Life is hectic and the last thing you want to do after a long day's work is slave over a hot stove. That's time that can be far better spent on homework, housework or even gym work. It is possible to enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal without spending all evening in the kitchen. There is a time-saving technique that will minimize your meal prep time during the week. It's called cooking in bulk. We're talking about doing a week's worth of cooking - all in one day. Designate Saturday or Sunday as your cooking day. Expect to be in the kitchen from six to eight hours. If you're feeling super-motivated, you can even work on batches of food for up to a month. From chili to chicken enchiladas to beef stew, the possibilities are endless. The first step is to formulate a menu of the dishes you'll be making. Try to do dishes that incorporate a lot of the same ingredients. Write up a calendar for which meal you'll serve on a specific day. Also, keep grocery store ads handy so you can see which types of meats are on sale. Consider hitting warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's to save additionally by buying in bulk. The goal is to get the most bang for your buck.
For example, if lean ground beef is on sale, you can do chili, spaghetti with meat sauce, shepherd's pie, Swedish meatballs and more. The trick is making your resources go a long way. Once you know what's on the menu, draft your shopping list. When your list is complete, go shopping. It's a good idea to do the shopping the day before your cooking day. To make the task even less daunting, do all of your prep work - such as chopping vegetables -- the day before your cooking day. On cooking day, knock each dish out one recipe at a time. In some cases, make double or even triple batches. Perhaps the most important step is making sure you properly freeze your meals. Use freezer-friendly storage containers or bags. Before packing foods, make sure all of the air is out. For best results, invest in an affordable vacuum sealer. Label the foods with the name of the meal, the date and the directions for cooking. Always let foods cool before freezing. Defrost your ready-made meal the day before and voila. You've got a home-cooked meal in no time at all. By cooking ahead of time, you'll take pressure off yourself and you'll be less likely to rely on fattening fast food and take out when it comes to getting dinner on the table.