“Food brings people together on many different levels. It's nourishment of the soul and body; it's truly love.” - Giada De Laurentiis
I’ve received a lot of questions around how I create my dishes at home. But, the most frequent question I get is, how do I make the time to cook throughout the week?
When it comes to preparing weekly meals, time management and planning is key. Luckily, my day job is closely related to Project Management, and I’m super organized, so translating my professional skills to the kitchen was pretty simple. But, I totally understand that not everyone enjoys cooking, or may find the task daunting - so hopefully I can change your perspective on that today!
I’m sharing how I’m efficient in the kitchen, my meal prep process, and some of my favorite songs to play in the kitchen while I’m cooking.
Tip #1: Pick a day to meal prep
My meal prep day for each week is Sunday. This is the day where I plan out meals for the entire week. Choosing a day is half the battle - but once you set a regular schedule it becomes second nature. On this day, I pre-chop veggies, identify which proteins my husband and I’ll cook, and set aside any ingredients we’ll utilize for our dishes. This is super helpful, because there is no surprise to what we’ll be eating for the week, and it really helps streamline our cooking process.
Tip #2: Schedule and plan meals in advance
Knowing what you eat before you step into the kitchen makes the process so much easier. A common misconception that most people have is that you have to cook every single day - if cooking meals at home 3 times a week is your preference, then that’s okay - do what works for your lifestyle!
When I was working solely in a office 5 days a week, I’d only enjoy my home cooked meals about 4 days a week. Now, that the pandemic has been happening since March, I’ve been working from home, thus I’ve been cooking about roughly 5-6 days a week.
Also, one thing that I do to help me plan our meals in advance, and prevent myself from over or under eating, is to plan dinners ahead of time. I created a Google Doc, in which I’ve shared with my husband to outline what dish we are having each day of the week, with slots to show what evening we’ll splurge on takeout. Not only does this help us know what we’ll be eating ahead of time, but it’s also a really good budgeting tool.
Tip #3: Organize your pantry and fridge
You eat with your eyes, and having your fridge and pantry organized will really help your cooking experience. Knowing what is in your kitchen will ease and calm your mind before curating dishes.
I love utilizing clear containers and labels to help keep my kitchen organized - this makes everything super accessible. Also, the clear containers to store nuts, flour, sugar, or cereal will help you immediately see if you are running low on something.
Keeping an organized kitchen will also prevent you from overspending on the items you keep stocked in your pantry or fridge.
Tip #4: Create a grocery shopping list ahead of time
Whether you prefer grocery delivery, pickup, or like to walk down each aisle - ensure you know exactly what you before stepping into the store. This will absolutely help you save money, time, and you’ll be so glad in the long run.
Tip #5: Select recipes before stepping foot in the kitchen
If you have a recipe you are dying to try, read through it before going into the kitchen. Make sure you have every ingredient, and kitchen tool to successfully create your dish.
Tip #6: Listen to music, a podcast, or watch your favorite TV show while you cook
For me, music sparks creativity. I love playing music while cooking, and it makes the time in your kitchen literally fly by!
Not a music person? Play your favorite TV show that you can cook to! Whether, you're feeling nostalgic and want to watch old episodes of The Golden Girls or Fresh Prince, or you want to watch the newest Netflix show sensation - make your cooking experience fun!
Tip #7: Find a kitchen partner or video chat with a friend while whipping up a meal in your kitchen
Having a kitchen partner will also speed up your cooking time. One of my favorite things to do is cooking side by side with my husband, or watching him cook on the grill in our backyard, and chatting. It makes it fun and we are able to bond while doing something we enjoy doing!
If you live alone, video chat a friend while you cook! Cook the same recipe and talk one another through the cooking process. Share tips and tricks, while casually chatting throughout your experience.
Tip #8: Be patient, have fun, and master one dish at a time
The most important tip I can share when it comes to cooking is to make it fun and be patient! One thing I did was learning to master a dish one at a time. For me it was my mother’s chicken wings - one of my favorite things to make. I mastered my mom’s wing recipe, and then began to make other variations.
Cooking is something you can make fun, and mastering a new dish can be so rewarding. So, get creative, don’t take the process too seriously, pour a glass of wine, and get cooking!
XO, Analise