“Getting the job done”
Our brains love to look at things in black in white. To make things simpler. Less stressful. So, if we don’t have the time or energy to make a fabulous dinner, we decide that a drive-thru or delivery is the way to go. And that’s faster… right? Not necessarily.
In reality, you can whip up a simple, nutritious meal faster than DoorDash arrives.
I call it “getting the job done.”
A complete, tasty meal in minutes. Score!
For example, one night I realized that I didn’t have the spices needed for a new steak and broccoli recipe I’d planned. (To be honest, I also lacked the energy for a new recipe, spices or not!)
So I pivoted to a simple stir-fry with the ingredients I had, plus a dash of this and that. Dinner was ready in 25 minutes. Mission accomplished.
And guess what? Not only was the stir-fry tasty and nutritious, I’d spent far less money on higher-quality ingredients than what most restaurants would offer.
The key takeaway: Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated to taste good.
When I meet with clients, we tackle logistical challenges ranging from being short on time to avoiding food waste and making meals everyone in the family will eat.
We all have reasons meal prep can feel challenging. I can help you menu plan in ways that work for your lifestyle. A few of my favorite tips:
1. Plan before the work week. Slot easier & faster dinners on nights when you’ll be short on time or get home late.
2. Freeze individual portions of easy-to-cook proteins (i.e. chicken, salmon, burgers) or keep options in your pantry (i.e. canned salmon, chicken, and beans). You can quickly whip up any of these into a meal paired with salad greens or steamed vegetable.
3. Double up on Sunday dinners, like this chicken curry. Freeze leftovers in freezer-safe mason jars, then enjoy a home-cooked meal later with zero effort!
4. Embrace the Grab & Go concept for any meal: Stock your fridge with bite-sized whole foods. Then combine proteins, fats and carbs for a balanced meal. Examples: boiled eggs, walnuts, berries, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, mini peppers and carrot strips.
5. Make meatballs! Like these. I cook up two pounds of meatballs at a time, then freeze the extras after our first meal. Because they’re small, they defrost quickly for a quick meal or snack.
