How To Save Time, Eat Better, And Have More Fun

In today's hectic world it often seems that we spend a lot of time doing things that we need to do and not enough time doing things that we want to do. A handful of little tricks can make life more enjoyable, help you to take care of some of the things you need to do, and give you the time to do more of the things you want to do.

For example, a lot of us don't even know what we're going to eat for dinner tonight - or feed our family - until the late afternoon. And then, either we may have to settle for what's in the refrigerator and freezer, or take the time to go out shopping.

You can save a lot of time by taking just a few minutes every weekend to plan ahead. Here's how.

On Saturday morning sit down with a bunch of your favorite cookbooks, cooking magazines, and a pen and paper. Think about what you already have in your fridge and what you and your family would like to eat. Look through the recipes in the cookbooks and magazines and put together a shopping list while planning your menus.

Make a note about which recipes you're going to use and where to find them. Pick up what you need at the supermarket, health food store, etc. And put the list of menus on your refrigerator so you can see it when you get home.

You've just saved a lot of time by thinking ahead, shopping, finding recipes, etc. And you and your family will love the meals that you've come up with.

Now, if you're not crazy about cooking, maybe it's time for an attitude adjustment. Did you know that it's actually harder to be a bad cook than to be a good cook? This is especially true if you are using quality ingredients.

So, why not take a class or spend some time with people you know who are good cooks so you can catch a couple of tricks here and there - and become a good cook in the process?

Now, when you are cooking, figure out how much you need to feed your family one meal. But, instead of cooking only one meal, why not cook four or five meals and freeze them? Soups, stews, and chili, amongst other dishes, will freeze very well and taste delicious when heated.

Talking about soup - it makes a great, healthy, delicious, and filling dinner. And it's quick and easy to make.

If you have low-salt chicken soup stock in your cupboard or homemade chicken stock in your freezer you can use about one quart as a base. Then just add a bunch of chopped vegetables such as green beans, corn, spinach, zucchini, carrots, and peas.

Add some legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and butterbeans for protein, and you have a low calorie delicious meal. Top it off with a salad and some whole grain bread with a bit of olive oil to dip it in and you will enjoy a filling, satisfying, healthy meal that has lots of fiber and micronutrients.

Now that you have more time to enjoy life, if the weather is right you may want to relax with your friends and family on your patio or in your backyard.