Meal Prep for a Busy Week | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

1. La próxima semana parece ocupada, así que ayudaría preparar algunas comidas con antelación.

   Next week looks busy, so preparing some meals in advance would help.

   próxima

   next

   semana

   week

   parece

   seems; looks

   ocupada

   busy

   así que

   so

   ayudaría

   would help

   preparar

   to prepare

   algunas

   some

   comidas

   meals

   con antelación

   in advance

   More detail

   próxima means “next” here. It is the feminine singular form of próximo, agreeing with semana: la próxima semana = “next week.” The adjective changes to match the noun it describes; for example, el próximo mes means “next month.” semana is the feminine noun “week.” Its plural is semanas.” The phrase la próxima semana` refers to the week after the current one in this utterance. parece comes from parecer, “to seem” or “to look.” It is the third-person singular present form, used here with la próxima semana as the subject: “next week seems/looks.” A useful pattern is parece + adjective, as in El plan parece sencillo — “The plan seems simple.” ocupada means “busy” here. It is the feminine singular form of ocupado, agreeing with semana; ocupado would be used with a masculine singular noun, as in un día ocupado — “a busy day.” así que is a connector meaning “so” or “therefore.” It introduces the consequence of what comes before. Here, the week’s expected busyness leads to the suggestion that follows. ayudaría comes from ayudar, “to help.” It is the conditional form for a third-person singular subject: “would help.” The conditional presents the help as a possible or hypothetical result, not as a definite future fact. For example, Descansar ayudaría means “Resting would help.” preparar is the infinitive “to prepare.” In this sentence, the infinitive phrase preparar algunas comidas con antelación functions as the thing that would help: “preparing some meals in advance.” Spanish commonly uses an infinitive this way as the subject of a sentence. algunas means “some” and modifies comidas. It is feminine plural, matching the noun; compare algunos platos — “some dishes.” It indicates an unspecified part of a group, not a precise number. comidas is the plural of comida, meaning “meals” in this context. The singular una comida means “a meal,” while comidas refers to more than one meal. The following context also uses meal preparation, supporting this meaning rather than a general reference to food. con antelación is a fixed expression meaning “in advance” or “ahead of time.” It describes when the meals are prepared. For example, Reserva con antelación means “Book in advance.” Together, La próxima semana parece ocupada says “Next week looks busy.” Así que links that situation to its consequence, and ayudaría preparar algunas comidas con antelación says that preparing some meals ahead of time would help. The complete meaning is: “Next week looks busy, so preparing some meals in advance would help.”

2. Preparar las comidas ayudará, pero evita comer lo mismo todos los días.

   Meal prep will help, but avoid eating the same thing every day.

   Preparar

   to prepare

   comidas

   meals

   ayudará

   will help

   evita

   avoid

   comer

   to eat

   lo mismo

   the same thing

   todos los días

   every day

   More detail

   Preparar is the infinitive “to prepare.” Here it functions as the subject of the sentence: “Preparing the meals will help.” Spanish commonly uses an infinitive this way. The same form can also follow another verb, as in Quiero preparar la cena (“I want to prepare dinner”). comidas means “meals” here. Its singular base form is comida; the final -s marks plural. The feminine article las agrees with this plural noun: las comidas. ayudará means “will help.” It is the future form of ayudar for a singular third-person subject. The subject here is the whole infinitive phrase Preparar las comidas, treated as one activity. A useful contrast is ayuda (“helps/is helping”) versus ayudará (“will help”). evita is an affirmative command addressed to one person with tú: “avoid.” The exact form evita is the tú singular command of evitar; it is not the usted form. For example, Evita el azúcar means “Avoid sugar.” comer is the infinitive “to eat.” After the command evita, it names the activity to avoid: evita comer means “avoid eating.” The infinitive does not identify a separate person; the understood subject of comer is the person being addressed by evita. lo mismo means “the same thing” in this sentence. Here lo combines with the adjective mismo to refer to an unspecified or general thing, rather than agreeing with a stated masculine or feminine noun. Compare la misma comida (“the same meal”), where misma agrees with the feminine noun comida. todos los días means “every day.” todos and los are plural because the expression literally refers to all the days in the repeated time period. It is a standard way to express regular occurrence. Together, Preparar las comidas ayudará means “Preparing the meals will help.” pero introduces a contrast, and evita comer lo mismo todos los días means “avoid eating the same thing every day.” The complete utterance is therefore: “Meal prep will help, but avoid eating the same thing every day.”

