Freezer

Are you looking for recipe ideas, or..? There are so many options!

I love to cook and am used to cooking for more than one person. I live alone now (yay!) but I've been cooking the same amount of food and just freezing the excess. I usually divide up my meals into serving sizes and freeze in plastic containers (I love the lock&lock containers for this). I find this incredibly useful for a) taking to work, b) having meals on hand for when I'm too busy to cook, c) being able to plan my calories in advance, and d) resisting the temptation of buying premade meals from the store, ick.

I have found that soups work especially well, and are often very healthy. My go-to soup is one with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, coconut milk, and garam masala. ~2 cups is around 200 calories. I also like to freeze chicken noodle, bean soups, chili, etc. I also make a lot of savory pies - quiche, chicken pot pie, etc. Sometimes I cut them up into portion sizes and freeze them individually, and sometimes I leave them whole for when I have company.

I usually have a batch of beans and rice with sausage or fried rice in the freezer, as well. These are often my go-to meals to take to work, as they are full of veggies, whole grains (I use brown rice), and protein.

Another essential, for me, is frozen baked oatmeal. I eat a serving of baked oatmeal almost every day, and if there aren't a couple containers in the freezer, I know it's time to make some more! And it's very versatile - I almost always have a couple of bananas in there, but I change up the other fruit - blueberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries, blackberries... it all works, and it's all good. I usually add some cocoa powder for some chocolate-y goodness. I have been meaning to make a batch of peanut butter-banana-chocolate baked oatmeal, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Oh, and muffins! I love making apple cinnamon muffins - each is only around 180 calories and they're handy for a quick breakfast or snack.

Empanadas are one of my favorite things to freeze, because they reheat so well and are so delicious, but one empanada is around 500 calories, so I have to make sure I plan for them... Lasagna, quesadillas, and enchiladas are similar - tasty, freeze well, but something I often have to budget for since they tend to be higher in calories than soup or beans and rice.

I also freeze leftover pot roast or pulled pork or what have you. I don't often make just meat (I like it better when it's an ingredient in a dish rather than a main dish) but when I do, I shred the leftovers and freeze them. That way they're readily convenient for sandwiches (I also freeze rolls), enchiladas, omelettes, etc.

Really, the only things I don't freeze are dairy and vegetables. I am just not a fan of frozen veggies. :sick:

http://www.six-cents.com/2012/06/crockpot-freezer-cooking-101.html

lots of freezer meals prepped

When making meals, make enough for an additional portion and stick it in the freezer. That way there is always a 'ready meal' which is still home made and you know exactly whats in it

Exactly what I was going to say. The healthiest meals you'll make are the ones you make at home and customize to your diet specifications. I always make extra too, so I have a portion or two to freeze for later.

Lasagnes, cottage pies, soups, anything i have left over from my slow cooker like chilli, curry, casseroles. My 2 boys go to their dads two nights a week and my partner has his wee boy them two nights so i am on my own so i always have something in the freezer that i can leave out that morning

Are you looking for recipe ideas, or..? There are so many options!

I love to cook and am used to cooking for more than one person. I live alone now (yay!) but I've been cooking the same amount of food and just freezing the excess. I usually divide up my meals into serving sizes and freeze in plastic containers (I love the lock&lock containers for this). I find this incredibly useful for a) taking to work, b) having meals on hand for when I'm too busy to cook, c) being able to plan my calories in advance, and d) resisting the temptation of buying premade meals from the store, ick.

I have found that soups work especially well, and are often very healthy. My go-to soup is one with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, coconut milk, and garam masala. ~2 cups is around 200 calories. I also like to freeze chicken noodle, bean soups, chili, etc. I also make a lot of savory pies - quiche, chicken pot pie, etc. Sometimes I cut them up into portion sizes and freeze them individually, and sometimes I leave them whole for when I have company.

I usually have a batch of beans and rice with sausage or fried rice in the freezer, as well. These are often my go-to meals to take to work, as they are full of veggies, whole grains (I use brown rice), and protein.

Another essential, for me, is frozen baked oatmeal. I eat a serving of baked oatmeal almost every day, and if there aren't a couple containers in the freezer, I know it's time to make some more! And it's very versatile - I almost always have a couple of bananas in there, but I change up the other fruit - blueberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries, blackberries... it all works, and it's all good. I usually add some cocoa powder for some chocolate-y goodness. I have been meaning to make a batch of peanut butter-banana-chocolate baked oatmeal, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Oh, and muffins! I love making apple cinnamon muffins - each is only around 180 calories and they're handy for a quick breakfast or snack.

Empanadas are one of my favorite things to freeze, because they reheat so well and are so delicious, but one empanada is around 500 calories, so I have to make sure I plan for them... Lasagna, quesadillas, and enchiladas are similar - tasty, freeze well, but something I often have to budget for since they tend to be higher in calories than soup or beans and rice.

I also freeze leftover pot roast or pulled pork or what have you. I don't often make just meat (I like it better when it's an ingredient in a dish rather than a main dish) but when I do, I shred the leftovers and freeze them. That way they're readily convenient for sandwiches (I also freeze rolls), enchiladas, omelettes, etc.

Really, the only things I don't freeze are dairy and vegetables. I am just not a fan of frozen veggies. :sick:

Love your advice. I recently started making large batches of soups and chillis. They are great for quick nutritious meals. I would love to get some receipes from you. The sweet potato and butternut squash soup, baked oatmeal, etc. It all sounds wonderful and I love to cook so these are items I would love to make and keep in the freezer. Please feel free to send me a message. THANKS!!!

I freeze dairy too. When milk is on sale I pop 3 or 4 in the freezer. Last week I got 1/2 gal. For 99c ea. I also freeze grated cheese. Great for cooking with. We have a big garden and I taught myself to blanch and freeze green beans, carrots, and beets. They taste fresh when we use them. I also freeze soups chilli and other casseroles. I make quiche and other savory pies and freeze.