prepare meals

USAGE SUMMARY

"prepare meals" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence such as: "She enjoys spending her free time preparing meals for her family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Older children can clean the house and prepare meals.

The New York Times - Health

"We plan, purchase and prepare meals based on estimates.

The Guardian - Business

They prepare meals and tend to her personal needs.

The New York Times

It's a way to kill animals and to prepare meals.

University of California, Berkeley

Older children can help make a shopping list, plan menus, and prepare meals".

The New York Times

Chen helped crew members prepare meals, which earned him an extra allotment of water.

The New Yorker

First, he will prepare meals at an emergency food program in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The New York Times

Parents can also prepare meals for their children in the cooking areas on various floors.

The New York Times

Women prepare meals, which are sent to hundreds of checkpoints manned by young volunteers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

So, access to balanced, easy-to-prepare meals may not be enough.

The New York Times

Develop repertoire of a few cheap, easy-to-prepare meals.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In health or social care contexts, prefer "prepare meals" to describe a specific activity of daily living (ADL)

Common error

Avoid using the hyphenated "meal-prep" as a verb in formal writing. While "prepare meals" refers to the general act of making food, "meal prepping" is a specific modern trend of bulk cooking. Use the full verb phrase to remain neutral

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prepare meals" functions as a transitive verb phrase consisting of the verb "prepare" and the plural noun "meals" as its direct object. In various contexts provided by Ludwig, it serves as the predicate of the sentence to describe a purposeful action. It is frequently seen following modal verbs like "can" or as part of an infinitive phrase "to prepare meals".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Social Media

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "prepare meals" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct verb phrase that is essential for describing the act of making food across all levels of formality. According to Ludwig AI data, the phrase is a staple in quality journalism and instructional guides, appearing 58 times in top-tier sources. It is preferred in professional contexts because it is more inclusive than "cook", encompassing cold preparations like salads or sandwiches. Whether you are writing a recipe, a news report or a formal business proposal, "prepare meals" provides a clear, unambiguous and sophisticated way to express culinary preparation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make food

A more informal and generic alternative suitable for casual conversation

cook dinner

Specifically refers to the evening meal and emphasizes the heat-based cooking process

prep meals

Shortened form often used in the context of fitness or bulk preparation for the week

fix a meal

An idiomatic, slightly more informal way to describe getting food ready

assemble meals

Implies putting together pre-prepped ingredients rather than cooking from scratch

provide meals

Shifts focus to the act of supplying or serving food, common in business or charity contexts

whip up a meal

Suggests that the food is being prepared quickly or effortlessly

concoct meals

Suggests a level of creativity or complexity in the preparation process

readying meals

A less common gerund form emphasizing the state of preparation

catering meals

Specifically used for professional food service for groups or events

FAQs

How to use "prepare meals" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe both professional and personal activities, such as: "The chef worked late to "prepare meals" for the gala."

What can I say instead of "prepare meals"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "cook dinner" for home settings, "make food" for something informal or "prep meals" for the fitness context.

Which is more formal, "cook food" or "prepare meals"?

""prepare meals"" is considered more formal and professional than "cook food" because it implies a structured process and a finished product (a meal) rather than just the application of heat to ingredients.

Is it "prepare a meal" or "prepare meals"?

Both are correct. Use "prepare a meal" when referring to a single instance and ""prepare meals"" for a recurring task or for multiple servings.