3. Estaba pensando en preparar una gran cantidad de curry de verduras.

   I was thinking of making a big batch of vegetable curry.

   Estaba pensando

   I was thinking

   preparar

   to prepare; to make

   gran

   big; large

   cantidad

   amount; quantity

   curry

   curry

   verduras

   vegetables

   More detail

   Estaba pensando expresses an ongoing thought in the past: “I was thinking.” Estaba is the first- or third-person singular imperfect form of estar; the imperfect presents the situation as in progress or ongoing at that past time. Pensar en is the reusable pattern for thinking about doing something, and here it is followed by preparar. Preparar is an infinitive meaning “to prepare” or, with food, “to make.” After a construction such as pensar en, the infinitive names the contemplated action without adding a separate subject. Example: Estoy pensando en cocinar. — “I’m thinking of cooking.” Gran means “big” or “large” here. It is the shortened form of grande used before a singular noun: una gran cantidad. Before a plural noun, use grandes, as in grandes cantidades — “large quantities.” Gran itself does not mark masculine or feminine in this position; the noun determines the relevant agreement pattern. Cantidad means “amount” or “quantity.” The pattern una cantidad de + noun refers to an amount of something; it does not by itself state an exact numerical count. Una gran cantidad de agua means “a large amount of water.” Curry is the dish being prepared. In curry de verduras, de verduras identifies the kind of curry: vegetable curry. Curry is used here as a food noun; its form does not change to mark the plural of verduras. Verduras means “vegetables.” It is the plural of verdura, and the plural form refers to vegetables as the ingredient or type associated with the curry. Example: Compro verduras frescas. — “I buy fresh vegetables.” Together, estaba pensando en preparar gives “I was thinking of making,” and una gran cantidad de curry de verduras gives “a big batch of vegetable curry.” The complete utterance means: “I was thinking of making a big batch of vegetable curry.”

4. Eso funciona si lo divides en porciones adecuadas y lo guardas de forma segura.

   That works if you portion it properly and store it safely.

   Eso

   that

   funciona

   works

   si

   if

   lo divides

   you portion it

   porciones

   portions

   adecuadas

   suitable

   lo guardas

   you store it

   de forma segura

   safely

   More detail

   Eso means “that.” It is a neuter demonstrative pronoun, useful for referring to a known situation, idea, or unspecified thing without naming a noun. Here it refers to the matter being discussed; the sentence itself does not specify a more exact referent. funciona comes from funcionar (“to work”) and is the present-tense third-person singular form: “it/that works.” Here it agrees grammatically with eso. si introduces a condition: “if.” The condition follows it in this sentence. lo divides combines dividir (“to divide, portion”) with lo, a direct-object clitic. divides is the present-tense tú form, so the understood subject is singular informal “you.” In the supplied context, lo refers to the curry or food being discussed. A reusable pattern is lo/la divides = “you divide or portion it”; the clitic matches the direct object's gender and number, for example la divides for a feminine singular object. porciones is the plural of the noun porción (“portion”). In en porciones adecuadas, it names the portions into which the food is divided. adecuadas comes from the adjective adecuado (“suitable, appropriate”). It is feminine plural because it agrees with porciones: porción adecuada, porciones adecuadas. lo guardas combines guardar (“to store, keep”) with the direct-object clitic lo. guardas is again the present-tense tú form. The repeated lo refers to the same food being portioned, while the understood subject remains “you.” de forma segura is an adverbial expression meaning “safely.” forma is a feminine singular noun, so segura agrees with it. The noun phrase una forma segura means “a safe manner/form,” whereas de forma segura describes how an action is carried out. Together, Eso funciona gives “That works.” The conditional part si lo divides en porciones adecuadas means “if you portion it into suitable portions,” and y lo guardas de forma segura adds the coordinated action “and store it safely.” The complete meaning is: “That works if you portion it properly and store it safely.”

5. ¿Debería congelar una parte y guardar el resto en la nevera?

   Should I freeze some and keep the rest in the fridge?

