Summary
- Stock up on stable ingredients (e.g. frozen, canned or dried) that can be combined in many ways to create interesting dishes.
- If you live alone and don't like to cook for one person, invite people to dinner more often.
- Cook and freeze meal-sized portions in bulk for the next week or month.
About Ready Meals
Australians spend around a third of their household budget on ready meals such as: E.g. takeaway and supermarket.
There are many reasons why people cook less often.People's lives are busier; A two-income household can result in neither partner having the time or energy to cook every night. There are also more and more people who live alone and often do not want to cook for themselves. However, ready meals can be expensive and many are high in fat and salt. Fast food contains up to 65% more kilojoules and larger portions than homemade meals. The average fast food meal contains about half of the kilojoules you need for the day, so many people eat too many kilojoules without realizing it.
If you don't have the time or motivation to cook, the following tips can help.
Stock Your Pantry
You may be tempted to order takeout when your pantry is empty and you can't bear the thought of going to the grocery store. The secret lies in the preservation of long-lasting ingredients that can be combined in many interesting dishes.
Here are some suggestions:
- Buy stable vegetables like potatoes, squash, carrots, and onions, which can form the basis of soups or stews.
- Keep jars of legumes (e.g. lentils, beans, three bean mix, chickpeas) handy.
- Stock up on a variety of canned seafood for a change, including tuna, salmon and sardines.
- Use canned tomatoes, tomato paste, canned corn, or other canned vegetables (look for non-salted varieties) in pasta sauces, soups, or casseroles.
- Stick to your choices of other long-term carbs like rice (broth of several varieties like white, brown, arborio, and jasmine), dry Asian noodles, and couscous.
- Stock up on dry pasta like spaghetti, fettuccine, macaroni, and spiral pasta.
- Keep a supply of canned soup in the pantry (look for the non-salted varieties).
- Keep a supply of oils and vinegars on hand, including olive oil, sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar. You can make a variety of salad dressings or marinades with these ingredients if you add herbs and lemon juice.
- Dried Herb Broth including Basil, Coriander, Mint, Thyme, Oregano and Mixed Herbs.
- Useful condiments are tomato sauce, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, bouillon cube, curry powder, bouillon, soy sauce and chili sauce.
- Contains a Variety of Nuts: They are a great alternative to meat and can be added to salads, stir-fries or pasta dishes.
Get the most out of your fridge and freezer
Keep your fridge and freezer stocked with convenient and healthy groceries. For example:
- Buy frozen fruits and vegetables (e.g. blueberries, mangoes). Contrary to popular belief, frozen fruits and vegetables retain most of their nutrients.
- Crushed Garlic and Ginger comes in jars and fresh herbs in chilled tubes.
- Apples, pears and citrus fruits (e.g. oranges) keep for a long time in the refrigerator.
- Fresh Lemon Lime Juice can be purchased in bottles and stored in the refrigerator.
- Keep a supply of eggs in the fridge. Eggs are a versatile ingredient for a quick, easy, and healthy meal.
- Marinated Tofu keeps well in the fridge and goes well with many types of vegetables.
- Shredded Cheese can be sealed and stored in the freezer to extend its shelf life.
- When buying fresh meat, choose boneless varieties.Divide servings into meal-sized portions and freeze separately.
- Buy pre-sliced or diced or marinated red meat and chicken.
- Buy bread in bulk and store it in the freezer until you need it.
Dining Options for Busy People
These pantry and fridge items offer a range of easy-to-prepare entrees including:
- Fries
- Salads
- Curries
- Soups
- Casseroles
- Stews
- Pasta
- Risotto
Time Saving Tips for the Busy Kitchen
Tips include:
- Maximize time in the kitchen by doubling (or even quadrupling) the amount you need. Freeze the rest in portions and you'll have meals ready for the next week or month.
- Double Tasks: You can save time by doing 2 things at the same time. For example, prepare the pasta sauce while the spaghetti is cooking.
- Prepare all-in-one dishes like soups, risottos, cooked curries and casseroles to save time and avoid washing up.
- Use the Microwave: It's easier and quicker to reheat food in the microwave than to cook it in the oven or on the stovetop. Check the manufacturer's instructions for the best way to cook different foods with your microwave.
- Don't throw away leftovers: store them appropriately (e.g. in the fridge or freezer) for a quick meal the next day. Or offer leftovers creatively; For example, a pasta sauce can make a savory apple filling.
- Prepare a meal the night before and fire up the slow cooker while you're at work, or pack ingredients for a quick meal when you get home.
Finding motivation to cook
Some people who live alone don't like to cook alone. Here are some ways to motivate yourself:
- Take people out to dinner more often.
- Offer to go to a friend's house one evening and cook for him (I hope he will reciprocate one evening).
- If you have a child in your life (like a nephew, niece, or nephew), include them in your cooking sessions. Most children enjoy preparing and cooking food and can be enjoyed together.
- If you're having trouble finding interesting dishes, a good cookbook can inspire you, or you can search the internet for quick and easy recipe ideas.Some grocery packages even include simple recipes.
- Think about how much you save by cooking instead of eating ready meals (and how much better for you). Use the money you save to treat yourself.
Comments
Post a Comment