Many recipes are designed for a group of people, often suggesting four to six servings, which can be discouraging for folks who only need to cook for one or two. Standard advice is often to make the full recipe and eat leftovers later or to cut the recipe in half. However, we know that can be inaccessible to some people who do not have storage space for either leftover meals or ingredients. You can still enjoy cooking without the overwhelm of making a large recipe. Read on for a few tips that may make that process easier.
Meal Prep Shortcuts
Buying in bulk and batch cooking can be money savers in the long run, but for a household of one or two, there may end up being extra waste. Ingredients may be partially used, or leftovers may be thrown away if there is not enough storage space. Many of these shortcuts—like meal prep and cooking large batches—are just not feasible. There are a few other options that may help.
Use Frozen or Canned Foods
Often fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, and meat, are more expensive when and have a short shelf life. The beautiful fresh produce may rot before you have the chance to use it all. However, frozen or canned foods, including things like canned chicken or fish, can save both time and money. Additionally, you are not sacrificing nutrition—these products are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. Replacing fresh ingredients with canned or frozen may be a gamechanger for your small household. Take this Chicken Taco recipe for example. To make this a single serving recipe would require unusual quantities of chicken, green pepper, and other ingredients. To simplify, use canned chicken and pre-chopped frozen green pepper to prepare a smaller portion of this recipe without needing to chop or cook a large amount of food first.
Use Recipe Frameworks
Build your own recipe with the SNAP-Ed Framework Cards. These cards offer simple and quick formulas for snacks, omelets, tacos, and grain bowls. They are the perfect way to be creative in the kitchen without needing to try out a complicated new recipe. Better yet, you can mix and match day after day to try out different combinations of your favorite ingredients.
Use Kitchen Gadgets and Other Shortcuts
If you have attended a SNAP-Ed class in the past, whether at a local community center or elsewhere, you likely received a helpful cooking tool. Things like vegetable peelers, cheese graters, apple corers, and other nifty tools are meant to make life in the kitchen easier. If you struggle with chopping veggies for every dinner, try using one of these tools—or go for a more convenient option at the store! Pre-chopped fruits and vegetables, whether in the fresh, frozen, or canned section, can be key to making dinner a breeze.
Saving Money
When shopping for just yourself, the grocery store can be a frustrating place. Foods are packaged in large containers, which may feel wasteful to you. Doing a little pre-shopping planning can help in the long run, including making a list, planning out the week’s meals, and even doing some math. Often, the bigger containers are cheaper based on unit price, or the number that shows how much something costs per ounce (or another weight measurement). However, the smaller package may be more affordable for you if a large portion of the bigger package will be uneaten and go to waste. Contrary to a lot of standard advice out there, shop smaller instead of in bulk to reduce the amount of food and money wasted. Use your list to make note of the portions you need to purchase for your individual meals.
Resources That Can Help
Wherever you shop, there are programs that can make groceries more affordable. SNAP benefits are distributed on an EBT card and can be used both in person and online, though note that delivery fees cannot be paid with SNAP benefits. Additionally, HIP and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program offer extra benefits that can be used at farmers markets, farm stands, and other local foods year round. Use the resources that surround you to make cooking, and life, easier.
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