Budget friendly time savers that won’t cost you or the environment 

Quick fixes in the kitchen can sometimes cost more and create extra waste. The good news is that saving time does not have to mean spending more or harming the environment. These budget-friendly time savers can help make healthy eating easier, cheaper and less wasteful. 

Tip 1: Meal planning saves time and money, but also reduces food waste 

You might have heard about meal planning before but thought it sounded too hard. With benefits like eating healthier meals and saving money by throwing away less food, it’s worth a try.  

Start by checking what is in your fridge, cupboard, and freezer and look for foods that need to be eaten during the week. If you are new to meal planning, start off with just two or three meals and build up from there. Leaving one night as a leftovers night is a great idea, just in case you do not feel like cooking every night.  

Once you have chosen your meals, make a shopping list.  Now you are a meal planner, and you’ll be saving time and money in the kitchen! You can try our free nom! meal planner to get started. 

Tip 2: Use vegetables and ingredients that are frozen, canned or jarred as an alternative to fresh 

– Use frozen or canned vegetables in cooked meals. They are just as healthy and nutritious as fresh, often cost less, and save you time because they are already pre-cut. No more waste from bendy carrots or spinach that has gone to mush. 

– Try minced garlic in a jar. It is cheaper and quicker than chopping and peeling fresh garlic. Garlic in a jar keeps longer than fresh garlic, so you will waste less and save money too. 

Tip 3: Eat leftovers 

– Think of leftovers as a head start for a future meal. Freeze leftover cooked rice to use another day. It costs less than packet microwaved rice and helps reduce food waste.  

– Cook extra for dinner tonight and freeze some for another night. It is a quick, healthy meal ready to go. Doubling the recipe means you can enjoy one meal tonight and keep one for the freezer for later. Then on a busy night, you can give yourself a break from cooking and still have a quick, healthy meal ready to go because you have already done the meal prep for healthy eating! Our Mexi Mac and Cheese is a great one to try, and you can find it in our newest recipe book. Buy it here. 

– Take leftovers for lunch the next day. Pack up your leftovers before you go to bed so you can grab them in the morning. You will have a ready-made lunch, save money and skip the lunch queue.   

Tip 4: Quick and easy prepping today saves time later in your week 

– Buy cheese in a block and slice or grate it yourself. It is usually cheaper and you can freeze extra to use later. You will be so grate-full.

– If the oven is already on, roast some vegetables to use later in salads, sides, sauces or soups. When veggies are ready to go, you are more likely to eat them. Store them in a container in the fridge to enjoy another day. Remember to label them! 

– Prep grab-and-go brekkies for busy mornings. Make a batch of breakfasts in one go and you will be set for the week. Our nom! 3 Recipe Booklet includes great healthy meal prep ideas like overnight oats and raspberry baked oats. Give them a try  and with just one prep you will have grab-and-go brekkies all week.