Meal Prep is going to make your life a whole lot easier!
Too tired to care
At the end of a long day the last thing you want to do is stand in the kitchen peeling and chopping vegetables.
Meal prep is the way to go. I don’t cook anything that is going to take more than 30-40 minutes from start too finish. I am too tired and there are other things I want to do when I get home from work.
Meal prep is also a good way to be able to buy your vegetables in bulk and then freeze. Remember if they sell it frozen in store, then there is a way for you to freeze it as well.
An hour a week
Spending an hour a week prepping and freezing a whole lot of things from onions to bell peppers will save you time in the evenings when you get home from work. Just pull the ingredients out the freezer and toss into your meal. If the vegetables have been frozen correctly, they will retain their texture, colour and flavour when cooked.
Obviously, if you have help at home or or slightly older children (9 years old or more) then they can be used to prep your vegetables or even cook supper occasionally. The children will not only learn to cook and learn about fresh ingredients but also gain a sense of independence.
In South Africa, for the most part, children know what a potato is in its natural form. How many children know that store bought or restaurant oven chips are made from potatoes?
Involving children in meal prep will also let them appreciate why dinner is not on the table as so as they want it. It gives them a new perspective on the food that is cooked and, maybe, encourages them to try and eat new things. Having them help with the cooking gives them a new confidence and a feeling of pride when they can say they helped or made dinner.
Do you have a little mini chef in the kitchen? Do you meal prep?