1. Cooking with Convenience
15-2
Food For Today

2. Objectives
Give suggestions for planning healthful meals around convenience foods
Describe general methods for preparing basic convenience foods
Discuss the benefits of making your own convenience foods

3. Planning Meals with Convenience Foods
Using dry mixes to make main dishes, side dishes, and sauces, reduce the amount of fat called for by using fat-free milk or water instead of whole milk
Use quick cooking grains as a side dish
Example rice
Keep shelf-stable or frozen main dishes and meals on hand for emergencies
Try to avoid using them regularly for meals

4. Preparing and Using Convenience Foods
Most have directions on the packages
Always read the directions
Here are some general guidelines
Canned Foods
Most are ready to eat or need little preparation other than heating
Some soups must be mixed with water or milk
Once opened, any leftovers must be refrigerated

5. Preparing and Using Convenience Foods
Frozen Foods
Some may only need to be thawed
Others cooked without thawing
Chilled Foods
Keep refrigerated until you are ready to use them
Use by the date shown on the package
Dried Foods
Reconstitute
Add back the liquid that was removed in processing
Nonfat dry milk

6. Preparing and Using Convenience Foods
Dry Mixes
Most mixes contain the dry ingredients needed to prepare the food
You add other ingredients, such as liquids

7. Making Your Own Convenience Foods
Homemade convenience foods have advantages:
You decide on the kind and quality of the ingredients to put into the product
You can control the amount of sodium, sugar, and fat used
Often cost less to prepare than commercial ones
Few or no additives
Enjoy meals with a homemade appearance and flavor

8. Making Convenience Foods
PRE-PARED INGREDIENTS
Sautéed chopped vegetables
Chop and sauté you use most often
Freeze them in recipe-size quantities
Dry Beans and grain products
Cook rice and pasta in quantity
Freeze in 1 cup portions
Use for salads, casseroles, soups, and side dishes

9. Making Convenience Foods
PRE-PARED INGREDIENTS
Cubed or shredded cheese
Cube or grate cheese you use frequently
Store in air-tight container
Keep refrigerated or froze
Bread crumbs or cubes
Cut bread into cubes and dry them
Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator

10. Frozen Main Dishes “Cooking for the Freezer”
Cook your own meals and freeze them
Time and money will be saved in the long run
Prepare your favorite recipes and then freeze them

11. Storing Frozen Main Dishes
When packaging consider how it will be used
Single-servings or Family Size
Include Labels

12. Homemade Mixes Quick Breads Beverages
Secret to making successful mix is to be sure the ingredients are thoroughly combined and evenly distributed so when measuring out the amount you will need you will be sure to get the amounts you need

13. Pancakes