If you’re like me, you probably don’t have much time during the week to cook. Working full-time, juggling three children, a husband, house work, blogging and social life; cooking have to be quick and easy for me. By the time I reach home, I’m exhausted. What works for me is planning ahead. On the weekends, I buy all of my fresh produce for the week, and having healthy staples in the pantry is helpful. These items will keep you sustained!
My staples: Peanut or almond butter, lentils, chickpeas, breads, pasta, canned crushed tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, almond or coconut milk, cauliflower, sun dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs.
I enjoy going grocery shopping. Not many people do but I look forward to it. My go-to stores are Whole Foods, Trader Joes and of course, the farmers market. You might be wondering, why I go to so many stores? First, I enjoy it. Secondly, we all have different needs and wants. Lastly, the farmers market is a must for fresh seasonal produce, organic pastured raised eggs, organic apples, and wild caught fish. We go through apples like grapes in my household.
I’ve found that a small amount of time invested in menu planning saves me time and energy. The key meals to plan are the evening meals. Breakfast is easy (oats, French toast, cold cereals, etc.) and lunch, my husband prepares every morning for the children. Dinner is my specialty.
It is extremely important to consume a variety of plants to make sure we are getting all the nutrients we need. The produce I buy gets chopped up and mixed into so many different dishes for the week. When I make my organic brown rice pilaf, there’s about 5-6 different vegetables chopped up in it. It’s amazingly delicious. My vegan lasagna is also fast and furious.
Plus, there’s always a green salad with our dinner. The point here is to plan ahead, cook enough, and incorporate plenty of fresh plants in your meal. Many people tend to buy frozen produce, remember fresh is always best.
Tips to consider:
- Set aside time to plan a menu for the week.
- Make a list of all the ingredients you’ll need for these recipes.
- Select three or four main dishes, and plan to prepare enough for each person.
- Add some fresh vegetables for salads and side dishes.
- Save your menus and shopping list for future uses.
Enjoy!
OrganicREADY 