Do you not have enough time to cook homemade meals from scratch every evening? Do you regularly spend too much money on food due to lack of planning, grabbing whatever you can in the supermarket after a long day? You’re not alone. Many of us fail to pre-plan our mealtimes – but this can mean eating far less healthily, as well as affecting our finances. If this sounds familiar, check out our hacks below that will help you master meal planning once and for all.
The first thing to consider when meal planning is your schedule. Be realistic – if you have a super–busy day in the middle of the week, there’s little point planning to cook a meal that will take hours and hours. It won’t happen, and you’ll end up scrolling for a tasty takeout. Instead, look at your schedule for the upcoming week and plan around it. Choose a day or evening when you don’t have much on and plan to batch cook some meals then, making sure you have enough leftovers for hectic days and evenings.
One of the best ways to simplify meal prep is to batch cook meals and freeze them. There are loads of tasty dishes that you can cook in big batches, such as chilli, bolognese, ragu, hotpots and more. Once you’ve rustled them up, allow them to cool then pop them in the freezer in portions. Or, if you’re making a batch to enjoy over two evenings instead of one, most dishes will be fine to eat the next day if you put them in the fridge. Of course, batch cooking means you’ll spend a larger chunk of time on one particular day in the kitchen, but it will save you heaps of time throughout the rest of the week. Make sure to invest in good quality freezer and microwave-proof containers for your delicious dishes. Always know how to reheat your pre-made meals like a pro.
Think about different meals you can make using the same ingredients. Things like beef mince, chicken, lentils, onions and tinned tomatoes are great as they’re the basis for lots of different meals. If you make the same meal over and over, you’ll quickly get bored and be more tempted to order that pizza. And stock up on different herbs, spices and purees that can transform your dish from drab to delicious in no time.
Invest in a slow cooker
Today, there are more kitchen gadgets than ever before – so use them to your advantage. If you’ve got a super–busy day planned, it’s unlikely you’ll have the time or energy to cook a healthy meal from scratch. And that’s ok – this is where slow cookers come in handy. Simply pop your ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and it’ll work its magic while you’re getting on with your day. When it comes to dinner time, your meal will be ready waiting for you, without you having to lift a finger. They really are a game changer when it comes to effective meal planning.
By following these top tips, we’re sure you’ll become a pro-prepper in no time. Not only will you enjoy healthy and delicious dinners more regularly, but you’ll be able to take control of your finances – giving you more cash to splash on other things. It’s a win, win!
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