She Strengthens

Revolutionize Your Mealtime: 7 Game-Changing Tips to Cook Once and Eat All Week

Are you tired of eating the same old dishes every week, only to waste money and food on unused ingredients? Do you dream of having a varied and exciting culinary experience without breaking the bank? Look no further! After months of struggling to stick to our food budget while still enjoying delicious meals, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon a revolutionary concept: prepping once and eating all week.

The Magic of Meal Prep

The idea is simple: choose a protein, starch, and vegetable to prepare in bulk at the beginning of the week, and then transform them into different meals in no time using ingredients from your pantry. This approach has transformed our mealtime, turning bland dishes into flavorful masterpieces like Mexican-style casseroles, buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes, and Italian chicken lasagna.

Our Budget-Friendly Savior: Cassy Joy Garcia

We owe our culinary salvation to Cassy Joy Garcia, whose book, Cook Once, Eat All Week, has been our guiding light. By following her strategies, we’ve managed to keep our grocery bill to a mere $70 a week. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a meal prep newbie, these 7 tips will help you save time, money, and your taste buds:

1. Build a Pantry of Essentials

A well-stocked pantry is key to saving money in the long run. By investing in essentials for various cooking styles, you’ll be able to whip up a new dish every night without getting bored. We budgeted for building our pantry by shopping at discount grocery stores and following Garcia’s premise.

2. Plan Ahead and Prep on Sundays

Every Sunday, we take an hour to plan out our meals for the week, considering our schedules and cooking time. This helps us choose recipes that fit our busy lives, ensuring we stay on track and enjoy our meals.

3. Harness the Power of Your Instant Pot

As an Instant Pot devotee, I can attest to its ability to simplify meal prep. By cooking meat in the oven, starch in the Instant Pot, and vegetables on the stovetop simultaneously, you’ll save time and energy.

4. Buy Premade Sauces

Some recipes call for making your own sauces, but this can be time-consuming and wasteful. Instead, opt for packaged sauces that can be reused week after week. This trick has been a game-changer for us!

5. Minimize Garlic Mincing

Mincing garlic can be a tedious task, but pre-minced garlic in a jar has saved us time and sanity. No more smelly fingers or wasted cloves!

6. Skip the Garnish

While a sprinkle of parsley or green onion can add visual appeal, it’s not worth the waste. Plus, garnishes can affect the flavor of leftovers. Keep it simple and focus on the main event.

7. Pack a Lunch

We’ve found that certain recipes yield more servings than others. By using these as meal prep for lunches, we’ve reduced waste and enjoyed hot, delicious meals at work.

Mealtime Reimagined

With these tips, mealtime has become something to look forward to. No more monotony or waste! By challenging ourselves to push our savings goals, we’ve managed to live like we’re dining out every night – without breaking the bank.