Homemade "Semi-Prepared" Foods: How to Maintain Your Supply
The Fly Lady method transforms evening dinner chaos through smart meal prep. Prepare basics like frozen meatballs, portioned soups, and pre-cut vegetables on one weekly prep day. Use a usage calendar to track portions and dates, turning stressful cooking into quick 15-minute meal assembly.
The Secret to Peaceful Evenings
Do you know that feeling of panic at six in the evening when the kids are demanding dinner, but all you have in the fridge are eggs and yesterday's bread? The Fly Lady method offers a simple solution — homemade meal prep that transforms chaos into organization.
We're not talking about canning for winter, but about smart semi-prepared foods that save precious time and stress. Frozen meatballs, portioned soups, pre-cut vegetables — all of these can become your helpers.
What to Prepare in Advance
Start simple and gradually expand your meal prep arsenal:
- Ground meat for meatballs and meatloaf (already mixed with onions and spices)
- Broths in portion-sized containers
- Frozen vegetable mixes for soups
- Dough for dumplings or pierogies
- Sauces and dressings in jars
The LadyFly app will help you create a list of meal preps and track your supplies. No more unpleasant surprises!
Usage Calendar — Your Best Friend
Meal prep without a system for using it just turns into freezer clutter. Create a simple calendar where you note:
- Date the meal prep was made
- Planned usage date
- Number of portions
- Thawing or preparation method
This approach helps avoid situations where useful meal prep turns into mysterious frozen blocks of unknown contents.
Prepare the Basics — Save Time
Set aside one day a week for preparing basics. This could be Sunday or any convenient day. In 2-3 hours you can:
Chop vegetables for a week's worth of salads. Make a basic tomato sauce that becomes the foundation for pasta, pizza, or stew. Cook grains and portion them into containers.
This kind of preparation transforms cooking from stress into pleasure. Instead of spending an hour in the kitchen, you'll spend 15-20 minutes assembling dinner.
Small Steps to Big Changes
Don't try to master all meal prep at once. Start with one or two items and gradually add new ones. The Fly Lady method teaches us to move in small steps to avoid burnout.
Remember: the goal isn't to become the perfect homemaker, but to make life easier for yourself. Homemade semi-prepared foods are a tool for caring for yourself and your family, not a reason for self-criticism.
LadyFly will help organize this process with reminders and a planner. Start small, and soon you'll feel evening stress give way to peace.
