Tips for Holiday Meal Prep
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Collapse ▲From More In My Basket
The holiday season is approaching, and you may be planning a celebration for friends and family in one big group or in smaller gatherings. Regardless of the logistics, it is never too early to start holiday meal preparation. If left to the last minute, meal planning can be a challenge no matter how many people you are serving. Planning your menu in advance allows the opportunity to create your favorite dishes while spending smarter.
Today we have some ideas that you can incorporate this month to get ahead of planning for the big days this holiday season.
Financial planning
On top of creating a food budget based on your household’s earned income and overall necessary expenses, you can apply for programs that can assist you in purchasing nutritious foods.
One of these programs is called SNAP. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and is also known as FNS or Food and Nutrition Services in North Carolina. SNAP assists millions of North Carolinians who are eligible depending on their household’s size and combined gross income.
If you want to learn more about SNAP/FNS or would like assistance with the application, contact the More In My Basket team. They are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. You can reach them by calling 1-855-240-1451 or visiting their website at morefood.org.
Another way to stretch your food budget is to look for coupons, sales or promotions on a store’s website or app. These strategies will help to maximize your savings on high-ticket holiday items.
Take inventory of what you already have
Before creating a shopping list, check to see what you have available at home already in your pantry, fridge and freezer. Then, take note of items that have a later expiration date and can be used while preparing your meals, such as canned foods and spices.
Next, find holiday recipes that can combine most of the foods you already have at home and create a consolidated list to avoid buying too many bottles of the same items, for example.
Smart shopping
Once you are ready to shop, compare prices between different grocery stores either online before you leave the house or by visiting the stores yourself before making a large purchase.
For example: If you do not want to spend a lot of your budget on a turkey, you can compare prices between selections of turkey breasts, a ham, a whole chicken or a large pork loin. Getting creative with your meals can add variety and help your wallet.
When comparing prices, check to see if it is more cost and time-efficient to prepare a dish from scratch or to buy prepared dishes. Some vegetables and fruits can be cheaper when they are frozen or canned, so consider choosing what makes the most sense for you and your family.
Don’t forget to visit food banks in your area that may have special holiday distributions as well.
Preparation and waste reduction
When preparing your meals, clean all surfaces before and after you are done cooking. This cleaning process, along with washing your hands, helps avoid the spread of foodborne illnesses in the kitchen area and among your family and friends.
Then, plan how many hours you need until party time to get all dishes ready to go. Consider using recipes that focus on transforming different parts of the food items you have into other dishes. Examples include making vegetable stock from peelings and ends, using bread heels for stuffing and frying potato skins for a snack.
After the party is over, save all leftovers for the next couple of days, but freeze any items that may go bad quickly. That way, you are guaranteed to have multiple meals ready in the next week.
Get creative with these leftovers! Maybe the whole chicken you had on Thanksgiving Day can be used for a chicken salad the next day, and added to a chicken sandwich that same weekend. Adapt the recipes according to your family’s tastes and needs.
Have Fun
The end of the year can be a stressful time for everyone, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Remember to prepare in advance to leave room for fun and memorable days with those you love.
If you would like to learn more about using your SNAP benefits at local farmers’ markets, have a question about food safety, or want additional tips for preparing food for the holidays, visit our website or contact the Orange County Cooperative Extension Center at 919-245-2050.