   Debería

   should I?

   congelar

   freeze

   parte

   part; portion

   guardar

   keep; store

   resto

   rest

   en la nevera

   in the fridge

   More detail

   Debería is the conditional form of deber. Here, with the English translation as guidance, it expresses “should I…?” and asks whether the speaker’s action is advisable. The same form can also mean “he/she/you (formal) should,” so the subject is identified here by the question’s intended meaning, not by the form alone. congelar is the infinitive “to freeze.” After debería, Spanish uses an infinitive: debería congelar = “should [the subject] freeze.” Example: Debo congelar la sopa. — “I have to freeze the soup.” parte is a feminine noun meaning “part” or “portion.” In una parte, the indefinite article agrees with this noun in gender; it does not by itself state a precise numerical count. Here, una parte means “some” or “a part” of the relevant item. Example: Congelo una parte y uso el resto. — “I freeze part of it and use the rest.” guardar is the infinitive “to keep” or “to store.” It is coordinated with congelar, so the question asks about two actions: freezing one part and storing another. Example: Puedes guardar la fruta aquí. — “You can store the fruit here.” resto is a masculine noun meaning “remainder” or “rest.” With el, el resto means “the rest,” referring to what remains after the part already mentioned. The noun’s gender is shown by el; it is not the adjective form of another word. Example: El resto está listo. — “The rest is ready.” en la nevera means “in the fridge.” Nevera is a feminine noun, which is why the phrase uses la. The preposition en marks the storage location. Example: Guarda la salsa en la nevera. — “Store the sauce in the fridge.” Together, Debería congelar una parte asks whether the speaker should freeze some of the relevant item, while y guardar el resto en la nevera adds the second action: keeping what remains in the fridge. The complete meaning is: “Should I freeze some and keep the rest in the fridge?”

6. Congela unas pocas porciones.

   Freeze a few portions.

   Congela

   Freeze

   unas pocas

   a few

   porciones

   portions

   More detail

   Congela is the affirmative command form for tú singular: “freeze.” It comes from congelar and addresses one listener informally. The same form can also be a present-tense form meaning “he/she freezes” in another context, but here the fixed translation identifies it as a command. Compare congele for an affirmative command to usted and congelen for ustedes. unas pocas means “a few” and agrees with the feminine plural noun porciones: unas is feminine plural, and pocas is the feminine plural form of poco. This expresses a small, non-specific number; it does not identify an exact count. Compare unos pocos with a masculine plural noun, such as unos pocos recipientes (“a few containers”). Porciones means “portions.” Its singular base form is porción; the plural adds -es: porción → porciones. In this sentence, it is the direct object of congela, the things being frozen. Together, Congela unas pocas porciones. means “Freeze a few portions.” The command addresses one informal listener and asks that listener to freeze a small, unspecified number of portions.

7. Etiqueta cada recipiente para que sea fácil elegir.

   Label each container so it is easy to choose.

   Etiqueta

   label

   cada

   each

   recipiente

   container

   para que

   so that

   sea

   be

   fácil

   easy

   elegir

   choose

   More detail

   Etiqueta is the affirmative tú singular command of etiquetar, “to label.” In this sentence, the translation and context establish the command reading; the same form can also be the third-person singular present indicative (“labels” or “is labeling”) in another context. Example: Etiqueta la caja. — “Label the box.” cada distributes the action one item at a time: “each.” It normally appears with a singular noun, as in cada recipiente; this does not itself state a numerical total. Example: Cada mesa tiene una silla. — “Each table has a chair.” recipiente means “container” here. Its plural is recipientes. It is singular in cada recipiente because cada is followed by a singular noun. Example: El recipiente está limpio. — “The container is clean.” para que introduces a purpose or intended result, “so that.” It is followed here by sea, a subjunctive form, because the result is presented as the purpose of the command. Example: Escribo grande para que sea fácil leerlo. — “I write in large letters so that it is easy to read.” sea is the third-person singular present subjunctive of ser, “to be.” Here it presents the intended result after para que; it is not an imperative. A useful contrast is es, the third-person singular present indicative, versus sea, the third-person singular present subjunctive. Example: Lo ordeno para que sea útil. — “I organize it so that it is useful.” fácil means “easy.” It has the same singular form with masculine and feminine referents; its plural is fáciles. Example: La tarea es fácil. — “The task is easy.” elegir is the infinitive “to choose.” Here it names the activity that is easy. Example: Es fácil elegir. — “It is easy to choose.” Together, Etiqueta cada recipiente gives the command “Label each container.” The purpose clause para que sea fácil elegir adds the intended result: the labeling is meant to make choosing easy. The whole utterance therefore means “Label each container so it is easy to choose.”

