The secret of fast and efficient

meal preparation is time

management. Even when you

have only half an hour to make

dinner, you can plan your time to

make the most of every minute

without being flurried. Good time

management involves three

activities: Menu planning,

grocery shopping and food

preparation.

Plan Ahead

When cooking time is limited, it s

important to have your menu

planned in advance. Every

moment you spend paging

through the cookbook or

deciding what to cook cuts down

the time you have left to cook it.

Plan menus for several days, or

even a week at a time. Consult

your supermarket s advertised

specials for meat, fish, poultry or

produce. Check your freezer for

foods you may want to use

during the week.

List the type of protein you wish

to serve at each meal, then

select main dish recipes for

them. Many of the main dishes in

this book include a

complementary vegetable or

starch, so you can cook two

foods at once.

Plan the other components of the

meal at the same time. Vary the

menus by selecting different

starches, vegetables, salads or

desserts for each day. Take

advantage of frozen or canned

fruits, convenience foods,

pickles, and other items which

can round out a meal without

consuming preparation time.