Well, how about it? Did our previous discussion about making an effort to cook from home turn you into the next Gordon Ramsey?

If you’re still brushing up on your new sous chef skills, I have a few more tips to help you wrap up this “New Year, New You” 30-Day Challenge: Cook More at Home!

Rotisserie saves the day. If you enjoy a good chicken meal but need versatility due to time constraints, consider picking up a rotisserie chicken. They’re cheap, ready to eat, and can be utilized in many ways. 

Consider eating the wings and legs with a side garden salad for dinner, and slicing up the breast meat for a next-day chicken wrap. It’s healthy and a huge time saver!

Batch cook on weekends. Let’s face it, some of us are too tired at the end of the day to cook. If this is you, consider doing all your cooking on the weekends. Foods like pasta salads, chilis, stews, and breakfast burritos keep really well. With a little planning, the only prep you’ll need to do during your busy week is open the fridge.

Consider subscriptions. There are several companies on the market now that offer food subscription services – like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. These services compile all the ingredients needed to make a wonderful dinner. This really helps if you’re in a food rut and are looking to try new recipes and new world cuisines. 

The prices may be on-par with eating out, but you’re more in control of the portion sizes, and you’ll know what’s going into your meal. Bonus: many of these services offer discounted (or even free) trials, so shop around and try different plans until you find one you like.  

I’m sure these tips will benefit you as we head into another year of rising prices and food inflation. Advance preparation and planning is vital if you want to maximize your money.

Your food budget isn’t the only thing that benefits from careful planning – your entire financial future does, too. And that’s where I come in! 

I would love to hear from you to talk about your plans, so book a free 15-minute consultation by phone 513-563-PLAN (7526)) or just head online! Just in time for the timer on your oven to ding!