Believe it or not, the festive season is once again upon us. There are roughly nine weeks until Christmas and that means family getting together, fun outings and lots of yummy food.
During a normal week, meal plans can be a fantastic tool to help you save time and money, and to cook healthy meals that are equally tasty.
Add the festive season madness it your mix, and planning meals become harder to do. We’ve put together a few tips on how to stay organised in the kitchen. Remember that the key is to keep things easy and convenient.
- USE A CALENDAR
It is the busiest time of the year. Plan your activity schedule per week and if you find yourself going out on most days, limit your grocery shopping to the days that you are spending at home. You could even schedule these trips with a timeslot. Try to keep the meals for these nights light.
- ALWAYS SHOP WITH A LIST
Even if you are intending to buy just a few items on your shopping trip, always take a list with you. This will keep you on track to buy the things you need and very little else. Not only will you prevent overspending but wastage too.
- KEEP A WELL – STOCKED KITCHEN
For the bulk of your meals during December, try to rely on your grocery stock to put together simple but delicious meals. To be able to do this, you must ensure that you stock your cupboards and fridge well. It will help to prevent the unnecessary shopping trips.
- KEEP HEALTHY SNACKS WITHIN YOUR REACH
During the holidays, there is always far more comfortable food accessible to everyone and the need to eat is a constant one. When the urge to snack hits, it is far too easy to reach out for a biscuit or pie. During the day try to keep slices of fresh fruit in the kitchen. Carrot sticks, sliced pineapple, apples, peaches and a whole host of other snacks are always easiest to eat when they are prepared and ready to eat.
- APPRECIATE AND REPURPOSE LEFTOVERS
When the week is particularly busy, left over food can be a reward. Repurposing left over dinner for breakfast and lunch will make feeding your family faster and easier. Just ensure to store the food correctly to prevent it from spoiling.
