Meal planning can be a great solution for people who want to eat healthy, save money, and reduce food waste. However, for those with limited cooking skills, meal planning can seem daunting and overwhelming. The good news is that with a little bit of guidance, anyone can become a meal-planning pro!

I am not a chef, by any stretch of the imagination, but I do LOVE to cook. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of the weeknight shuffle where you’re trying to balance homework, playtime, sports, etc. So I really try my best to plan strategically to reduce my time in the kitchen. That being said, I feel like I’ve really narrowed down my top recipes that keep dinner prep/cooking under 1 hour. 

Whether you're new to the kitchen or just looking for some simple meal-planning strategies, these tips will help you save time, money, and effort while still enjoying delicious and nutritious meals. So, let's dive in!

1. Keep it simple. Look for recipes with less than 10 ingredients, that’s including the spices.

   • Find your favorite chef/home cook to follow and stick with their recipes. This is really a relationship you need to feel out. Test out a few recipes - are the instructions easy to follow? Do they use ingredients I readily have on hand? Do they offer a wide variety of recipes?

   • Here are a few of my favorites: @skinnytaste, @howsweeteats, @flavcity
     
     

2. Use pre-made ingredients: Don't be afraid to use pre-made ingredients like pre-cooked rice, pre-chopped vegetables, or pre-marinated meats. These can help save time and make cooking easier.

   
   
   

   

   
   
   

3. Batch cook. Make larger batches of meals that can be reheated throughout the week. This can help you save time and ensure that you always have a healthy meal ready to go. 

   • The same also goes for freezing the extra batch to use at a later date. You’ve got spaghetti and meatballs on the menu this week? Double your sauce and meatballs. Freeze your sauce in these great plastic “restaurant-style” containers, and freeze your meatballs in gallon-size freezer bags. You instantly have dinner prepped and ready for a busy weeknight.
     
     

4. Repurpose leftovers. Don’t fear the leftovers! I personally have the leftovers for lunch the next day, it’s just an easy way to take care of lunch plans without ever having to think about it. If you’re not a fan of eating leftovers the next day, then I highly suggest repurposing your leftovers for another night's dinner. Here are some ideas…

   • Leftover roasting chicken → Chicken salad, chicken quesadillas, chicken soup, bbq chicken sliders

   • Leftover chili → NACHOS!!! Baked potato topped with chili and all the fixings

   • Leftover taco meat → NACHOS, they’re a favorite, can you tell?! Taco Salad, quesadillas, taco rice bowl, empanadas.
     
     

5. Overlap your ingredients. Look for recipes that use similar ingredients, so you can buy in bulk and save money. This will also help reduce food waste by using up ingredients before they spoil.

Just HAVE FUN in the kitchen and let your love shine through your food! Give yourself time and grace to find your groove. Most importantly, keep it simple! A few simple, quality ingredients are all you need for a healthy, flavorful meal. 

All the best,

Lisa

xoxo