The goal with make ahead foods is to keep them as fresh and as tasty as possible, so you can eat healthy on any day of the week.
It used to be that making ahead foods were something that only the really smart cook knew about. Fortunately, many of us can now make a variety of them without too much trouble. The most basic reason for this is convenience. Who wants to sit at home in the kitchen all day, chopping potatoes, preparing meals, and trying to remember what to do with all the leftover meat? Not many of us do!
Nutritional Value
Another reason that we choose to make ahead foods is for nutritional value. People who know how to prepare a variety of healthy recipes from raw vegetables to steamed fish will usually live longer and have better health, too. A great way to start learning to make ahead foods is by making simple meals in advance and freezing them, so you have access to them whenever you’re ready to eat them.
You can use make ahead meals to help you lose weight. The trick is to make sure you always have plenty to eat at regular intervals. It’s also important that you make regular portions and keep them balanced. If you make ahead meals but don’t eat all at once, you won’t stay full for long. Eat several smaller meals throughout the day and maintain your weight loss.
The Foods You Make Will Taste Good
You might be concerned about whether the foods you make will taste good or not. Fortunately they often taste just as good as if you had cooked them yourself. This is because you have a greater control over flavor. You can choose to make your foods as spicy or as mild as you like. Also, many people add herbs and spices to make foods taste better.
The biggest problem with preparing make ahead foods is that you can’t monitor the foods closely enough to determine when they are done. You usually can’t smell a dish until it’s almost ready, and then you may only notice that it’s getting cold halfway through. You can avoid this problem by carefully planning your meals. Buy the right containers and labels to ensure that everything will remain fresh. Keep your food in the fridge for the maximum amount of time possible. Some people even refrigerate leftover meals when they know that they have a family gathering coming up, to cut down on the amount of time they have to wait before eating.
Start With A Simple Recipe
Another issue you will run into if you decide to prepare ahead foods is that they will tend to lack variety. You already have all the ingredients you need to make ahead meals, so you don’t have to come up with other dishes. This can be problematic if you’re used to a certain way that foods should be prepared, and you might not know how to prepare a new dish that will fit your guests’ tastes.
If you have never made ahead foods before, you might want to start out small. Start with a simple recipe that you can modify to your heart’s content. As you get more comfortable with preparing make ahead meals, you can slowly add more exotic recipes to your repertoire. In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that you’ll always have plenty of food on hand.
A Surprise Party
One of the key benefits of preparing make ahead foods ahead of time is that you can always keep them stocked up for a surprise party. When people think that a party is only an hour away, they usually panic and then refuse to go. This doesn’t have to be you. If you have food sitting in your fridge that you haven’t used in a while, there’s no reason to waste food. If your guests like surprises, make ahead foods are the answer!
If you decide to prepare ahead foods for a party, be sure that you choose easy ones for appetizers and the main course. It is far too easy for people to become bored with the taste of your meal if it is served too fast. Be sure that your guests aren’t in a rush to leave, because that is the worst thing that can happen. If you make preparations that will feed a crowd, you can avoid having a long line at the front door waiting to get in.
Final Words
The most important thing that you have to remember about make ahead foods is that you must take care of them. If you aren’t planning on serving them right away, make sure that you store them properly. It is very easy for items to go bad if they are left to cool too long. Keeping them warm and moist, is very important if you want to ensure that your guests enjoy their experience.
