If you want to make cooking less of a chore for your family then there are a few things that you can do. Take a look below to find out more.

Plan out your Meals

Meal planning is so important. If you are not a huge fan of meal planning then you simply need to focus on the grocery side of things. Buy items you love to eat, whether it is protein, fruit or even vegetables. You can then come up with meals on the day and take it as it comes. And even if you're trying a recipe for French toast, it's good to have the ingredients ready the day before.

If you do want to meal plan then make sure that you are planning ahead what you want to do, so you can make sure that you have all of the ingredients you need to make your meals happen. Don’t plan meals that are overly complex or difficult to cook, because if you do then you may end up overcommitting and just not doing them. This can be a waste of money, which is the last thing you need.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Keep your Kitchen Stocked

Having a pantry that is well-stocked will go a long way when it comes to your cooking experience. If you are not sure what you have because it has been a long time since you looked in your cupboards then take inventory and write everything down. Pantry items such as tuna, spices, canned beans, flour and oats are often the foundation of a recipe, and they are shelf staples. They’re not expensive either so make sure that you load up. If you have a lot of flour and don’t know what to do with it, why not look into these fresh bread recipes?

Keep Basic Equipment On-Hand

When you have ingredients on-hand, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment to cook your meals with. Think about all of the processes that you are going to use, from prepping your ingredients to eating and storage. It is a good idea for you to invest in cutting boards, dishes, pots, baking sheets and even storage containers.

Practice your Knife Skills

A lot of people find that they aren’t too natural when it comes to using a knife. That being said, if you can practice using one then this will make a huge difference to how efficient you are in prepping food. It can be intimidating to cut up a butternut squash or an eggplant if you have never done it before, but when you do it for the first time, you will soon find that it becomes quick and easy. Don’t be afraid to use Google either because this can be a valuable resource.

Prep Food

Whether you have a plan in place, or whether you are simply trying to go with the flow, you need to try and prepare food components such as protein, produce and grain ahead of time. If you can do this then you will soon see that it is possible for you to save a lot of time. Some grains are easy to cook, and they’re convenient to store as well. This can include pasta, rice and quinoa. Protein options can include chicken breast, pork, fish and seafood. You also have plant-based options too, so make sure that you explore them. They can help you to make your meals far more exciting.