Dear Diane,

I’m a busy working mom who wants to provide healthy meals for my family. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how I might make cooking easier and less time consuming?

- Josephine, Trenton, ON

Dear Josephine,

With school back in full swing and so many responsibilities, sometimes things can seem a little overwhelming. So it’s important to keep organized. Make sure you plan your meals a week in advance and then do one shop for the whole week. I find it’s best to shop on Saturday, leaving Sunday free for prep work. When prepping, make sure to have your Ziploc® brand Bags handy. First, cut the meat up and place into Ziploc® brand Double Zipper Freezer Bags which can go directly into the freezer. Presto! Now when you are cooking you can simply take the appropriate ingredients our of their storage bags and add into your dish. Or for a really simple solution, place appropriate ingredients with seasoning into a Ziploc® brand Zip ‘n Steam™ bag, place in the microwave and you have a healthy and delicious meal in minutes.

Don’t forget to check out our Cooking and Entertaining Section for great recipe ideas. This month’s feature is a mouth-watering Chunky Chicken Peanut Wrap. It’s great for school or work lunches!

As well, for ready-to-eat, healthy after school snacks, store veggies in Ziploc® brand Snack Bags. It’s a great way to tide the kids over until dinner’s ready.

Warm Regards,
Diane