Your health is an incredibly valuable asset – and the beautiful thing about it is that, to a certain extent, you have a ton of control over it. Preparing your own meals is an important component of that. You get to decide exactly what goes into your body to fuel its many endeavors.
I’m happy to say that these days I make my own food over 90% of the time. It’s such a rewarding and empowering way to live, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. But I must admit: It takes lots of time. I know that this time aspect is the main deterrent when it comes to the notion of preparing one’s own food, so today I want to share a couple of tips that will end up saving you lots of it. If you have anything to add, please share! Preparing your own meals is so, so worth it, and I love that we all have the ability to help each other by sharing our own words of wisdom on this very blog. :)
Plan your meals.
Meal-planning can be a daunting task. You just don’t feel like sitting down and coming up with everything you’ll eat for the week. What sucks a little more, though, is when you open your fridge and realize you’re not able to create a meal with what’s inside of it. This week, dedicate just 30 minutes to planning out your meals – and make it fun! Go on Pinterest and search for delicious-looking recipes. After you’ve decided on your main meals, list out the ingredients in different groups based on where you’ll find each item in the supermarket – I’ve been doing this for about a year, and it really makes food shopping such a breeze.
Wash all your produce at once.
This, too, may sound like a daunting task, but if you take just five or ten minutes to wash all your produce before putting it away, you’re giving your future self a really nice gift. When you go to make yourself a juice, smoothie, salad, or whatever else, you can just reach in, grab your ingredients, and get right to work. This is also really helpful when you just want to grab a handful of grapes on your way out the door.
Make breakfast overnight.
Mornings often seem to be the most crazy, rushed part of the day – and sometimes breakfast might just go forgotten. Vow to never again let yourself miss a breakfast. Instead, make it overnight! Meals like overnight oats and chia pudding are the best because they’re healthy, delicious, and ready for you as soon as you wake up.
Use a crockpot.
Crockpots are miracle workers. Just chop up some vegetables in the morning, throw them in with some broth, turn the pot on low, and go about your day as normal. Come dinner, a delicious homemade meal is ready and waiting for you… at the perfect temperature.
Have a weekly potluck.
If you’re the type to get sick of a meal before the leftovers are through, I think you should try hosting a potluck with your friends! Choose a night to have everyone over, and have each person bring a dish (or two) to your house. After you enjoy the night together, divide up the leftovers and send everyone home with a portion of each. If you invite 5 people, that’s 5 delicious meals that are already made for you. Jackpot.
Do you have any time-saving tips for the kitchen? Please share!!
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Meal Planning is a must for me. I would be lost if I didn’t! Great tips!
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
I love the tip about washing all the fruit at once – so simple, but I’ve never thought to do that. This has definitely inspired me to get better about my meal planning and cooking at home. Thank you!
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com
Great tips! I’m always super rushed with school and stuff!
http://www.littlemissfresh.net
That’s exactly why I don’t cook as much as I should. I am just not a planner and it always seems like so much work when I am hungry at that moment. I have been making an effort to do more cooking and what seems to help me is cutting all my vegetables at the beginning of the week. My salad shooter saves me so much time!
I have taken to purchasing one thing to have for breakfast each week. Usually, I will choose 5 different pieces of fruit and decide if I am having them in yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, what have you. That way, I don’t have to think about it. Lunches are almost always leftover suppers. I have also been meal planning for about a year! I get a coop produce basket every other week, then plan two weeks of meals around that. I enjoy it!
http://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com
These are all such great ideas! And this is why I love this blog lol
why is everything shot in the dark?? Turn on some lights, open your blinds. I get the moody setting for some things, but this is so uninspiring.
Great tips! And what a handsome kitty!!
I like to turn up some good music, chop or prep all the veggies for the dish I’m making before I start cooking so that I can just toss them in as I cook and I know I’ll have everything I need.
I can’t remember why, but I remember reading years ago that washing your vegetables and fruit before storing them in the fridge is a big mistake. Unless is just for a day, not washing them to use them in the next week for example. Sorry I can’t remember why… :/
I agree the pictures are a little too dark, I love the potluck idea!
Planning has become a MUST for me since I started doing raw foods. Soaking, sprouting, fermenting, dehydrating… but it is also a nice feeling to wake up or come home from work and have something ready for you!
Hi Brigette, you can contact me at natquino@gmail.com.
I always plan my weekly menus but also cook in advance. Meals that require slow cooking often taste better the next day anyway!
The cat on the counter really bothers me in the first photo
Your photos are beautiful. So’s the cat. I just put the chia pudding in the fridge and have bookmarked a heap of your recipes. Thank you.
in addition to fruits and vegetables is a healthy food and can be served easily, I guess thinking back to use some modern products in the kitchen will also help you in saving time while in the kitchen. Washing dishes with the help of automatic machines for example. Based on the energy star’s official website, this modern washer can save more than 5,000 gallons of water per year and can save more than 200 hours of your time per year. If you are interested in seeing the dishwasher Energy Star, the following sources : http://affield.com