We all know meal prep can help make weekdays less stressful, but it often remains aspirational. Grocery shopping is already enough of a chore. Planning everything you’re going to eat for the week and cooking the core ingredients in advance tacks on a few additional hours of work, cutting into precious weekend downtime.

Wondering how people do it? Many healthy meal preppers are sharing the secret to making meal prep actually happen on TikTok: a $27 platter from Whole Foods with enough grilled chicken, sweet potatoes and green beans to use throughout the week. People who have done it swear that it saves them both time and money — and they aren’t sacrificing nutritional value, either.

Hannah Groth posted a TikTok taste-testing the Whole Foods platter and told HuffPost that she uses it to meal prep for herself. “It helps me portion my meals with accurate proportions of macros in order to meet my health goals. One tray typically serves four meals for myself, which means I am paying around $6.75 per meal,” she said.

Groth recommends the platter for anyone who wants to start eating less-processed foods in 2025 but doesn’t know where to start, or is worried that buying ingredients to make healthy meals will be expensive. “The Whole Foods platter is a convenient and budget-friendly option for those looking for healthy and fast meals that taste delicious,” she said.

Danielle Ajeto posted on TikTok that it used to take her four hours to grocery shop, meal prep and clean up until she started using the Whole Foods platter. She told HuffPost she uses the platter to meal prep for herself and her fiancé. “We eat each part of the platter for a meal, sometimes supplementing with rice,” she said.

Ajeto said she estimates that using the platter saves her between two and three hours of time per week and also saves her money, cutting down on the more than $100 she said she typically spends on groceries a week. Her pro tip on repurposing the meals? Using different sauces for flavoring.

One of the primary purposes of meal prepping is to make it easier to eat nutritionally balanced meals on busy weekdays. That way, you’re less likely to order takeout, which is often loaded in sodium, or stop by a fast food restaurant. With this in mind, what do registered dietitians think of using the Whole Foods platter for the core foods for your meals?

Kristen Lorenz, a registered dietitian (RD) and founder of Kristen Lorenz Nutrition, told HuffPost it gets her seal of approval. “It’s a smart and convenient choice for people with busy schedules or limited cooking equipment or abilities. From a nutrition standpoint, the platter provides a balanced mix of protein, complex carbohydrates and fiber-rich vegetables,” she said.

Celines Martinez, a registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) who’s the nutrition program coordinator at Hebni Nutrition, is into it, too. “These platters are amazing and the portion sizes allow you to create multiple meals throughout the week. Whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain or overall better health, once you account for appropriate portion sizes, these platters can help you create a wonderful meal-prepping strategy to support your wellness and health goals,” she said.

Both dietitians told HuffPost that the grilled chicken breasts are a nutritious source of protein. “The platters come with four large chicken breasts. One serving of chicken breast is typically 3 ounces and provides a whopping 26 grams of protein and only 5 grams of fat, which is why, as far as lean protein goes, you can’t beat chicken breast. Given the large size of these chicken breasts, you can chop them into serving sizes to get even more meals out of them,” Martinez said. Both Martinez and Lorenz pointed out that the sweet potatoes and green beans are both full of nutrients, including fiber — a nutrient most people don’t get enough of.

If you’re wondering how you can turn this three-ingredient platter into a week’s worth of meals that don’t taste the same, here are eight meal ideas to try, from both dietitians.

Martinez recommends cutting up a portion of chicken and green beans and pairing them with a short pasta, like farfalle or orzo. “Toss with your favorite vinaigrette and top with feta cheese,” she said.

Another meal idea Martinez shared is incorporating 3 ounces of chicken breast and half of one of the sweet potatoes into a bowl of your go-to greens (such as kale or spinach). Then, add your favorite salad toppings, such as berries, nuts, avocado, cheese, a hard boiled egg and dressing.

Lorenz told HuffPost that adding a drizzle of olive oil, sliced cherry tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives and feta cheese to the platter’s three ingredients is a great way to make a Mediterranean-inspired meal. “The Mediterranean-inspired toppings add healthy fats, extra veggies, crunch and a satisfying tang while keeping the meal fresh and vibrant,” she said.

Adding black beans, a squeeze of lime juice, avocado slices, a sprinkle of chili powder and a dollop of salsa turns the chicken and sweet potatoes into a cheap and easy way to make a Latin-based meal, Lorenz said. “This boosts fiber, healthy fats and adds a zesty flavor kick without much effort,” she added.

Lorenz said that the chicken, sweet potatoes and green beans can all be used to make a healthy stir-fry. “[Just add] a splash of low-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos, chopped garlic and a handful of chopped bell peppers or broccoli. Toss everything together in a skillet for a quick stir-fry,” she said.

“This meal idea works with either rice or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option,” Martinez said, of this meal idea using the chicken breast, sweet potatoes and green beans. She added that adding black beans is an easy way to up the protein in this meal even more. Martinez recommends adding sliced avocado for healthy fats and topping everything off with a homemade Greek dressing, made with yogurt, lime juice and garlic.

Like your meals with a little heat? If so, this meal idea recommended by Lorenz is right up your alley. “Add a drizzle of buffalo sauce or hot sauce over the chicken, a scoop of plain Greek yogurt as a creamy topper and a sprinkle of shredded carrots. The spicy kick makes the chicken feel brand new, and Greek yogurt adds protein and a tangy, creamy contrast,” she said.

This meal idea works for either breakfast or dinner. “Add diced sweet potatoes and chicken, toss them in a skillet and top with an egg cooked to your liking. Serve with green beans on the side. This repurposes the ingredients into a hearty, protein-packed option that feels completely different from the original meal,” Lorenz said.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to incorporate the three-ingredient platter into a completely different-tasting meals. On top of that, using it can save time and money. It just goes to show that meal prepping doesn’t require sacrificing an entire weekend day to get ahead for the week. It just means working a little smarter.