Stretch that Grocery Budget Part 5- Meal Prep as Sanity Saver

Now that you are a menu planning pro, it is time to make that menu planning even easier. Great kitchen shortcuts can make weekday meals go even quicker. Try them out!

· Make a double or triple batch of rice and freeze them in batches so you can just pull them out and thaw the day you need them.

· Try dried beans in the crock pot and also freeze them in batches.

· Buying chunk cheese to save money? Have your kids shred and then freeze. Just don’t freeze chunks of cheese as they tend to crumble when you thaw them.

· Next time you make a freezer friendly meal, double up and freeze a batch.

· Cut up your veggies for the week on a weekend.

· Chop onions and freeze in one cup increments for use. You can even caramelize them and then freeze.

· Save veggie scraps in a bag in the freezer. Then use them to make broths.

Any other great money saving tips you would like us to share? Send an email to Katie Wahl at kwahl@emergencyfoodshelf.org.