Until recently, I had been a full time mom who made dinner every single day. Few weeks ago, I started working and realized it was too much for me to come home form a full day’s work and then start the cooking from scratch. The fact that I am not very fond of cooking did not help at all. That is when I heard about once a month cooking with freezer recipes.
When I first heard about it, it seemed overwhelming to cook once a month for the whole month. I was not sure I had enough freezer recipes I could make.
I decided to give it a try though and that first day was something. I felt I had bitten off more than I could swallow. With two small children who couldn’t really help, it was all upon me. I stayed with it though and somehow pulled myself through the day.
I came home the next day, drained from work but I had this twinkle in my eye because I knew I would not have to cook. I had a freezer full of healthy home-made food. I could even ask my kids to choose what they wanted to eat that night.
The entire week went by without me having to do any major dishes and I was on to something. Now I prepare dinners once a month with freezer recipes and can’t imagine life any other way. Here are five reasons you must give once a month cooking with freezer recipes it a try.
1. You have nothing to lose. Just try it once to see if it works for you and if you decide it is not for you, you will still have a few week’s worth of dinners in your freezer.
2. Making freezer recipes, we save a lot of money. We used to decide that we would not eat out on weekdays but some days, I would be so tired to cook, I would give in. For our family of four, an inexpensive dinner at the fast food place can cost at least $20.00. Do that once every week and it can add up to $80.00 a month, that’s close to $1000 a year.
2. Having food in the freezer that was prepared at home is obviously healthier than eating at that inexpensive fast food place. Over time, my kids will develop healthy eating habits and grow to appreciate wholesome home-made meals as opposed to a cheeseburger.
3. I save many trips to Wal-mart because I shop only once a month and buy in bulk to save even more money. Before, I used to fill the fridge with supplies I planned to cook with but when we ate out most of those supplies would just go bad. Now I only buy what will be used for my freezer recipes the next day. Moreover, my fridge has more space.
4. The most important benefit is all the extra time I get with my family. I come home and help my daughter with homework, we all go swimming and then we all sit down for a home cooked dinner together. It can’t get any better than that. Now if only feeding my 18 month old could get any easier…
So you see how preparing your dinners once a month with freezer recipes is the way to go? You should seriously consider it. The guide I use for my freezer recipes has over 70 easy recipes with step-by-step instructions. It has grocery lists and menu plans, which in itself can be a big task.
Check out the book and find out if freezer recipes can work for you.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner many will be wondering after the BIG feast “What to do with that left over turkey?”