How to prepare your Foodpacks like a pro!
As a LighterLife client you’ll find full instructions for mixing your Foodpacks on each packet, including recommended water quantities. But it’s fine to increase or decrease the amount of water you add, according to your own personal taste. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Mix your favourite Shake with cold water and some ice to make it extra cool – perfect for Summer days.
- When mixing hot Shakes and Soups, add hot water and stir or whisk well, but don’t shake with boiling water.
- Once mixed, eat your Foodpacks within 15 minutes to get the maximum nutrition, as the water-soluble vitamins they contain may start to break down in the presence of air and water.
- All microwave instructions are based on an 800W category E microwave, so cooking times may vary according to microwave capacity.
Easy meal prep recipes you’ll wish you’d tried sooner!
One of the many benefits of your nutritionally complete Foodpacks is how easy they are to make up – no weighing, measuring, or calorie counting. But they’re also incredibly versatile, which is perfect for those days when you’re craving something a little different, but still want to stick to plan.
In the words of one of our clients, “I love LighterLife Foodpacks because they take the time out of preparing and eating, so leaving time for other things I would rather be doing. But now and again, the creative side of preparing and cooking a meal needs to be indulged too.”
So, we’ve created a range of fabulously sweet and savoury, low carb, high protein, healthy meal prep ideas, hacks, and drinks using your VLCD and MRF Foodpacks. Trust us, when you add some of these into your meal plans, hitting your weight loss and weight management goals is going to be even more enjoyable!
Healthy meal prep ideas – sublime sweets
Jumbo Cookies
Mix either a Chocolate Mug Cake or a Blueberry Pancake or a Maple Syrup Pancake into a thickish paste. Spread onto some baking paper, cut a Nut Fudge Bar or Toffee Bar into small chunks and push into the paste. Microwave for 30-40 seconds, or air fry for 6-8 minutes for a crunchier outside.
Chocolate Waffle
Transform your Chocolate Mug Cake into a light and fluffy Chocolate Waffle by adding a little extra water to loosen the mixture, and cooking it for about 90 seconds in your waffle maker.
Scones
Mix your Original Porridge or your Apple & Cinnamon Porridge or your Banana Porridge into a paste, shape into 3 bite-sized balls, and bake in the middle of the oven for 12-15 minutes at 180°C or in the air fryer at 200°C for 5-6 minutes for a slightly crunchy outside and soft, fluffy inside.
Muffins
Mix your Maple Syrup Pancake or your Blueberry Pancake or any of your favourite Shakes into a paste, divide and place into two muffin cases, and bake in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes at 160°C.
Flapjack
Chop up a Crispy Peanut Bar and pour over a strong Orange Jelly (use half the amount of water recommended). Place in the fridge to set. Enjoy! Swap Orange for Blackcurrant or Raspberry if you fancy a change.
Oaty Biscuits
Mix a Porridge and Chocolate Shake together, halve the mixture, and add a little water until it comes together. Then shape into biscuits, pop on a baking tray, and oven bake at 200°C for around 10 minutes. Try with different Porridges and Shakes until you find your favourite.
Chocolate Biscuits & Dip
Use half a Chocolate Mug Cake mix to make some little cake shapes, then bake for 5 minutes in the oven at 200°C. Make up a chocolate dipping sauce with the remaining mix, adding just enough water until you reach the right dipping consistency.
Maple Peanuts
Crumble up a Crispy Peanut Bar onto baking paper and bake in the oven at 180°C for 6 minutes. Crunchy and soft, it tastes just like maple pecans.
Ice Cream
Add 60ml of water, 12 ice cubes, and your favourite Shake to your mixer. Whizz together for 2 minutes, and enjoy. Banana, Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Chai Latte, or Mango & Passion Fruit – which flavour are you going to try first?
Ice Lollies
Mix your favourite Shake, pour the mixture into lolly moulds, and freeze for 3 to 4 hours – too good to keep for the hottest days!
Trifle
Make up your favourite Jelly, then add half a packet of your favourite Shake to 1 x tsp of Mousse mix and blend. Pour over the Jelly and refrigerate until set. Add half a packet of Vanilla Shake to roughly 25ml of water to make a cream. Pour over your Mousse and crumble a small amount of Crispy Peanut Bar on top. Enjoy the leftover Shakes later…
Try Orange Jelly with Mango and Passion Fruit Shake or Chocolate Shake
Try Blackcurrant Jelly with Strawberry Shake or Vanilla Shake
Try Raspberry Jelly with Chocolate Shake or Strawberry Shake, or Vanilla Shake
Chocolate Raspberry Mousse
Mix a Chocolate Smoothie and Raspberry Jelly together, blend to your desired mousse-y consistency, pour into a glass, place in the fridge to set. Swap the Raspberry for Blackcurrant or Orange to ring the changes.
Chocolate Orange Mousse
Mix a Chocolate Shake with some Sunrise Orange Drink Mix and Mousse Mix for a silky, smooth treat.
Pink Grapefruit Mousse
Add 200ml water to a Pink Grapefruit Drink mix and 2 tsps Mousse Mix. Blend and chill in the fridge until set. Delicious with the Sunrise Orange Drink or Fruits of the Forest Drink mixes too.
Saucy Pudding
Try a Chocolate Mug Cake with hot salted caramel sauce by melting half a Salted Caramel Bar in a pan, then pouring the sauce over the Mug Cake – delicious!
