Photo by Alyson McPhee on Unsplash
by Wendie Pett
“What’s for dinner?” If that’s one of your least favorite questions, then keep reading.
Or, keep reading if you’ve ever had the desire to make more extravagant meals, but it hasn’t been feasible due to the busyness of running from one appointment to the next.?
The thought of gourmet sounds wonderful, but who has time for the step-by-step processes and the mental energy it takes night after night, ? rightRight?
Well, here are a few dinner hacks to save you time and energy in the kitchen and fool your family with a quick semi-gourmet meal every time.
Peel, Prep, Chop, and Freeze.
Let’s face it, most of the time-consuming effort is in the prep work. Pick a day each week to peel, prep, chop, and then freeze vegetables, fruit, beans, grains, pastes, purees, and sauces for a time-management game-changer in regards to dinners. And please, for those grains and beans, get yourself a pressure cooker already. ! It’s time.
Get Your Soup On.
Always have one or two homemade soups made and in the freezer. Sometimes an added soup with a meal can make it feel a bit more gourmet. You can easily freeze them in individual or family-sized servings, and then pull them out when needed for a quick reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. The sophisticated finishing touch can be a sprinkling of some fresh herbs sprinkled on top – which. And they will already be washed and ready, since you rinsed and wrapped them up on your prep day.
Make Salads in a Jar.
Since you have your veggies and loads of fixings chopped and ready, grab several large mason Mason jars for salads!and Pplace greens at the bottom of the jar, t. Then continue by layering your favorite salad toppings on top of the greens. Allow your creative chef to spill forth here.
Salads are way more than just vegetables. Use the prepared grains, beans, and even fruit to make this an award-winning and fun meal. YWith multiple Mason-jar salads made, you now have “grab-and-go” meals or snacks to take with you on the run or to pull out when you get home from a long day.
“Heart” Your Favorite Quick Recipes.
When you find an easy, favorite meal, keep itthe recipe close at hand. It could be from an old-fashioned recipe book or box, or stored in aa great app on your phone where you store it. Be sure to have the main ingredients on your prep list for the week or in your pantry.
AndFeel free to be creative. Maybe your recipe calls for diced and sautéed sweet potatoes, but all you have prepped is carrots. Go for it! You’ve Now you’ve tweaked the recipe to make it your own gourmet dish.
Keep Your Refrigerator and Pantry Organized.
When food is “hidden” in storage containers, one iswe’re less likely to open them and explore what’s inside.
Once you’ve prepped your food for the week, keep the results of your work visible. Utilize glass jars and bowls (or use labels) so when you or someone in your house opens the refrigerator door or looks into the pantry, they can see what iswhat’s available is clear to see.
When food is “hidden” in storage containers, one is less likely to open them and explore what’s inside. Remember that we eat with our eyes first, so keep all the your beautifully prepared foods visible and easily accessible to all. This will also keep make dinner time less hectic. When you see your selection that is available to choose from, you immediately de-stress and remain focused on your gourmet dinner that will soon be on the table.
Make Meal Prep a Family Affair.
When we are struggling to find family, friend, or couple time, the kitchen is a great place to gather together to talk, laugh, and work. Many hands make light work, right? When you’ are at the end of your prepped foods for the week, incorporate your “team” into the meal-making. Even young kids can be involved by easily tearing lettuce, sprinkling on the herbs, and stirring whatever you are needing mixed together. The older kids are learning life skills, and everyone is connecting face-to-face. Allow your family members to add to that favorite recipe list, too. You may soon have a family gourmet cookbook!
When your family has a part in the preparation, they are also much more likely to like enjoy what they’ are eating. There’ is always something truly satisfying about having a part in the process and enjoying the finished projectresult. And allow your family members to add to that favorite recipe list. You may soon have a family gourmet cookbook!
So, what’s for dinner? Hopefully, that question isn’t so daunting now, but rather a question that you are well-equipped to answer and excited about answering. Make your grocery list, head to the store, come home, and begin – and enjoy – your prep work. You’ will be thankful to that gourmet chef in your kitchen throughout the whole upcoming week!.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendie Pett is a full-time business owner of Visibly Fit as well as a naturopathic doctor, wife, mother, fitness expert, author, speaker, TV host, and part-time volunteer. Her business consists of whole-food plant-based wellness coaching, emotional healing, personal online training, educational and motivational speaking, and creating new products/tools to assist clients along their wellness journey. To learn more, go to www.wendiepett.com.
