Although COVID vaccinations are in full swing, staying at home is still the best way to keep safe during this pandemic. For over a year now, most people have adjusted to the new norm of limited outdoor mobility. With this comes the need to focus on health and wellness, especially eating balanced meals. And when it comes to preparing meals, there are plenty of options.
What most people do is to keep a list of their favorite take-out spots and use it on rotation. Yes, this may be the most convenient, but it isn’t the cheapest or the healthiest choice. As a better alternative, you can compare meal delivery providers and look for an affordable one and with the most recipe varieties. Meal delivery is great because you spend less time cooking but still benefit from eating homemade meals using the highest quality ingredients.
So, apart from these cost-effective and convenient options, let’s explore additional tips to ensure that you prepare nutritious meals during extended stays at home.
Experiment with new recipes using pantry staples
Most pantries have basic staples such as dried pasta and beans. If you’ve stocked up on these essentials, you can experiment with various preparations. For example, beans are great in soups and salads. You can also use cook them in a stew as a perfect meat alternative. Pasta is equally versatile. Even using different sauces guarantees that your family will enjoy what you put on the table.
Make a big batch of favorite recipes
Slaving hours in the kitchen for every meal isn’t always efficient. To make the most of your time, you can cook big batches and freeze them. Stews are great when frozen and still taste perfect reheated. You can also freeze soup and pasta sauces. Cutting down on time to prep meals will allow you to focus on other things you need to do.
Try to add fresh ingredients and vegetables
Increasing the volume of fruits and vegetables in your meals will amp up the nutrition. From time to time, prepare a salad or a fruit bowl. Swap these as healthy snacks instead of junk food. An avocado dip, for example, is a better alternative to a calorie-heavy dressing.
If you have time, try more complicated recipes
Now that you’re staying at home more often, there are days when you have more time to prepare meals. This offers the perfect opportunity to hone your skills in the kitchen. Not only that, you get to experiment with new recipes you haven’t tried before. Baking bread, for example, is time-consuming. Now is the right time to bust open your baking pantry and perfect that homemade sourdough loaf.
Involve family members in meal prep
Your family will appreciate food more when they participate in the preparation. This is another great way to encourage kids to eat healthily. They are also more likely to get curious about certain ingredients and food that they won’t usually eat. And now when you don’t always have access to their favorite meals, every bit of help goes a long way.
