Tips from Yvonne’s cookbook, Your Fit Gourmet, Cooking Secrets for The Overscheduled Woman.
Being prepared is essential to living a healthy and stress-free lifestyle. We all know the feeling of dashing through the door at work, nearly late, and the anxiety we feel being unprepared for the day ahead. And had we arrived a few minutes early to get situated, the entire day would undoubtable be much more productive, and enjoyable. By taking just fifteen minutes to get our ducks in a row, we can affect our entire week. The same is true for establishing a successful weekly kitchen routine. Implementing these organizational tools will save you an average of two hours a week! That’s more time to take a walk, read a book, or share a glass of wine with someone you love.
- Know your Routine
- Be real – know your ability and enjoyment level in the kitchen.
- Know your family member’s food preferences.
- Average time you want/ need to spend making the meals you know you will enjoy.
- Create 3 Quick Back-Up meals using ingredients that are always available in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator.
- Customize Your Pantry and Fridge
- Keep ingredients on hand for your 3 Quick Back-up Meals.
- Make a Must Have List and post in pantry or on your fridge.
- Find healthy alternatives for homemade sauces.
- Make your dishes and freeze- just make sure to use them within 1 month.
- Pre-make and package snack and lunch items.
- pre-cut veggies for salads, sauces and flavor enhancers.
- Make A Menu Cycle
- 3-week cycles are most efficient.
- Include meals out and next day makeovers.
- Make a Snack List and keep in Kitchen Organizer.
- Plan your prep day on your least busy day of your week and don’t forget to include shopping and travel time.
- Know your butcher and fish delivery days to get the freshest items.
- Make a My Grocery Store Shopping List organize by aisle for speed at the store – post in a convenient location in your kitchen.
- Streamline Shopping
- Shop online – it’s a great time saver.
Set up delivery based upon weekly use. Set up delivery on a by-weekly or monthly basis and consider your storage space when ordering quantity. A small fee may be involved but with the price of gas it is still a saving of time and money.
- Use the My Grocery Shopping List; will save on an average of 20 minutes by using your list. Experts say that for every extra minute you shop, you spend 50 cents more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we spend an average of 60 minutes per week grocery shopping, not counting the drive there and back. You list will save you on an average of 20 minutes.
- IN the Bag; put your wallet in your reusable shopping bags before you leave for the store; this way you won’t forget your bags and you’ll be helping Mother Nature stay green.
- Create More Time – shop online for dry items such as paper towels, toilet paper and water.
- Do Your Prep
- Select a day of the week that is your least busy.
- Allow time for driving, shopping and prepping – about 1.5 – 2 hours.
- Clean and Cut veggies, bundle snacks, marinade meats 2 days in advance, make vinaigrette, sauces or dips.
- If making baked goods- add 1 hour.
- Make extra and freeze.