Saving Time in the Kitchen

Let's face it, preparing meals, especially healthy ones, is often time consuming. Finding ways to streamline the process is worth its weight in gold. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind:

Clean and cut a variety of vegetables at one time. For example, clean enough green beans, broccoli, and brussels sprouts to get you through the next few days. Place individual portions directly in bowls, ready for the microwave, or wrap them in paper towels to store them for future use. It's easy to forego vegetables when you are rushing, starving, or zapped for energy. Having them prepped ahead of time turns them into "fast food".

While brown rice and/or grains are a welcome addition to any meal, they unfortunately require lengthy cooking times, making it challenging to include them as part of your balanced meal. If you intend to be home for a long period of time, consider making a large batch of rice or any grain when you are less pressed for time. Later, you can easily microwave the rice or grain in a matter of a minute or two. It's also easy to portion them and freeze for later use.