Cooking with Convenience 15-2 Food For Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pancakes