Preparing Meals

There are so many different thoughts on meal prep right now.  I believe I encounter someone on social media demonstrating meal prepping just about every day.  These videos can often leave people feeling overwhelmed just by the thought of it.  However, meal preparation doesn't have to be a big production.  You do not need specialized containers or products.  You can fit it to your personality and time availability.

Some chose to prepare everything ahead of time.  They will pick one day of the week and wash and cut all produce, trim meat, mix sauces, and do all other such preparation.  This approach can be beneficial if you only have a short time after work to prepare a meal.  Dropping everything in a crock pot in the morning and walking out the door can make for an easy evening meal.  Recipes often include ingredients such as minced garlic, chopped vegetables, and cubed meat.  These ingredients assume the preparation has already been done.  Therefore, the time given for preparing and/or cooking is usually shorter than the time it would actually take if you still need to mince, chop and cube!  While it may take more time on one day of the week, it can save time later.  This method may also save money in allowing you to purchase items in bulk as you will be dividing them up and prepping them shortly after purchase.  Even if you don't do a lot of prepping ahead, you can still buy something like ground beef in the larger package size (which is often priced at less money per pound), and then break that package into smaller, one-pound sections to be used at a later time.

Though I like to plan ahead, I rarely prepare meals days in advance.  There are several reasons for this.  I have the time to prepare meals each day.  Since I am home with my kids, and we don't have to work around a school or work schedule, I can begin making dinner anytime in the day.  If a recipe takes several hours, I often start preparing during my toddler's nap time.  I also prefer the flexibility of changing the dinner plans I have written down.  The freshness of produce tends to diminish faster once it is washed and especially after it is cut.  So, while it's handy to be able to grab it and go, it stays fresher longer if I wash and cut it just before use.  My husband's schedule can sometimes change throughout the week.  This allows me to change our dinner plans accordingly with our worrying about produce spoiling if we wait one more day for that meal.  This also allows us to remain flexible if we decide to invite friends over for dinner or, likewise, receive an invitation.  If a meal had already been prepared for four people, then we don't have the flexibility to add two or more people to the dinner party.  Preparing the day of cooking allows me to add chicken thighs, extra ground beef, an additional cup of rice, or whatever other additional ingredients may be necessary to satisfy more people.  

It may seem that recipes often call for the use of special tools to make a meal.  While all of the kitchen gadgets are handy and may make it easier, you can use what you have to make it work.  For example, if it says to use a garlic press, you can press garlic between two pans, or a pan and a cutting board.  You could also finely mince garlic.  If you don't have a flour sifter, you could gently shake the spoon as you spoon the flour into a measuring cup.  Cheesecloths are not always common in the kitchen, but a strong paper towel (or two sheets) could do the trick.  Use what you have to make it work.  If you feel like something is necessary due to the frequency in which you use it, then it will be worth it to invest in that tool.  Do what is best for your family, and don't feel pressured to buy one tool just because one recipe you are trying says to use it.

 How much you prepare in advance, and how far in advance you prepare is completely up to you.  Do what works best for your schedule.  Having a plan of what you will make may be enough so you know when to start dinner each night.  Others may do all of their cutting and chopping in one day to make assembling a meal much quicker and easier if you have limited time on some days.  Follow what will work best for your family and lifestyle.  If you're unsure, give advanced prepping a try and see if that helps you.  You can always change what isn't working for you!