The holidays are starting to feel a bit more 'normal' this year with more parties, school concerts, family gatherings, shopping, and vacations...I’m already feeling VERY busy just writing this! Give yourself a gift by taking some shortcuts with these holiday hacks and time-saving meal prep tips to take some of the pressure off! You deserve to relax and be merry (besides, Ebenezer Scrooge doesn’t belong in the kitchen)!
Time-Saving Meal Prep Tips
Go Semi-Homemade
I am always very pro-cooking, but sometimes taking shortcuts can turn a potential take-out night into a total kitchen win, giving you more time to spend enjoying your family, instead of watching them from the kitchen!
 Rotisserie chicken is a Rockstar! Incorporate it into soups or chilis so you can reap the benefits of high-quality protein with the time-saving hack of not having to prepare it! Shred the chicken and stuff lettuce leaves with a squeeze of lime or chunked avocado for the following day’s lunch! |  Buy pre-chopped produce (time-saver and ease galore!!), especially for those hard-to-manage vegetables (ahem, squash), that are trickier to prepare. Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil and roast for a side dish or add them to salads during the week, like my Thyme Roasted Delicata Squash |  Frozen pizza dough is a winner! Add your favorite jarred sauce and veggie toppings (frozen veggies for time saved on chopping get an A+ on this!) plus a sprinkle of flavorful cheese to make it a meal! |
Sign-up for a FREE copy of my Frozen to Fabulous ebook to make delicious dinners in minutes with simple, frozen ingredients!
Sheet Pan and One-Pot Meals
Raise your hand if your least favorite part of cooking is the clean-up...I feel you! I'm always trying to use as few pots, pans, and dishes as possible! Make it easier by trying a couple of my favorite (super delicious and nutritious to boot!) one-dish recipes to significantly cut down on time spent on cooking and on clean-up!
A few ideas to get you started:
Roasting your favorite protein with seasonal produce is a tasty no-fuss way to incorporate a few servings of vegetables into a meal all on one baking sheet!
Here is just one of the delicious sheet pan recipes from one of my meal plans for you to try!
Create baking pockets with parchment paper or foil, then crimp for perfectly roasted fish, chicken, shrimp, or veggies that stay super juicy, never dry!
Are you part of the Instant Pot fan club?!?! Time to join if you haven’t already! Here is a simple 12-minute time-saving recipe to impress!
Frozen protein [like chicken thighs] + favorite jarred tomato sauce + a jar of olives = yummy cacciatore that will have everyone running to the table for dinner. If you use plant-based protein, like dried chickpeas, just soak the dried beans overnight and be sure they are covered with fluid [jarred sauce + some broth] before cooking in Instant Pot.
Want to be a Meal Prep Master but not sure where to start...set up your Free Consultation here!
Cook Once, Eat Twice
Batch cooking, one of my weekly time-saving meal prep holiday hacks, is also an efficient way to keep up with your healthy eating goals all year long. Cooking once, & eating twice (batch cooking) really means making more than what you need so you can take advantage of using all of your tools at one time with one clean-up (read: it’s way more efficient and a time-saver for later in the week).
Not to be confused with leftovers, batch cooking usually refers to one base ingredient you can incorporate into other recipes later.
Try some of these fun and tasty meal ideas:
Want rice or quinoa for your Monday night meal? Make a large batch so you can easily incorporate it in salads and grain bowls all week long.  |  Baking sweet potatoes? Make a few more than you need and you’ll have the base for an easy, customizable lunch ready to go. You can also purée or mash the flesh for baked goods and use in place of pumpkin in a recipe. | Making hard-boiled eggs? It takes the same amount of time to make six as it does to make two. Enjoy as a snack, crumble into salads, or mash with some avocado.  |
Comments