9 Time-Saving Meal Solutions
September 25, 2017This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.
Preparing a delicious meal does not need to take a long time. With the right tips & tricks, you can get dinner on the table in no time. From adding flavor with Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs to making clean-up quick with Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes, keep reading for all my time-saving meal solutions today!
9 Time-Saving Meal Solutions
1. Use pancake mixes!
Breakfast can be a very busy time of the day around here. From preparing lunches to getting the kids dressed for school, I am always trying to save time in the mornings. Using a packaged pancake mix is a great way to get a tasty breakfast on the table in no time.
BONUS TIP: Make a big batch of pancakes on the weekend. Freeze the leftovers and simply microwave them in the mornings for a quick weekday breakfast solution!
2. Prepare rice in the microwave!
To go alongside a protein and some veggies, I like to prepare some rice for dinner. Skip the boiling water on the stove and use a packaged rice product that can be prepared in the microwave. In under 2 minutes, I can plate a warm, flavorful rice pilaf! By the way, a wonderful protein to go alongside the rice is shrimp – I love that it can go directly from freezer to stove top.
3. Add flavor with sprays!
Speaking of shrimp, one of my favorite new dishes is Garlic Lime Shrimp prepared using Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs and it’s the simplest recipe ever! All I need to do is place the shrimp in oil over medium heat. I top with some lime juice and spritz on some Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs in Garlic flavor. Did you know that these sprays only contain two ingredients: concentrated essential oil and just a bit of organic canola oil as a base? This simplicity lets the herb’s natural flavor shine through! I love that these sprays contain no chemicals, preservatives or even air contact (thanks to the non-aerosol design). What this means is that these bottles are a shelf-stable source of fresh herb flavor. Using these sprays is so much more convenient than buying fresh organic herbs at the market each week!
This Garlic Lime Shrimp recipe is a delicious, flavorful dish that comes together in no time! What’s really special about Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs is their versatility! Since these sprays are packed with flavor, you only need a tiny bit to add big flavor (you can always add more later on). Take your everyday dishes to the next level with these sprays – they are perfect for grilled meats, fish, veggies, pizza, fries, salads and more! With Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs, create gourmet flavors easily and affordably!
There’s another spray I have been using recently to add a ton of flavor conveniently and affordably to my recipes! I have been making Pomegranate Veggie Kabobs with Simply Beyond® Organic Fruit Vinegar! I simply cut zucchini & mushrooms into large cubes and thread them onto a skewer along with some grape tomatoes. I place them in a pan over medium heat and spritz on some Simply Beyond® Organic Fruit Vinegar in Pomegranate flavor. Made with pure, organic ingredients, this vinegar features the time-tested taste of old world Modena (an Italian province famous for its vinegars). Combined with red wine vinegar and pomegranate juice, this spray is a delicious way to boost the flavor of these veggies.
This fruit vinegar adds the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity to these veggies. Use Simply Beyond® Organic Fruit Vinegars in many ways: to bring out the sweetness on savory foods like pork, to boost the flavor of olive oil salad dressings, or to enrich the flavor of a dessert like ice cream.
Want to try Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs or Simply Beyond® Organic Fruit Vinegar? Be sure to visit www.simplybeyondfoods.com and use code babblebox10 to receive 10% off on all orders through 11/30/2017.
4. Prepare salad ingredients ahead of time!
When I get home from the supermarket, I take some time to wash, cut and prepare my produce. I like to fill some plastic containers with the ingredients I use to make a salad: cucumbers, tomatoes, onion & pickled veggies. When it’s time to prepare a salad, assembly is quick. To add a bright burst of flavor in the salad, be sure to use one of the Simply Beyond® Organic Fruit Vinegars.
5. Make clean-up easy!
Preparing food in the kitchen often results in a mess. That’s why when it comes to cleaning up, I like to make things easy! I recently had my daughter help me make a frosting for a cake. However, she decided to get hands-on with the activity…
Yes, it was a mess. A big mess! Luckily, I keep Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes on hand for moments like these. I love that these wipes are an easy way to wipe out dirt and messes. Furthermore, they kill 99.99% of germs without soap and water- that’s perfect when you need a quick hand wipe on the go!
