Cut protein costs
Keep ingredients basic	Less waste, cheaper shopping
Use containers you can reuse	Cut packaging costs
Use same foods in different meals	Less waste, save on groceries

How to meal prep on a budget?

To meal prep without spending too much:

Plan meals using foods on sale
Add more grains to your meals
Stick to simple ingredients
Buy containers you can use many times
Use the same foods in different ways

These tips help you save money and waste less food when meal prepping.

10 Tips to Control Meal Prep Costs

1. Get Better Ingredients for Less

2. Manage Your Inventory Better

3. Design a Cost-Effective Menu