1. Cook your meals for the week in one day. It may take several hours right now but later in the week, you will be grateful. Your nightly meals will be ready in minutes as you pull your pre-made meals from the refrigerator or freezer. A few ideas you might try include cooking a large roast and making several meals from one cut, combine roast and veggies, make beef sandwiches or add it to a stir-fry. You can do the same thing by frying several pounds of hamburger, freezing it for later, defrost, and add to chili, tacos or a casserole.
2. When you come in from a trip to the supermarket take a few moments to clean the fruits and vegetables before you put them away. Now, when it is time to cook dinner all you have to do is cut them up and add them to your soup or salad.
3. Reality television is all the rage, particularly the cooking shows. When you need some cooking tips for healthy meals in minutes, they are a great source of information.
4. If you do not have a recipe file, purchase one and make it a revolving file. Planning a month's worth of meals can be overwhelming and a recipe file will ease the burden. Make this a family event with each member adding a favorite recipe or two to the file. Once your file is, ready all you have to do is flip to the appropriate day for a great recipe.
5. Meal responsibilities can be shared by all the members of your family. When your children get older, they can share the chores. You can all take turn with certain preparations or even the entire meal. Couple your meals with all the clean fruits and vegetables and dinner is served.
6. Share the cooking with friends or neighbors. I've known people who cook four or five of the same meal and then trade with four or five other people. This works best when people share the same basic ideas on what they like and don't like. It's a great idea though for a very easy week of evening meals.
7. Save coupons for those convenience things at the grocery store. They have entire entrees and dinners either fresh or frozen. Sometimes they are rather pricy but with the coupons they are good to have on hand for an evening when everyone is running in different directions and time is of the essence.
8. Eating out is okay from time to time and this is another place where coupons can come in handy. You and the kids can also watch for restaurants that offer free or reduced prices for children. Even fast food can be an option as they are beginning to offer healthier choices.
9. Many larger cities have businesses that prepare food for the evening meal. They seem expensive at first but are so convenient and available for one person or entire families. There are many menu choices and meals cooked for special diets. When you calculate the groceries you buy and the times you eat out each week, this may work for you.
10. Combine several of the above ideas into a plan that is best for you.
With a few cooking tips and a bit of planning you can have quick easy meals every day and you will not have to sacrifice hours to the kitchen.
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