Make it quick
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When did life get so busy?! One minute, we're sitting on the deck savouring the sunset and a beer, the next we're hustling the kids into the car for school, racing to meet work deadlines for the holiday season, and trying to figure out Labour Day weekend events. Who has time to fit it all in and cook healthy meals? You do. The trick—well, tricks—are little shortcuts, convenience foods, and make-ahead strategies.
Rethinking mealtime
If “making dinner” sounds like a long, sweaty slog, take heart. Preparing balanced, flavourful meals doesn't have to take hours, a long ingredient list, or complicated steps. They can be simple yet satisfying. Some examples, courtesy of our own boundless recipe collections: a zesty salad you can make with canned beans; tossed broccoli salad or ingredients tossed into a slow cooker for a make-ahead, keep-your-kitchen-cool chicken slider dinner.
Smart ways to speed prep
Check your WW FreestyleTM weekly for easy meal ideas and tips—including some savvy ideas from fellow members on Connect if you haven't downloaded the WW app, you're missing out on great ideas for recipes, too.
And try these other helpful moves:
Dive into our Meal Builders for quick-assemble omelets, soups, sandwiches, even pizza. Once you get the hang of it—start with a base such as eggs, or skinless chicken breast, or pasta; round things out with proteins, grains, or beans; then adding hits of flavour with grated cheese, or spices or herbs.
Use store-bought convenience foods. Shredded cheese, pre-sliced veggies (you can find carrots, celery, peppers, and even chopped onions and minced garlic in the produce aisle), frozen fruit and veggie mixes, and pre-marinated meats (check the SmartPoints® value) can be a time-strapped cook’s best friend.
Double your dinners. Cook extra servings of building-block ingredients like chicken breasts, roasted veggies, and grains and pasta. Refrigerate or freeze them until you're ready to use them for lunches and dinners.
Keep your fridge (and pantry) in order. Do a quick clean sweep at least once a week. Go through the shelves and drawers and purge old items. Move foods you find hard to manage to the back. (Out of sight, out of mind.) And bring healthier options front and center—as well as any foods that need to be used soon.
Try an online grocery service. Talk about time-saving—when minutes are precious, the extra cost for delivery might well be worth it. Most sites save your shopping list for an even faster return visit. Plus, you won't have to face all those aisles of impulse buys.