8. También necesito algo equilibrado para el almuerzo, no solo arroz.

   I also need something balanced for lunch, not just rice.

   También

   also

   necesito

   I need

   algo

   something

   equilibrado

   balanced

   almuerzo

   lunch

   no solo

   not only

   arroz

   rice

   More detail

   También adds this need to another relevant need or action: “also.” It does not identify what the earlier item was. It commonly appears before the verb, as here. necesito is the first-person singular present form of necesitar (“to need”): necesitar → necesito. The ending -o identifies the speaker as the subject in this form. Example: Necesito agua. — “I need water.” algo means “something” and is an indefinite pronoun, so it refers to an unspecified thing rather than naming one. It does not itself state a numeric count. Example: Quiero algo caliente. — “I want something hot.” equilibrado means “balanced” here and describes algo. It is the masculine singular form of the adjective equilibrado. With the neuter indefinite pronoun algo, Spanish conventionally uses this masculine singular adjective form: algo equilibrado. The adjective can also agree with a noun: una comida equilibrada — “a balanced meal.” para el almuerzo means “for lunch.” para marks the intended purpose or occasion, and el almuerzo is the masculine singular noun phrase “lunch.” Example: Preparo comida para el almuerzo. — “I prepare food for lunch.” no solo introduces an inclusive limitation: rice is not the only basis or component being considered. It does not exclude rice or mean “instead of rice.” The pattern no solo X, sino también Y means “not only X, but also Y.” In this utterance, the second part is left implicit; the supplied sentence only explicitly says “not just rice.” arroz is the masculine singular noun “rice.” In this sentence it names the specific food that is not meant to be the sole basis of the requested balanced item. Example: El arroz está listo. — “The rice is ready.” Together, También necesito gives “I also need,” algo equilibrado gives “something balanced,” and para el almuerzo specifies that it is intended for lunch. The final no solo arroz limits the request inclusively: the speaker needs something balanced for lunch, with rice not being the only basis. The complete meaning is: “I also need something balanced for lunch, not just rice.”

9. Añade huevos, frijoles o pollo, según lo que te apetezca comer.

   Add eggs, beans, or chicken, depending on what you feel like eating.

   Añade

   add

   huevos

   eggs

   frijoles

   beans

   pollo

   chicken

   según lo que

   depending on what

   apetezca

   feel like

   comer

   eat

   More detail

   Añade is the affirmative command form of añadir for tú singular: “add.” The ending identifies the person being addressed; it is not the usted form. Related forms include añado (“I add”) and añade (“he/she adds” or “add,” depending on context). Example: Añade sal. — “Add salt.” huevos means “eggs.” It is the plural of huevo (“egg”), and the plural ending -s indicates more than one egg. Example: Necesito dos huevos. — “I need two eggs.” frijoles means “beans.” It is a plural noun; the singular is frijol. Example: Los frijoles están calientes. — “The beans are hot.” pollo means “chicken.” In this sentence it names the food option, rather than specifying a particular number. Example: Quiero pollo. — “I want chicken.” según lo que introduces the criterion that determines the choice: “depending on what” or “according to what.” Here it connects the foods to the person’s preference about eating. Example: Elige según lo que necesites. — “Choose according to what you need.” apetezca is the present subjunctive, third-person singular form of apetecer. In lo que te apetezca comer, the construction means “what you feel like eating.” te marks the person who experiences the desire or inclination; apetezca agrees with the singular lo que expression, not with te. The subjunctive fits the unspecified option introduced by “what.” Example: Pide lo que te apetezca. — “Order whatever you feel like.” comer is the infinitive “to eat.” After apetezca, it specifies the activity connected with the preference: what the person feels like eating. Example: Me apetece comer fruta. — “I feel like eating fruit.” Together, Añade huevos, frijoles o pollo gives a direct instruction to add eggs, beans, or chicken. según lo que te apetezca comer says that the choice should depend on what the addressed person feels like eating. The complete meaning is: “Add eggs, beans, or chicken, depending on what you feel like eating.”

