Meal Prep Simplified...

Over the last year ++ I have spent a lot of time thinking about food. I have also spent a lot of time preparing food. In order to cut the time in the kitchen down and to make sure I could easily pull together a healthy meal, I figured out a couple "tricks."

1. I always have a box of apples on hand, I order them from the local health food store or grocery. Ordering by the box keeps the cost down and if stored in a cool spot, they will last for weeks. I do the same with yams or sweet potatoes. I love them and my kids do also. I bake 6-8 at a time and keep them in the refrigerator.
2. I also cook several chicken breasts at a time. To reheat, slice and stir it into a saute at the end, stir into a pasta sauce, etc.
3. Rice, quinoa, bulgar, grains in general, just the same, cook a lot and save it in the fridge.
4. When I come home from the store, I spend a bit of time washing and chopping my veggies. I cut down on a ton of preparation and am always able to grab carrot sticks, sliced peppers or broccoli "trees."
5. In my freezer I have frozen berries, peaches, peas, beans, organic beef, bison, chicken, sprouted wheat tortillas, walnuts, almonds, flax seeds, a couple loaves of bread...you get the picture.
6. Much of the same on my shelves, pasta sauce and gluten free pasta, diced tomatoes, coconut milk, low sodium broth, dried beans...
7. I love my crock pot! Thanks to my Sis-In-Law, Kirsten, for the oh so practical gift! I cook beans in my crock pot. They will cook without soaking in about 8 hours. Chicken breasts or a whole chicken cooked in a can of coconut milk with some curry, garlic, onion and lime is yummy! The crock pot does it all!
8. A word about beans...cook a bunch and save them in the freezer. They will last for weeks and cooking dry beans is much less costly than buying cans, much lower in sodium as well.
9. Stock up on non-perishable food items that are family staples when they are on special. You won't run out and you will save money.

For now, this is what I have. Eating a sit down dinner with your family is the most enjoyable end to a busy day.