I know it can be hard finding the time to make meals. We’re all busy, and cooking often gets pushed down the priority list.
But it is possible to make healthy, delicious meals for yourself (and your family) without spending a lot of time in the kitchen, if you remember these tips.
Of course, it will take a little more time to put together a healthy meal yourself than to microwave something in a box. But there are some simple things you can do to make it as easy and quick as possible.
By Heather Nicholds
If you watch my weekly recipe videos, you’ll know that I’m not into long, complicated gourmet recipes or ingredients that are processed or refined. I’m all about making simple, fast dishes that taste awesome and leave you feeling energetic and satisfied.
Whenever I’m thinking up recipes to share with you, I try to keep them as time-efficient as possible. That’s how I always cook for myself, and I keep getting more efficient all the time. Have you noticed that in your own cooking?
Most of my meals take less than 30 minutes of prep time. The same goes for the recipes in the online cooking classes members-only website.
I enjoy cooking, and I love filming recipes for you, but I don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. The really fun part is eating!
You can make tasty, flavorful, meals that are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and plenty of protein. Yup, trust me! It just takes a bit of know-how and some practice, especially if you’re new to a healthier way of eating.
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One of the best things about being able to cook for yourself is that you start feeling better. Phil and I have both found that we have way more energy now that we eat healthier, so we have a lot more fun in everything we do.
You can do all this without spending too much time. In the online cooking classes, I show you exactly how, but to get you started, I wanted to share 3 tips with you to help when you have no time for meal prep:
1. Use Canned Beans
Canned beans are a super-quick addition to a fresh salad or soup to take it from a side dish to a meal.
If you toss them with salad dressing and let them marinate, they’ll be super tasty by lunch. Whip up a quick dip by pureeing them with some garlic and seasonings.
2. Use Frozen Produce
Frozen peas, corn or other veggies are fine in a pinch. Fresh is always better, but in freezing there’s usually minimal nutrient loss. Plus, the produce that’s frozen is usually picked when it’s ripe, which is when nutrients are maximized, while fresh produce is often picked early so that it can be shipped.
I think it’s more important to eat lots of vegetables and fruit, even if they’re frozen, than burn yourself out trying to always get fresh if you don’t have the time. Keep some bags in the freezer for emergencies.
Just don’t get those tiny carrot cubes – they don’t have many nutrients left. As much as possible, stick to veggies and fruits that are whole.
3. Get A Food Processor
It’s not a necessary kitchen tool, but a food processor makes a HUGE difference if you’re short on time. I tried to resist it for a while, because I didn’t want to be reliant on it, but I’ve now given in to the convenience.
If you get one with a slicing and grating blade attachment, you can chop and grate veggies in no time flat. Not to mention all the bean dips and salad dressings you can make.
Alright, here’s a delicious recipe that honestly takes no time at all. I timed myself making this, and came in at 4 minutes and 10 seconds. Pretty good, right? And I didn’t even have anything prepped in advance…
Super Fast Bean Salad
- Handful fresh parsley or cilantro
- 1 cup cauliflower
- 1 cup red pepper
- 1 14oz can white beans (or any kind of bean)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon (more or less, to taste)
- 1/2 tsp chili powder (more or less, to taste)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt or Herbamare (more or less, to taste)
Pulse the parsley, cauliflower and red pepper in a food processor until chopped and chunky. Stir in the lemon juice and seasonings. Enjoy your super fast salad on its own, or on top of some fresh greens.
Now tell me – what are your best tricks for saving time in your meal prep?
I shared a couple of mine here, but it’s always fun to share and learn from each other 🙂
And if you’re interested in learning more, check out my online cooking classes members-only website.
