The perpetual race against time can be exhausting. But, we do have a choice. We can make home-cooked meals… or choose to eat out, which isn’t viable on a daily basis. Here are a few tips to help save time in the kitchen for those that have chosen to become the family chef!
Refine the art of meal prep!
A proven method to maximize time has to do with the unavoidable meal prep. On Sundays, wear an apron and get the cutting boards ready! Cook sautés, stews, roasts, etc., that can be pre-portioned and put away in the fridge or freezer, to be served for lunch or dinner, during the week.
If you are a firm believer that "Sundays are a day of rest", or if you think meal prep is complicated, think again! If spending two hours planning and preparing meals on a Sunday can save you an hour a day during the week, you’ll gain 3 hours a week! Imagine the possibilities: dishwashing needs only be done once during the week, instead of 5 times! Heaven!
Check out your grocery store’s weekly flyers to stock up on meats, fruits and vegetables, condiments or any other ingredient you really like. Otherwise, choose the bigger formats of Prix club, which are always the best option. The TADA! meal planner app is also be very useful. It can suggest recipes using ingredients that appear in the flyer.
Get a head start
While cooking your nightly dinner, get a head start by preparing part of the next day’s lunches (for example, proteins or starches, such as rice or pasta). You can multitask: keep an eye on your chicken (roasting is in the oven) and on the grilling vegetables, while making sandwiches for the next day. That way, you’re sure not to waste any time.
Once the meal is cooked, clean the kitchen and start preparing things needed for the next day’s breakfast: plug in the coffee machine, put the box of cereal on the table, next to bowls and spoons. That way, the kids can help themselves, which is one less stressful thing in the morning!
To learn about more time-saving tips in the kitchen, ready the following article.
Ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meals: great shortcuts!
On super busy nights, take advantage of the ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat meals, like the C’est prêt! products, which offer a ton of meals that truly taste like home.