Meal Preparation Tips

Always prepare foods you can eat raw first, then prepare your other foods (ie: meats). That way you don't have to clean halfway through your cooking!

Not all food cooks at the same rate. In fact, there are some cuts of meat that will take a shorter amount of time to cook than vegetables!

Use parchment paper when using baking sheets. This will decrease your cleanup time by preventing food from getting burned onto your pan.

Pandishes offer a quick and easy way to cook your whole dinner at one time. But remember to check your cook times for everything in your dish.

Grilling offers a fun and different style of cooking. Best of all, you have very little to clean up.

When preparing your meal, pull your meat out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes prior to cooking it. This will allow the meat to cook faster and more even. It is completely safe to do this (do not do this with fish or seafood)

Plan your menu for the week. This will control the amount of food you buy in the store and eliminate food waste. This can also help you create meals big enough to have leftovers for a long work day.

Have a list when you shop. Having a list will keep you from buying unneeded items. This keeps you in budget, eliminates food waste, and improves healthier buying habits.

Steaming vegetables takes a lot less time than boiling or baking them. You don't need special bags to steam vegetables either! Use a microwave safe container with a lid, add your vegetables and 1/4 cup water. Be sure the lid is loose and microwave for 7-10 minutes.