5/6/2023 0 Comments Easy meal planning recipes![]() Cooking is the last thing I want to do and I’d rather have chips, dips and a dessert for dinner. I find it especially easy to reach for sweets and pizza when I do have a stressful week. One way to stay healthy is to eat healthy the majority of the time. Your health, your happiness and peace of mind. When you’re only focused on putting out fires you didn’t even start all day long, you’re forgetting something far more important: yourself. That’s what leftovers are for! (Don’t forget, they’re also great for next-day lunches.Having a lot on your plate can easily mess up your priorities and make you ignore the basics, the essentials – the things that we actually need in order to live a life that we like. But chances are, you’ll run into times when cooking isn’t in the cards and your carefully devised meal plan starts to crumble before your eyes. If you’re interested in cooking a single-serving meal seven days a week, more power to you. When it comes to meal-prepping and planning, batch cooking will quickly become your best friend. Think of it this way: What can you make ahead of time that can be easily reheated day-of? For example, roasting vegetables and whipping up a big pot of rice or grains can be accomplished during a Sunday Netflix session, saving time in the long run. Not only does it eliminate wasted food, it also leaves you with a slew of freezer meals for nights you don’t feel like lifting a finger. If you know you won’t eat that chili three days in a row, portion it into food-safe containers and freeze it for a rainy day. Many foods will keep in the freezer for months after you make them: casseroles, soups, stews, sauces, you get the idea. OK, maybe you don’t want to make half a lasagna-that’s fine, too. Depending on what you’re making, you might need to adjust the cooking time (smaller portions usually need less time to cook), but if you use your best chef senses (i.e., smell, sight, sizzling), you’ll be fine. The good news? With some very simple math, you can easily divide those recipes in half. Sure, most entrées are meant to serve four people (or more). This absorbs excess moisture while keeping them fresh.) 3. ( Psst: Worried about pre-washed veggies getting slimy? Wrap them in paper towels before returning them to their bags. Think of all the time you’ll save on Tuesday night when that kale’s already clean. That means washing greens and vegetables, breaking down large packs of chicken breasts into individual ones and freezing things you know you won’t need right away. Instead of shoving things into the pantry and out of sight, spend a little extra time pre-portioning and prepping what you just bought. Whew, the shopping is done-now it’s time to unpack those groceries. Plus, you’ll be more likely to stick to a budget when it’s all on paper in front of you. (You can even buy special calendars and download apps like Mealime for this task.) Trust us, though: Once you nail down your menu and grocery lists, you’ll be in and out of Trader Joe’s in no time. Too daunting to look at a month’s worth of meals? Think of it in smaller chunks and make weekly meal plans instead. Set aside 30 minutes of your Sunday to decide what you feel like eating and come up with a shopping list. Brainstorm a Cooking (and Shopping) Planīrace yourself: This might be the most important part of meal planning.
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