Savvy mother-of-two reveals her genius $115 grocery and meal prep routine - and why she ALWAYS soaks her vegetables in bicarb soda before chopping them

  • A savvy mother-of-two has shared her clever meal prep and grocery routine
  • She buys her groceries across three locations and preps them all on Mondays 
  • She also soaks all of her fruit and vegetables in bicarb soda before chopping  
  • She recently shared what she does step-by-step to help others organise food  

By Billie Schwab Dunn For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:13 EST, 12 November 2018 | Updated: 19:15 EST, 12 November 2018

A savvy Australian mum has wowed hundreds with her organised weekly grocery routine. 

Mother-of-two Rachael developed the meal prepping routine to save 'time, energy and money' and recently spent $115 preparing her family's food ahead of time.  

'Today I spent $30 at the grocer, $30 at Woolies, $20 at the butcher and $35 at Hello Fresh. My budget is $130 so I did really well, this week,' she wrote in a budgeting Facebook group.

'I get lots of questions on the specifics so I want to walk you through the steps, today. This is what I do in the order I do it.' 

Mother-of-two Rachael developed the meal prepping routine to save 'time, energy and money' and recently spent $115 preparing her family's food ahead of time

Mother-of-two Rachael developed the meal prepping routine to save 'time, energy and money' and recently spent $115 preparing her family's food ahead of time

To begin Rachael uses an app called Paprika to select her recipes and create a grocery list on Sundays before waking up on Monday morning and cleaning her benches and sinks and getting her containers ready

To begin Rachael uses an app called Paprika to select her recipes and create a grocery list on Sundays before waking up on Monday morning and cleaning her benches and sinks and getting her containers ready

Why should you soak your vegetables in bicarbonate soda? 

Baking soda removes up to 96 percent of pesticides from fruit and vegetables, new research reveals.

When mixed with water and gently rubbed on apple skins, the kitchen staple eliminates nearly all the reside left by two commonly-applied pesticides within 15 minutes, a study found.

To begin Rachael uses an app called Paprika to select her recipes and create a grocery list on Sundays before waking up on Monday morning and cleaning her benches and sinks and getting her containers ready.  

She then heads to Woolworths, the grocer and the butcher (in that order) before arriving home, filling up her sink and adding bicarb soda to it for her fruit and vegetables to soak in. 

After this, she puts them on some paper towel to dry before chopping them all up and dividing them into containers.  

She then heads to Woolworths, the grocer and the butcher (in that order) before arriving home, filling up her sink and adding bicarb soda to it for her fruit and vegetables to soak in

She then heads to Woolworths, the grocer and the butcher (in that order) before arriving home, filling up her sink and adding bicarb soda to it for her fruit and vegetables to soak in

After this, she puts them on some paper towel to dry before chopping them all up and dividing them into containers

After this, she puts them on some paper towel to dry before chopping them all up and dividing them into containers

This is an example of the woman's meal plan

This is an example of the woman's meal plan

After this she prepares her oats and puts all of her containers in the fridge, ready to go.  

'Today I also cooked four lunches while I did this. That was really simple as it was just whack it in the oven and done,' she said. 

Rachael concluded her post by saying that she often adds frozen vegetables as well and always adds protein (meat, lentils etc.) on the day.   

'The actual vegetable chopping for meals only takes about 10 minutes. The soaking/drying isn't hands on so you can do other tasks while you go,' she said. 

'Today I also cooked four lunches while I did this. That was really simple as it was just whack it in the oven and done,' she said

'Today I also cooked four lunches while I did this. That was really simple as it was just whack it in the oven and done,' she said

She then prepares her oats and puts all of her containers in the fridge, ready to go
'I usually put my audio book on while I work, that way I'm using my time really well. I'm very flexible - if we want to go out then we do, I just make the meal on the weekend instead,' she said

She then prepares her oats and puts all of her containers in the fridge, ready to go

'I usually put my audio book on while I work, that way I'm using my time really well. I'm very flexible - if we want to go out then we do, I just make the meal on the weekend instead.'

People posted comments on the thread saying how impressed they were with the results. 

Someone even suggested she hold classes to help other people learn how to do it. 

'You are who I want to be when I grow up,' one said.

'I wish I was half as organised as you. So inspiring. Thank you,' said another.

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Savvy mum reveals her genius budget meal prep and grocery shop

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