10. Si las sobras resultan aburridas, puedo cambiar el acompañamiento.

    If the leftovers feel boring, I can change the side dish.

    Si

    if

    las sobras

    the leftovers

    resultan

    turn out / feel

    aburridas

    boring

    puedo

    I can

    cambiar

    change

    el acompañamiento

    the side dish

    More detail

    Si introduces a condition: “if.” The reusable pattern is si + clause, ..., as in Si tienes tiempo, cocino. — “If you have time, I’ll cook.” It does not by itself express a command or a particular degree of certainty. las sobras means “the leftovers.” Sobra is a feminine noun for a leftover, and sobras is its plural; las agrees with that feminine plural noun. The form can refer to leftover food in general, as it does here. Example: Guardé las sobras. — “I saved the leftovers.” resultan is the third-person plural present form of resultar. Here resultar + adjective means “turn out” or “come across as” that adjective: the leftovers are experienced as boring. The plural form matches las sobras. Example: Los planes resultan difíciles. — “The plans turn out to be difficult.” aburridas is the feminine plural form of the adjective aburrido, “boring.” It agrees with las sobras in gender and number. This is the adjective for something that causes boredom; aburrido can also describe a person who feels bored, depending on its agreement and context. Example: La película es aburrida. — “The film is boring.” puedo is the first-person singular present form of poder, “can” or “be able to.” The subject is the speaker, and poder + infinitive expresses ability or possibility: puedo cambiar means “I can change.” Example: Puedo ayudarte. — “I can help you.” cambiar is an infinitive meaning “to change.” After puedo, it remains in the infinitive rather than being separately conjugated. Here it describes changing the side dish, not necessarily changing the leftovers themselves. Example: Quiero cambiar el plan. — “I want to change the plan.” el acompañamiento means “the side dish” or “accompaniment.” Acompañamiento is a masculine singular noun, so it takes el. In a meal context, it commonly means food served alongside the main item. Example: El acompañamiento está listo. — “The side dish is ready.” Together, Si las sobras resultan aburridas means “If the leftovers feel or turn out boring,” and puedo cambiar el acompañamiento means “I can change the side dish.” The complete utterance is therefore: “If the leftovers feel boring, I can change the side dish.”

11. Los pequeños cambios hacen que las comidas preparadas sean más agradables.

    Small changes make prepared meals more enjoyable.

    pequeños

    small

    cambios

    changes

    hacen que

    make ...

    comidas

    meals

    preparadas

    prepared

    más agradables

    more enjoyable

    More detail

    pequeños means “small” here and describes cambios. It is the masculine plural form of pequeño; the feminine forms are pequeña and pequeñas. Its plural form matches the plural noun cambios. cambios means “changes.” It is the plural of the masculine noun cambio (“change”). Example: Un cambio pequeño puede ayudar. — “A small change can help.” hacen que expresses “make” or “cause a result.” Hacen is the third-person plural present form of hacer (“to make/do”), because the subject los pequeños cambios is plural. The que introduces the result clause. Example: Las instrucciones hacen que el proceso sea más fácil. — “The instructions make the process easier.” comidas means “meals.” It is the plural of the feminine noun comida (“meal”). Here it is the subject of the clause introduced by que. preparadas means “prepared” and describes comidas. It is the feminine plural form of preparado, agreeing with the feminine plural noun comidas. Example: Las verduras preparadas están listas. — “The prepared vegetables are ready.” más agradables means “more enjoyable” here. Agradables is the plural form of agradable (“pleasant” or “enjoyable”); this adjective has the same form for masculine and feminine nouns and takes -s in the plural. Más forms the comparative “more + adjective.” The comparison standard is not stated. Example: Esta opción es más agradable. — “This option is more enjoyable.” Together, los pequeños cambios is the subject, hacen que introduces the caused result, and las comidas preparadas sean más agradables says that the prepared meals are made more enjoyable. Sean is the third-person plural present subjunctive of ser, used in this result clause after hacer que. The full meaning is: “Small changes make prepared meals more enjoyable.”