Meal Prep on a Time Crunch

Are you tired of spending countless hours in the kitchen preparing meals? Well, you are not alone. But do not worry, we have found the perfect time-saving hacks that will allow your meal planning process to go much smoother. And the best part? we are going share our tips with you to make your cooking experience enjoyable. Here we go!

Plan Ahead
Set aside some time during the week to prepare ingredients that can be used to cook your meals later in the week. This can include pre-cutting fruits and vegetables, marinating your protein and freezing them for later use.   A key time-saving hack is to try and prepare your meals the night before as it saves you some time from rushing in the morning.  Additionally, you can also purchase a large roasted chicken from your local grocery stores and use it in different recipes such as chicken wrap sandwich, chicken soup or tacos etc.   

Grab-and-Go Snacks
Having snacks that require minimal effort is perfect for busy students who are always on the go. That is why it is essential to include grab-and-go snacks in your meal planning. Some convenient and healthy snack options to add to your snack selection are yogurt, fruit cup, trail mix of nuts, cottage cheese, etc.  

Kitchen Gadgets
A common time-saving hack is to use time-saving kitchen gadgets. An everyday kitchen gadget that most people use is an instant pot. This instant pot is a fast and versatile appliance that allows you to toss all your ingredients at once and cook the meal for you with little involvement. It is great for making various recipes including soups, chillis or rice etc. Another tool to consider is a salad spinner. A salad spinner efficiently washes and dries your salad leaves in a few minutes. 

Cooking in Bulk
Cooking in bulk has many benefits. By preparing larger portions of food, you’ll have easy and nutritious meals available during busy days and save time in the kitchen. Cooking in large amounts is budget-friendly and helps promote healthy eating by reducing temptation to consume fast foods. A great tool to use for your batch cooking is an instant pot, as it requires minimal effort to use it. Staples such as rice, beans, soups, pasta sauce and chili are ideal for bulk cooking. Be sure to store your leftovers in high-quality containers to maintain the meal’s freshness. 

Quick Meal Videos
If you are running out of ideas to make meals in little to no time, search online for a quick meal video to get inspiration or expand your recipe portfolio. Some great websites to use are Tasty, Youtube and Pinterest.