Remember dinner times when you were a child? You would sit around the dining room table enjoying a home-cooked meal while discussing the day’s events. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s hard enough to even get time to sit down for dinner, not to mention time to cook a meal. It’s easy to rely on pre-packaged convenience foods or fall into the trap of eating out. If you haven’t cooked in a while, you are missing out on the benefits of a home-cooked meal.
The Lack of Time Is Not an Excuse Any More
Picture this: you just got home from work and have no idea what you are going to cook for dinner. You have a bowl of fresh produce, but you’ve had a long day and don’t feel inspired to start preparing the ingredients for cooking. In such instances, takeout menus might be screaming your name. Cooking isn’t something you have time to do every day, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Luckily, there are ways to make cooking less stressful and quicker during the week. Here are a few tips that will come in handy.
Plan Your Meals
If you want to enjoy cooking every night, a great place to start is by planning your meals. Knowing what to eat throughout the week saves you time. You don’t have to stare at the refrigerator daily, wondering what to cook. At the beginning of the week, write down the meals you want to cook throughout the week. Planning helps you figure out the ingredients you need and motivates you to cook. Want to try out a new recipe? Writing it down will help you remember what you need to avoid last-minute preparation.
Take Advantage of Meal Delivery Services
Cooking can go from drag to fun if you have everything you need to put together a robust meal. Meal kit delivery services have emerged, offering convenience in meal preparation. For instance, you can get nutritious ingredients provided in pre-portioned, cleaned, and chopped portions that are ready for cooking. They take the guesswork out of meal planning and ensure you receive ingredients for a balanced meal. Some go a step further by delivering it to your doorstep. For instance, you can get meal kits at your door if you live in HelloFresh delivery zones, which makes it easier to cook meals on a busy schedule.
Utilise Simple Recipes
No need to spend hours figuring out how to prepare a fancy meal. A simple, balanced meal is nutritious and requires minimal effort. Reduce the cooking time by whipping together salads within minutes or preparing one-pot meals.
Repurpose Leftovers
If you have leftovers, you can heat them up for dinner when you are tired. However, you can also repurpose last night’s dishes into new ones. For instance, you can use leftover potatoes or veggies to make soups or stir-fry. Alternatively, add new flavours to tortillas or a burrito with your leftovers, and have delicious and filling meals.
Use Pressure Cookers and Slow Cookers
Slow cookers and pressure cookers will make cooking easier. You can prepare dishes within a short time and with minimal supervision. If you want to cook stews, soups or casseroles, prepare them in the slow cooker. The best part is that you can handle other duties as the machines do the cooking for you.
A robust meal doesn’t require the entire day to prepare. You can whip up delicious meals full of flavour that your whole family can enjoy while chatting about their day. With a little effort and some creativity, you can enjoy a hearty meal daily.
Image: Kourosh000 | Wikimedia Commons
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