January has become notorious for being that time of the year everyone wants to make a change in their lives. “New year, new me” becomes the mantra as people flock to the gym and start new diets.  I refused to let that be me this year and actually started my changes in 2018. I started getting outside, doing some easy indoor workouts, and I became a majority plant-based eater.

Being majority plant-based has been quite the adventure and difficult as it relates to meals when you’re cooking for 3 other people who eat meat. I grew up in a house where I had to eat what was made or I didn’t eat at all. My mother was a horrible less than stellar cook, so I purposefully went to sleep at the table many nights to avoid yet another boxed meal.

While I don’t go for boxed meals, nor force everyone else in the house into vegetarianism, I do go for quick and easy when it comes to making healthy meals and stretching groceries for my family and me.

Find transition foods

I shop twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays, and like to find things that will work in many meals. Veggies are perfect for this because they work just as great in jazzing up a marinara sauce as they do in a simple salad. I can also use that marinara sauce for stuffed shells one night and meatball (meatless for me) subs the next.

Reupholster foods

No one seems to like the ends of bread and while we used to save them to feed the ducks at Freedom Park, I now use them to make breadcrumbs or croutons. Think of foods you normally toss because they’re not the fan favorite and find a different way to use them so they don’t go to waste.

Look for pre-prepped items

While you can buy them pre-prepped, they’re more expensive and not always as fresh, so I like to pick my own veggies, but I love the convenience of hard-boiled eggs. If I’m on my way to workout, I like being able to just reach in the fridge and grab a pack out. I also don’t have to worry about if I’ve cooked them long enough. They’re so versatile and can be eaten as is, used for an avocado toast, or thrown into a healthy rendition of vegetable ramen.

Make your meat do double duty

I stopped eating meat because my body just felt better without it in my system. My stomach always felt dreadfully full and after trying keto for 2 weeks last summer, I got a bit grossed out by it. I do still buy and cook it for my family, but I tend to only get a smaller 1 1/2 pound package of ground turkey about once or twice a month that I split into three, 1/2 pound, sections. To stretch the sections even farther, and make them healthier, I add chopped veggies.

What are some ways you stretch foods in your kitchen?

Almark Hard-Boiled Eggs are available at Sam’s Club and contain 2 per pack, 12 packs per box.

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Thank you to Almark Hard-Boiled Eggs for partnering with me on today’s time-saving kitchen tips post! All thoughts and opinions are my own.