Top Cookbooks and Meal planning ideas that give YOU More Time for Self-Care
Top Cookbooks and Meal Planning Ideas that Give You More Time for Self-Care
Have you ever been so busy that by the time you're home from work, you've got nothing left for yourself? You are not alone. Cooking dinner for yourself or your family can feel like such a chore sometimes, especially when you don't have much time to do it. If you want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and spend more time on your own self-care, then cooking dinner will be an important part of achieving that goal. Here are some ideas for how to save money on groceries and make the most out of meal planning, meal prep, and delivery services;
After a long day at work, the very last thing I want to do is make dinner. So, trust me when I say I have some amazing cookbooks and ideas that have personally helped me save time.
In this blog post, I’m sharing my favorite cookbooks and tips that give me, more ME time. I’ll be covering:
• How to save money when buying groceries
• How to save on food waste
• Saving time when cooking
• Meal planning and prepping tips
• How to shop for groceries quicker
• How to efficiently make grab-and-go dinners every week
The Ultimate Cookbook for Busy People
This cookbook will teach you how to meal prep like a pro, save money when buying groceries, and even give you more time for yourself. The goal is to make sure that cooking at home is quick, easy, and delicious.
Your first step should be learning how to grocery shop efficiently. This is one of the most important steps in being able to cook at home—and it's also really fun! Once you've mastered the art of shopping for food, it's time to start preparing it in advance so that when those Mondays hit again (and they will), you'll be ready for anything! I recommend meal prepping on Sundays or Mondays so that by Tuesday morning when you start complaining about your lack of motivation, there are nutritious meals waiting for you and your family in the fridge or freezer ready-to-go whenever needed.
How to Save Money When Buying Groceries
The best way to save money when buying groceries is to buy in bulk. Buying in bulk is the best way to get the most out of your money. You can also save money by shopping at discount stores, or by doing price comparisons between different grocery stores.
When you find an item on sale, stock up, and don't throw it out! Stockpiling will help you reduce spending in the future as well as give you a sense of control over what goes into your home. Some people even like having an organized pantry, so they know exactly where something is located rather than having it be spread out all over the house or wasted due to spoilage or poor storage conditions (we've all been there).
Another way to save money while still eating healthy food--and this might sound crazy--is by buying certain things locally instead of nationally branded items that cost more but aren't any better quality-wise anyway! This means going through farmer’s markets or local producers who sell their products directly instead of giant supermarket chains like Costco, Walmart, etc…
Or if you just don’t have the room to stock up on things and have a big pantry to fill with all of your groceries you can try this.
For a time I was spending $100 to $150 on groceries a week just for two people. I tried to get it as low as possible. Here are some of the things I did to get my groceries bill to just $60 a week.
I meal planned everything out to make sure there was no waste.
I pantry shopped before making a groceries list. To see if I have anything already in the house that I could use for the week.
I stopped buying things before we run out of them. It saved on overbuying for the week. Because really the soy sauce could wait until next week.
I cut down on unnecessary food and snacks. I looked back at what I bought before to see if we actually ate it. If not then I didn't buy it again.
How to Shop for Groceries Quicker
Sometimes, the best way to get something done is to do it with someone else. When you grocery shop with a friend or loved one, you can split up tasks and take turns doing things that would otherwise be tedious. You're also likely to be more productive at work if you get more sleep each night, so this hack will give you time for self-care in the long run. So, how do you make grocery shopping faster? Try these tips and tricks:
Don't shop when hungry: If your stomach's grumbling when you get into the store, it'll distract from the task at hand—and probably lead to impulse buys that aren't on your list!
Shop with a list: I know this sounds simple enough (and trust me, I'm all about lists), but if there's one thing that makes grocery shopping faster than anything else (and more fun), it's knowing what items are supposed to go into your cart before stepping foot inside any store aisle. Make sure every item on your list is actually needed; don't think about pantry staples or condiments unless they've been used recently (if not, just leave them off).
A Cookbook With Creative Meal Ideas
If you're looking for creative meal ideas, this cookbook is a great place to start. The recipes are simple and easy to follow, so you don't have to worry about them taking up too much of your time—or being too complicated.
This cookbook provides step-by-step instructions on how to make different meals that will surprise your friends and family when they visit! Pamela has even shared some tips on how to create amazing dishes without having any cooking experience whatsoever!
The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond by Pamela Ellgen
Meal Planning Ideas.
This is one of the best ways to save time AND money. Once you've planned out your meals, you'll know exactly what you need to buy at the grocery store and how much it will cost. This can help you avoid impulse buys that may not be as healthy or budget-friendly as they seem at first glance. You also won't need to worry about running out of ingredients halfway through the week, which makes meal prep fast and easy—no more last-minute trips to the store!
A Cookbook that Shows You How to Meal Prep Like a Pro
This cookbook will show you how to meal prep like a pro. It’s full of recipes that are easy, healthy, and delicious—and they will save you money too! You'll love this cookbook because it gives you quick and easy recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that take no more than 30 minutes to prepare. Plus helpful tips on how to stock your freezer or refrigerator with healthy foods so you can make meals without spending too much time in the kitchen during busy weeks or weekends.
If you’re looking for ways to save time and money, meal prepping is a great place to start. Not only will it help you eat healthier (you won’t be tempted by fast food), but it can also save you heaps of cash! If that doesn't convince you, consider how much time meal prep saves in the long run. If a recipe takes two hours on Saturday morning but only 30 minutes on Sunday night, that's at least an hour saved every week!
The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook: Easy and Wholesome Meals to Cook, Prep, Grab, and Go. by Toby Amidor
Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose by Lukas Volger (this is not a meal prep cookbook but it's really fun.)
Meal Kit Delivery Service Ideas
If you're someone who loves to cook but is looking for more time, meal kit delivery services might be right for you. In most cities, you can find a service that delivers ready-to-cook meals or grocery items such as fresh produce, meat, and fish. You choose your meals from the menu, then the ingredients are delivered straight to your door.
The beauty of these services is their flexibility: You can choose from a wide variety of options and get recipes and tips online before picking out your order. Services like HelloFresh also offer vegetarian and vegan options. Some even offer organic food options!
For busy people who don't have time to shop or plan meals ahead of time but still want quality ingredients in their fridge at all times (or maybe even just need help with meal planning), this is a great option!
You Can Save Time so You Can Have More Time for Yourself
Cooking dinner at home is typically cheaper than eating out, and many people say they find it to be just as fast! Here are some ways cooking at home helps save you time: The average price per serving of home-cooked meals is $4.31 a person – while the average cost of eating out is $20.37 a person.
If you cook in bulk, you can prepare several meals at once and freeze them for later use. This makes it easy to have dinner ready when you come home from work or school.
If meal prep isn't your thing, consider using meal kit delivery services such as Hello Fresh or Everyplate; these companies deliver the ingredients right to your door so the hard work is done for you!
I hope you’ve found these tips useful. Remember that no matter how much time you may have, it’s important to take care of yourself first. Groceries and cooking can be a big part of that, but they also don’t have to be stressful. By using my suggestions as a starting point—then modifying them to fit your needs—you can make the most of your time in the kitchen and find more room for yourself in the process.
It might be overwhelming to figure out where to start, so here is an idea: start with a meal kit and then move on to planning your meals for your week or meal prepping for the week.
Remember you are here for YOU and you need to take the time for yourself.
-Annalise
