It's the third week of January, which means that you've suddenly realized that this whole "healthy eating" resolution is going to be tougher than you thought. Energy is waning, work has picked up again and the time and strength to eat well is harder and harder to summon. However, the solution to this quandary is simple: freezer meals. If you take Sunday afternoon to prep, chop, blend, slice, saute and slow cook, you can divide your meals into portions for the week that you simply heat and eat on your busiest days.
There are two types of freezer meals - those you cook before and reheat on serving day and those you prep for before and then cook on serving day - and both make for marvelous results.
Be sure to load up on freezable containers and freezer bags and Sharpies to label everything before freezing, said the Kitchn. Also, be sure to leave dairy products out of the freezer - add cheese or cream to recipes right before cooking on serving day.
Here are five recipes to try:
1. Lamb Souvlaki Kebabs from BBC Good Food: This is a prep-before recipe that yields amazingly flavorful pieces of lamb that you can quickly cook on skewers and serve as is or in a whole wheat pita with spicy sauce and veggies.
2. Mini Crustless Sausage Mushroom Quiches from Eating Well: These cook-before quiches can be reheated in a minute in the microwave and eaten as you're running out the door. For an extra health boost, replace the sausage with spinach or shredded kale.
3. Turkey Burgers from Once A Month Meals: Homemade, low-fat, pre-seasoned, pre-shaped burgers ready to be pan-fried will make weeknight dinners a breeze. Defrost, cook and serve with chimichurri if you want to add tons of flavor with little extra fat or sugar.
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5. White Bean Ragout from Bon Appetit: This delicious mix of white beans and roasted vegetables can be made ahead and frozen in portions. When it's time to eat, reheat and add cherry tomatoes and Parmesan cheese and serve over garlicky toast.
