If you want to eat healthier but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, I wrote this article for you. One of the biggest barriers to eating well is the extra time it takes to prepare homemade meals from scratch. Even with a few time-saving tricks, preparing meals with fresh, real food takes longer than opening a box of Kraft Dinner or going to a drive-through. But I think you and your health are worth it, and I hope you are too.

Here are 4 tips to save time and prepare healthy and nutritious meals for you and your family:

1. Meal plan. Each week, create a rough plan of what to eat for dinner each week. Yes, this takes time, but it will save you a lot of time at the grocery store. Planning ahead also eliminates the need to decide what to eat for dinner when you’re tired at the end of the day (and less likely to make a healthy decision).

2. Use some processed foods. Eating real food doesn’t mean you have to grind your own oatmeal or grow your own lettuce. While it may be best to eat fresh local food, it is not always realistic. Consider buying pre-cut or frozen vegetables, pre-washed salad, low-sodium canned tomatoes, and canned beans. Healthier condiments are also available at the store – look for salad dressings (read labels and look for ingredients you can pronounce), low sodium tomato sauces and marinades to create quick and tasty meals

3. Always do more. It only takes a little longer to cook a double or even triple batch of a recipe. Pack some of the leftovers in containers for lunch or other dinner during the week and freeze the rest. You can also whip up a large stew or soup when you have a little more time, maybe on the weekend, just to stock your freezer. Be sure to label the containers with the content and the date! When grilling chicken or cooking meat, also make an extra to use in other meals during the week. You can also cook more rice ahead of time and freeze it.

4. Chop vegetables ahead of time. When looking for a snack in the refrigerator, you probably don’t feel like cutting through a plate full of veggies. I understand! But, if you already had pre-cut veggies, you’re more likely to eat them. Once a week, spend 15 minutes washing and slicing carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and other vegetables so they’re ready to eat. I pack them in containers so I can easily take one to work every day.

5. Get a slow cooker. Add a few ingredients in the morning and head home for a warm and nutritious meal. When you find a delicious and easy recipe, bookmark it so you remember to make it again.

There’s no question: healthy eating takes a little more planning, preparation, and time. But these time-saving tricks can have you reap the health and money-saving benefits of cooking at home in a fraction of the time.

TO ENJOY!