3 Ways to Save on Food Prep Time and Still Get Stuff Done

Life gets busy, and it seems like you have zero time to get anything done. Or, you get one thing done only to find that nothing else on your list was completed. If this sounds like you, we’ve all been there. Life gets crazy, and it seems impossible to get everything done, promptly. So, let’s discuss some tips to save on food prep time.

Luckily, there are a few ways you can save on time without feeling like you didn’t get anything done. If you’re an overachiever, cut yourself some slack – you can’t get everything done, especially if your project is going to take more time than you originally anticipated. Start small and be realistic with the time frame it is going to take to get tasks done, even the small ones.

One of the biggest tasks that take a lot of time is cooking and making meals. If you’re a healthy eater, you may find that cooking quality meals take the most time, but it doesn’t have to. There are some things you can do to make it easier to cook and still have time to get everything else done, too. Check out the tips below for some ways to save on food prep time:

Stock up on easy to make meals

DalIf you’re a busy career woman or man who rarely has the opportunity to cook, you can buy meals online, such as a tasty dal tadka Indian meal. That way, you’ll still get to enjoy a quality meal without having to place your order and pick it up at an Indian food restaurant that’s ten minutes away. Order and store high quality, delicious meals that you can make at a moment’s notice for those nights when you’re slammed with work and will be eating in again.

Make breakfast the night before

Obviously, you can’t make cereal the night before, but if you’re a smoothie drinker, there is a way to set up your prep so you can easily make your smoothie in the morning when you’re rushing out the door. Put all your milk, fruit, and yogurt and ice in the blender pitcher and then store the pitcher in your refrigerator overnight. Yes, you can put a cut up banana in the blender, and it will get brown, but the flavor will still be the same. Then, in the morning grab the blender out of the fridge and push the button. You just saved yourself ten minutes that you desperately need in the morning!

Sandwiches are a quick go-to meal

When in doubt, quickly make a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich for dinner that’ll save a lot of time. Be sure to make it with real fruit jam, whole-grain bread, and organic peanut butter. That way you won’t be worried about not eating healthy, assuming you’re trying to stay away from additive-laden meals.

If you’re not a fan of PB&J, there’s always turkey, or veggies if you’re a vegetarian. Be creative and use what you have. A sandwich can be a quick and tasty meal when you’re busy and have work priorities.

6 Comments

  • Tamra Phelps

    Lately I’ve been so tired that I just stopped cooking and bought a bunch of microwave meals, lol. Honestly, they are not very good, are they? But I was tired. So, I ate them for a few weeks.

    • Connie: The Head Peanut

      We like the Stoffers lasagna, in the last few minutes I add more cheese sometimes pepperchinis, those are good and the bagged microwave meals are good too. Birds Eye Voila the Cheesy Chicken is good. I’m with you, some days I just do not want to cook. Lately when I do, I make a double batch and put half in the freezer. ALSO, a roasted chicken from the deli in Walmart. SO GOOD!! I can get three meals from it. Chicken, baked potato (with cheese, green onion and sour cream), veggie. Next night chicken sandwhich, third night a chicken burrito with a scoop of the Ben’s Ready Rice (You microwave it 90 seconds and done!) Tons of flavors. A scoop of refried beans with a generous portion of salsa, 1 can rotel and we like our pepperchinis, microwave that. Done a stuffed burritto that is really good. Top with cheese, salsa and of course sour cream.

      Okay I think things are done popping in my head.

  • Tamra Phelps

    I like the sandwich idea. Many times I’ve made a big sub sandwich & cut it up into several parts for everyone.

  • KATE SARSFIELD

    I usually cook from scratch & honestly with a bit of common sense & multi-tasking I can have a healthy meal on the table within 15 – 30 minutes! And if stuff’s on sale or in season, stock up & make use of your freezer!

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