6 Tips To Cook Healthy Meals Throughout The Week

Sometimes life makes you feel like you’re a circus acrobat. When trying to weave a balance between work, family, extracurricular activities, friends, and the household, our attention is directed on several things at once. When we lack time, family meals are often the first to suffer. Take-out or pre-made dishes seem easier than cooking every night, but these meals do not contain the nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle long term.

Here’s is a list of helpful tips to assist you in properly feeding your family.

1. Take ten minutes each week to plan menus in advance

It is worth it to plan menus for the week.  Think about the weekly activities and the time left to cook every evening.

Choose quick recipes to make or envisage meals allowing large quantities, according to the evening. Encourage all family members to participate in menu planning by adding their favorite recipes.  Remember to include lunches and snacks.  The leftovers of a good evening dinner can become easy to prepare lunches for the week.

2. Shop once a week

Stopping at the grocery store every night after work steals precious minutes in an already busy day. It is also more expensive because you’re more likely to make impulse, unhealthy, and too expensive purchases.  Instead, make a list of weekly menus (you can check this post about the benefits of menu planning)

and go shopping only once early in the week or during the weekend.  Stick to your list, making substitutions only when necessary.  This strategy will help your waistline and your wallet.

3. Read food labels

Read the labels and the nutritional value of foods before purchasing them.  Most of the commodities found in a pantry, such as broths, soups, and sauces are sold in low-sodium formats.  When you have the opportunity, choose whole grain products to increase the amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals in your meal.  The adoption of small changes like these can have a huge long-term impact on the overall health of your family.

4. Prepare meals when you have time

Take one or two hours during the weekend or early in the week to prepare meals for the upcoming week. Cut vegetables and store them in airtight containers,properly labeled. You’ll be glad you prepared stew, soup, or broth you can freeze and reuse later. When you need it, you’ll feel like a celebrity chef for whom all the ingredients are ready!

5. Ask for help

Children love to participate in the kitchen and like to give a helping hand when they are given permission.  And when time is lacking, the more help the better.  Younger children can wash fruits and vegetables or set the table. Older children can help cut inredients, grate cheese, or even cook. Choose your recipes for the week with these elements in mind.  You may have an older child who wants to cook a meal after school one evening.If you involve your child and show him or her how to make healthy food choices, you will help them make the right choices when they grow up.

6. Make meal time a priority

For your health and the health of your family, take the time to have dinner together every night. You do not need to make an elaborate meal. Gathering the family around the evening dinner is one of the best way to ensure the transmission of healthy eating habits.