Hot Crunch Pudding
Our take on the 80’s favourite ‘hot crunch’ pudding! Mix 10 ml water with an Original Porridge to form a paste. Spread into patties on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 180°C. Meanwhile mix a Banana Shake with 180ml boiling water and whisk until creamy. Pour into glasses and crumble the golden Porridge patties over the top.
Fruity Chai Bread & Butter Pudding
Make some miniature scones using either Original Porridge or Apple & Cinnamon Porridge. Pop in a bowl and pour over a Chai Latte, then leave to set in the fridge.
Tiramisu
Make up an Original Porridge with half the recommended amount of fluid (using coffee instead of water) and place in the fridge to semi-set. When ready, whip up a Chai Latte with some ice to make it super thick and creamy before pouring over the top. Experiment with different Shakes to find your perfect combo. Tip: if you don’t like the oaty texture of the porridge try it with a Pancake mix or Mug Cake mix for a more cakey texture.
Perfect Porridge
Try mixing half a Shake with half a Porridge for a range of new flavours. Or crumble a little of your favourite Bar over the top for some added crunch – still keeping enough Bar back for your next meal.
Jelly Tots
Create your very own jelly hearts with your favourite Jelly flavour. Make up as per instructions, pour into your favourite tiny silicone moulds, and chill in the fridge for 45 mins. Once set, freeze for a further 60 minutes, then pop out as sweets and enjoy!
Healthy meal prep ideas – savoury snacks
Garlic Doughballs
Mix up your Garlic Flatbread with a little extra water to form a paste. Fill a muffin tray with some bite-sized balls and cook in a preheated oven at 200°C for 5 minutes. Turn half way through, and take out once golden brown.
Burgers
Yes, you can have burgers on plan! Make up some Garlic Flatbread for the bun and mix some Shepherd’s Pie or Spaghetti Bolognese or even a spicy Jerk Noodles Fastpot with water to mould into a patty. Optional extra – roll in some crushed Popped Chips for added crunch, or just air fry/oven bake as is. Assemble and enjoy.
Mac & Cheese Bites
Make up a Pasta Carbonara then let it cool. Roll into 4 balls. Crush a bag of Smoky Barbecue Popped Chips and roll the Carbonara balls into the crumbs. Cook at 180°C for 15 minutes in the oven. Delicious! Tip: add a drop of Tabasco sauce to the Carbonara mix for extra spice.
Nachos & “Cheese” Dip
Grind a Pasta Carbonara into a fine powder. Slowly add hot water then microwave until you get a dip consistency. Enjoy with some Salt & Vinegar Popped Chips.
Mini Pizzas
Make your Garlic Flatbread as per instructions, divide into 4 patties, and cook. Make up a Spaghetti Bolognese and spoon the mixture onto your 4 mini pizzas. Buon appetito!
Crunchy Bhajis
Add enough water to a Jerk Noodles or Chicken Noodle or Thai Noodles Fastpot to soften the noodles, leave to cook and cool for 3-5 minutes. Scoop into balls then air fry or oven bake at 180°C for 8 minutes.
Savoury Scones / Patties
Add 50ml of warm water to your favourite Soup mix in a bowl and spoon into a paste. Divide into 4 balls, flatten into patty shapes on a baking tray, cook in the oven at 180°C for 12 minutes, leave to cool, and enjoy. Vegetable, Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrot, Chicken & Sweetcorn, or Super Green, which are you trying first?
IKEA-inspired Meatballs & Glaze
NB: this uses 2 of your daily Foodpacks. Mix 2 Shepherd’s Pie with enough water to make up 8 small meatballs. Combine a Savoury Broth and Raspberry Jelly with just enough hot water to make into a glaze and brush over your meatballs. Air fry for 5 minutes at 180ºC, then turn them over and cook for a further 3 minutes. Use the remaining glaze as a dip. Smaklig måltid!
Soup Fritters
Just add enough water to your favourite Soup mix to make a paste. Scoop into balls, flatten, and bake in the oven for 12-15 mins at 180ºC. We love them all – Vegetable, Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrot, Chicken & Sweetcorn, and Super Green.
Spice things up
Add Tabasco sauce or black pepper or a sachet of Savoury Broth and more hot water for an extra hit of flavour to your Soups and other savoury meals.
Healthy meal prep ideas – delicious drinks
Mint Chocolate
Add some mint tea to your Chocolate Shake instead of water – steep three or four mint tea bags in a jug of hot water, leave to cool, then mix your shake.
Mocha Coffee / Vanilla Latte
Get your caffeine fix by adding a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder with hot water (not boiling) to your Chocolate Shake for a super easy Mocha or to your Vanilla Shake for a dreamy Vanilla Latte.
Fruity Fizz / Slushy
Pep up plain water or sparkling water with our delicious water-flavouring Drink Mix. Add a handful of crushed ice for your very own Slushy.
Matcha Frappe
Mix a cold Vanilla Shake (or Chai Latte Shake) with some matcha powder for that sweet grassy taste and a refreshing pick me up. Matcha is just green tea powder so totally on plan.
Share your favourite Foodpack meal prep recipes with us
With these simple, creative, and fun meal prep ideas, your LighterLife Foodpacks can be so much more than just convenient nutrition. Whether you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, a savoury snack, or a refreshing drink, there’s a recipe to hit the spot, while still keeping you on track with your weight loss and management goals, one tasty bite at a time.
So, go ahead and have fun meal prepping and experimenting – and keep an eye on our LighterLife Foodpack Hacks Facebook Page for new ideas as well.
Please let us know how you get on and which recipes have become your menu favourites. And share your photos with us on Facebook and Instagram – don’t forget to tag us @lighterlife so we can celebrate your delicious creations with you!
