Cookbook Recipe

On New Years Day, will you resolve to lose weight – again? I have noticed it’s easier to control your diet – and save money – when you eat at home. But how do you find time to prepare meals when your schedule is so crazy? Well, with a little bit of planning, a few meals at home can be a reality.

First, let’s correct some misconceptions:

Myth: Meals at home have to be complicated.

Reality: Canned soup and sandwich can be a meal.

Myth: Meals at home means that everyone eats at the same time.

Reality: You can use a crock pot to make a hot meal that can be served any time.

Myth: Meals at home take a long time to prepare.

Reality: There are many cookbooks with recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

Start by trying to plan just one or two homemade meals each week. The key is planning – pick one or two recipes, then buy the ingredients ahead of time. You’re more likely to prepare a homemade meal if the ingredients are already in your refrigerator or freezer.

Consider your schedule for the week. Plan your easiest meals for your busiest night. I often plan one meal that has almost all non-perishable ingredients. If I don’t get to it this week I can still use it next week. In fact, I have the ingredients for a few of these “standby” meals in my pantry in case I can’t make it to the grocery store right away.

Once you’ve planned your recipes, make your grocery list. Consider your other needs while your making your list – what you will need for bagged lunches, what items need restocking – and add the items you have to buy every week. If you do this, you’ll make less trips to the grocery store and save yourself time and money.

Buy a crock pot if you don’t have one already. They are great time savers and yes, there are still cookbooks out there for crock pots. Many of the recipes instruct you to simply to add all the ingredients at once and you’re done. Make sure you assemble the ingredients the night before because you won’t have time in the morning. To save even more time, buy onions already chopped in the frozen food section and some pre-chopped vegetable in the produce section. Even spaghetti sauce from a jar tastes better when it’s been simmering all day and fresh pasta cooks very quickly. You can also bake potatoes in the Crock Pot. Older children and spouses can serve themselves from the Crock Pot, so you don’t even have to be home to have dinner ready.

The frozen food section also has many time saving items. You can buy frozen ravioli, tortellini, tamales, lasagna and other casseroles. Add a bagged salad and some bread and you’re set. Bagged salads are another great beginning. You can add strips of chicken, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, nuts, etc. and you’ve got a meal. You can also find all kinds of fruit in the frozen food section. Frozen fruit, milk and honey make a great smoothie.

It’s a win-win situation – save time, money, calories and exercise your creativity

For more information about natural weight loss visit our site Curepure.com and see our post on Probiotics And Weight loss.

For some recipes for quick and easy meals see our post on Cheapskateliving.org and check out our recipe for Ground Turkey Chili.

Thai Foods