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Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2017

Eat Healthy - Cut Your Food Costs and Save Time


Everyone is so busy these days that many people forgo their health and think they are saving time by getting and eating fast or prepackaged food. They want everything done instantly.

The reality is that not only are you spending a lot more money than if you bought your own food and prepared it yourself - but - you are also neglecting your health. Everyone knows that "fast food" is not healthy. Calories, cholesterol and lack of nutritious vitamins. Everyone knows this - yet people try to justify it by saying that "they have no time and they need to feed their families a quick meal before they go to..." (whatever activity they have that day).

If you planned ahead - if you planned out your week and your meals - if you took a step back and realized that "yes - you can prepare a healthy meal for your family - in a short period of time" - you would realize that you are not saving time or money by buying fast food.

We are so ingrained into buying into everything that is advertised that we forget to think for ourselves.

Yes - fast food or prepackaged food can be a treat every once in a while. But it should not become the staple of our home.

By being organized and planning out your week and your meals - you can save time and money.

Start by making a schedule of your activities and putting it on a calendar.

Plan out your meals for the week and make a shopping list. The meals don't need to be fancy. On days when you have activities that you need to get to they can be as simple as grilled cheese and a salad. Or soup and a salad. But homemade food is less expensive. You have control over the ingredients and the quality of the food. By planning them out in advance you won't feel rushed during the week and you will feel better in giving your family a "home cooked" meal - as simple as it is.

By buying in bulk you will also save money. Look for sales and something that is in season and available locally that week. If something is in season and available locally - it will probably be less expensive. If it's not something that you planned on serving that week - be flexible and adjust your menu. You can save money by doing so.

When you get home from the store spend the extra time and divide your purchases into portions that you will use at one time. By buying in bulk and making your own individual bags of snacks for the week - instead of buying individually portioned items at the store - you will save a lot of money.

For example - by buying a big bag of carrots and peeling and cutting them yourself and putting them into individual bags for your lunch - you will spend a lot less money than if you bought prepackaged baby carrots.

Buying fruit and healthy snacks - instead of junk food - teaches your kids good nutrition.

Spending a half hour sorting and packing your bulk items into correctly portioned items for your family size - will save you money. But most importantly - you will have provided your family with healthier options.

Buying a weeks supply of meat and portioning out the amount you will use during one meal - and putting it into freezer bags or tupperware - will cut down on the time you will need to prepare that meal later during the week.

At dinner time it will be much easier to pull out the already portioned meat and vegetables and cook them - in a short period of time.

Or you can take the portioned out ingredients and toss them all into a crock pot - and have a delicious home cooked meal waiting for you when you come home. Fast food!

By being organized and planning out your week - you will save time and money. But most importantly - you will have provided your family a healthier eating option.



Less Clutter = Less Stress SM     in your home, your business and your life 

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Feeding Your Family - Make Ahead Meals


Some people don't like to cook and spend a lot of money eating out. Or they think that they don't have time to cook so they order takeout. It all adds up to a lot of expense.

I've never known how to cook for one or two people.  We've always made enough for extra people or so that we can have leftovers.

I love to cook - but sometimes work and life just don't leave enough time for me to make those great big meals.  So when I am making something special like Lasagna - make two and freeze one for later!

When I make soup or pasta sauce - you can't just make a little bit!  I make a great big pot and freeze containers for those days that I just don't have time to cook. It's cheaper to pull out a frozen container of great food that you made yourself than to spend a fortune on feeding a family at a restaurant or even a fast food place. And it's much healthier.

When making chicken or a roast - make a little more than needed for that meal and use the rest later in the week. Get creative and save money!

When I make muffins I always make a double or triple batch and individually freeze them for later use. If you pull one out in the morning and stick them into your lunch it will be thawed and delicious by lunch time.

Get healthy, save money and spend time as a family - at home.

All it takes it a little "organization"!
   


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/