I get this question all the time – from friends, family, people who read the blog: “How do you have time for all of this cooking?”
And it’s true – time is a precious commodity in our home, just like it is for anyone who has kids, a full time job, or both. Between work, juggling my kids’ drop offs and pick ups, managing their afterschool activities and doctors’ appointments, there’s not a lot of time left for cooking.
But I’ve figured out a few strategies that help me cook healthy, creative food at home despite this time pressure.
So here they are – my top 5 habits for time-pressured cooks:
1. Wash and bag your greens the day you bring them home
It takes time to save time. Might be counter intuitive, but spending 20 minutes putting away your groceries properly will help you in the long run. As soon as I get home from the grocery store (or later that evening if I’m strapped for time), I wash and bag any greens – just rinse in the colander, and stick them in separate Ziploc bags with a dry paper towel. The benefit is that it extends the life of your produce, and makes your greens readily available for a quick meal. No chopping wet herbs, no limp greens in your cooler. With a few minutes of effort, you’ve saved yourself a whole host of headaches.
Good for: Herbs, lettuces, and any dark, leafy greens such as Kale or Chard.
20 comments
