Frugal Living, Recipes & Deals
Looking to save money? I’ve been eyeing a FoodSaver for a long time and right now, there is a $15/1 printable coupon available! Looks like a good deal, I also found this version on Amazon for only $62 (normally $129). If you’re interested in saving money long term, this is a great buy!
I am a procrastinator. As in, I’m the 10 minutes before it’s due, sweating, hyperventilating and losing my mind kinda person which means “meal prep” just sounds scary to me. That being said, it is also the best thing I have ever done.
Meal prepping is just that, preparing your meals in advance. This method is helpful for anyone but especially those trying to eat healthy as it will make healthy eating convenient and easy. And, it’s not nearly as hard as it sounds.
Simply gather up your recipes for the week, buy what you need then, cook and store the meals in the proper containers. You can actually prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner this way if you’d like. For me personally, I prepare my lunches for the week on Sunday. I am using running around during the day and I need healthy lunches on the go, meal prep does just that. It makes eating on the go a breeze and controls what I eat as well.
You will accomplish two major things with meal prepping:
Of course, there are plenty of other benefits such as healthier eating but, saving time and money is pretty universal with this method. Preparation is also the biggest player in the money saving game, when I teach my coupon workshops we focus on preparing your shopping trips and meals as a way to avoid having to revisit the grocery store multiple times a week or spending a fortune at a restaurant.
A little word of advice, I would invest in the right gear. Using food containers that keep your food fresh is also pretty important, I would hate to spend the time prepping only to find spoiled food later in the week! Check out these storage containers:
Those containers are perfect! Just yesterday, my sister in law shared her meal prepping for the week also in the correct containers to ensure the food stays fresh. Check this out:
Isn’t that gorgeous? I promise, this will make your life easier and it will save you money. Hurry, time to get preppin’!
I tried avocados for the first time this summer simply because I wanted to add something new to my diet. Honestly, I always just assumed I would hate them, turns out, I LOVE them. Now, I eat them for breakfast on top of my gluten free toast. Yep, it’s amazing.
That being said, they can be pricey so I love stocking up when I find a good sale. A new Sprouts just opened by my house and the big avocados were only $1 so I loaded up and quickly learned how to freeze them so I can enjoy them for months. It’s really not that hard at all! There are two main methods of freezing, use the one that works best for you.
Method #1 Freezing Avocados in Slices
Simply wash and peel the avocado slicing the middle. Squeeze a bit of lime juice over the slices to keep them from turning colors. Then, place the slices in a freezer bag and you’re done! Yep, that’s it.
Method #2 Freezing Mashed Avocados
Scoop out the middle of the avocado and add to either a bowl or in my case, I put it in the KitchenAid mixer. Add in as much as you want to freeze, adding about 1/2 of a squeezed lime per each avocado. Again, the lime helps it from turning colors and if you’re going to make guacamole later, it’s perfect for that too! Then, turn on your mixer (either the KitchenAid or use a hand mixer) to mash the avocado to the desired consistancy.
Once well mashed, simply add to freezer bags and freeze. That’s it!
This weekend, our produce coop, The Produce Gathering, also offered up avocados! I can’t wait to freeze them!
I LOVE freezer cooking, it takes some time to do it at first but you reap the benefits for weeks! You’ll save time, money and sanity especially if you have a large family. I love this post from my sister with her 50 Freezer Cooking Recipes:
