If you’re like me, you’re constantly on the go, and it can be very easy to give in to convenience over health and financial cost. Well I’m here to show you how you can have it all; mindful eating, convenience, and cost savings all in one. All it takes is a little prep work.
Fill up your freezer: Grocery shopping can be a pain, but if you do it right, not only will you have to shop less, but you’ll spend less and be sure to be eating right. My biggest tip: Go for the frozen foods! This DOES NOT mean pre-packaged dinners, but frozen veggies and uncooked protein such as chicken and salmon. The best thing about these products is that they are flash-frozen at the peak of perfection, and you can keep them in the freezer for a while without worrying about them going bad. My frozen staples include:
Individually packed frozen chicken breasts and salmon fillets, (I love getting these at costo for a real money saver)
Now I’ll admit that the frozen pot stickers aren’t the best thing in the world, but for a 5 minute dinner, served with steamed from frozen broccoli with a quick vinaigrette of lemon juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and siracha, you can’t get much better!
Make yourself portioned snacks for the grab-and-go effect: My go-to snacks are:
Cucumber
Edamame
Pretzels
Carrots
Stocking up on those and throwing them into pre-portioned bags ahead of time means I always have snacks on hand, and don’t have to spend time in the morning preparing them. At the beginning of the week, I like to slice a bunch of cucumber, and keep it in a big zip lock bag so in the morning, I grab as much as I want and go. I also do this with edamame, which are a great snack because of the protein they provide, keeping you full for longer. Pre-packed yogurt cups are a great option as well.
Stock your pantry with the basics: With a well-stocked pantry, cooking will ALWAYS be cheaper, and pretty easy. Keeping frozen protein such as chicken or salmon eliminates the need to go to the store, and keeping a few staples on hand lets you whip up easy dinners in a pinch. These basics create make different flavors and can come together to make a great dinner when you don’t have a lot of time or money. Here’s what I always have in the house:
Olive oil
Garlic
Onions
Carrots
Celery
Miso soup packets
Tofu
Lemons
Soy sauce
Siracha
Whole wheat spaghetti and/or ramen noodles
Chicken stock
Tomato paste
Canned tomatoes
Your favorite dried herbs
Brown rice
For more questions and tips on how to save time and money cooking at home, reach out and contact me!