I really like this travel pack because each wipe is kept fresh in its own sealed pouch. Did you know that Wet Ones 2-in-1 wipes are hypoallergenic so they’re perfect for even the smallest hands? That’s important to me because my kids are constantly getting their hands dirty from messy craft sessions, trips to the park or baking sessions in the kitchen.
I actually keep a pack just like this in my purse because it’s the easiest, most efficient way of cleaning messy hands. I also keep a Wet Ones hand wipes canister in my car.
6. Use canned goods!
I always keep my pantry stocked with canned goods, such as beans. Preparing beans from scratch is a very time-consuming process. However, with the cans, I can add a big burst of fiber & protein to my meals without any extra prep time.
7. Plan your meals!
Everyday life can get busy. That’s why I like to plan out my meals for dinner. This makes it easy for me when I’m shopping at the supermarket, because I plan out my grocery shopping list based on my weekly meal plan.
8. Freeze cubed fruits!
Smoothies are one of my fave breakfasts and snacks. To streamline my smoothie game, I like to chop and freeze bags of fruits ahead of time. To make a smoothie, all I need to do is add the contents of one of these bags to a blender, along with some almond milk & protein powder. Easy peasy!
9. Embrace frozen veggies!
Frozen vegetables are often picked at peak ripeness and frozen immediately, so they retain most of the flavor & nutrients. Take advantage of this convenience by purchasing frozen veggies & microwaving them for a quick side. Be sure to spritz some Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs for an added flavor boost.
I hope these tips have inspired you to save some time in the kitchen. Now I’d love to hear from you. What are your best time-saving tips when it comes to meal prep? Have you ever experienced the delicious flavor & convenience of Simply Beyond® Spray-on Herbs? Do you also keep Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes on hand for quick clean-ups?
Ever wanted to learn Arabic online? Check out Arabic Road & learn Arabic on your own terms.
I always prepare as much as I possibly can ahead of time. It is a REALLY BIG time saver. Love all your tips.
We make many of our our master mixes like pancake mix for a fast and easy breakfast. We cut up and prep as much as possible ahead of time.
Yes, simply cutting fruits & veggies right away is such an easy time-saver!
Uncle Ben’s rice is my favorite and I love the microwavable packages. It sure does save time in the kitchen and I’m always on the lookout for tips that save time.
I need to try some of these ideas, I get a lot of pain if I stay standing up for long so if anything can help me save time I am all for it.
I am going to try making stuff with those spray on herbs. What a wonderful idea. It makes it so much easier to put the flavor and that you want.
These are great ideas! This time of year between homework and sports activities we are rushing every single evening. I have never seen the spray flavoring before, I will have to check that out!
Great tips…I’m intrigued by the flavor sprays.
You gotta try them! Time-saving to the max!
I too love preparing my salad ingredients way in advance and throw it together when I am in a rush. Lovely ideas you’ve shared
I have never heard of flavor sprays. I bet they make prep time a lot shorter. These are all great tips.
I’m so curious about the spray on herbs. Do they really add flavor? I just discovered microwave rice and I’m addicted. It’s saved me more than twice During a busy work week.
I tried the garlic-flavored spray on herb and it adds tremendous flavor to my meals! Easy and convenient!
I have never heard of spray on herbs! That is way cool! I love having pancakes for supper sometimes too. They’re so tasty and easy.
Yes, breakfast for dinner is delish! And those spray on herbs are wonderful – try them for yourself!
Freezing more fruits and veggies is something I could definitely do. I have to check out the spray-on herbs and fruit vinegar!
Yes, they are totally life-changing!
These are some really good and quick meal solutions. We travel a lot and being vegetarians, we need to fix quick meals when we are in places where vegetarian fare is not easily available.
Great tips especially for moms like me who are always busy with work. Never heard of that spray on herbs before but that would be quite handy and convenient.
Thanks for these tips. I always prefer easy to prepare meals without compromising the health benefits and flavor. I love your menu board. At least it will give the family an idea of what they can expect during the week. I like the idea of garlic spray on. We’re big on garlic in this house! That would make things a whole lot easier for me.
I am going to have to try out those flavor sprays! They sound super cool. These are all such great tips!
I had no idea there was such a thing as a flavor spray! These would be great for nights when we are really in a hurry!
I like the idea of preparing rice in The microwave. Sometimes on the stove it takes way to long.
I agree, there are meals that is very easy to prepare. I always reserve those kind of meals when I don’t have enough time to cook.