I have the opposite problem. It’s just my husband and myself now- and we don’t eat a lot anymore I now make the recipe and divide and freeze half. It works great.
Right!?! And it's as easy or easier than processed foods which are More and More problematic, as we age. I swear, I can feel the difference the day after a Big Spinach salad. Popeye knew some stuff!
Best wishes on the new sweet baby! And can we all just pause and give mad respect to the challenges of 4 kids in 4-5 years?!! Holy wow! I don't know how you're still standing upright, let alone still working (for money). BRAVA! *stands and applauds*
I'm not a mom, but these tips seem applicable to my ADHD brain. I get excited about cooking once in a while, but because I'm single, didn't think of meal prep for multiple meals. It makes so much sense! Thanks K and congrats on baby 4! 💙
I feel like bulk cooking works so well for ADHD. I have stuffed my large 21 cu freezer with a month of hyperfocused cooking. It is grrrreeaattt. I enjoy cooking but the planning, cleaning, etc sucks. So doing as much as I can on single nights works the best for me.
I was caregiving for my mother for many years and she had a garage freezer and I would often prep three or four different types of meals throughout the month with the average of 6 to 8 servings per meal. I would stock that garage freezer for her and that way it was something she could just take out and microwave instead of us purchasing processed microwave dinners at the grocery store. This way I could tailor it to what I knew she absolutely loved, and I knew it was healthier than what we could purchase at the store.
When hamburger goes on sale I buy as much as I can afford and cook it up with onions and freeze in quart bags. It breaks apart easily if you don't need the whole bag for a meal. That and frozen cooked chicken or turkey saved my life when I had all my 5 kids still at home.
I’m definitely going to try these ideas but in glass containers, not for the planet, but for my endocrine system and to prevent cancer from plastics. Great ideas! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Great reminders! One of my go-to preps is to cook up a bunch of ground beef or turkey, season some of it for tacos, leave some plain, and freeze flat in quart bags. You might want to look into canning! I finally tried pressure canning my homemade stocks, after freezing them for years. It’s really easy to do and then to use later (no thawing), and saves a ton of freezer space. Lots of other things you can can, too, once you get into it. Congratulations on your baby! ❤
Congratulations Cali!!! God bless you, your baby, all your children, your family!!! Amazing, new baby and publishing, you are a tough woman!!! Enjoy your baby.
I always cut at least 2 onions at a time. If I know I'm going to need one soon I'll put one in the frig but all the extra goes in a reusable freezer bag and into the freezer. Frozen onions are great for cooking.
Great ideas! I would love an upright freezer rather than our chest freezer. I’m short, & I’ve come close to falling in a couple of times! 😂 Just FYI, you’re looking for the word “score” rather than “scour” when you put the impressions in your rice bags. Thanks! 😊
yes! I do that too -- have single ingredients prepped. That way I can put together a variety of items with an ingredient or, combine some to make different meals. Very practical.
So excited for you with your new family addition! When you recover, I would love to see a new intro video from you where we can see all your sweet family. I used to love your intro for But First, Coffee.
THIS!!! I’d love to see even more detail about this. Which veggies you shred up, how and what you freeze, etc! I’ve been slowly adding this to my system but I feel like I’d learn so much faster watching you! 😊
Thanks for some really helpful tips! Especially sectioning off soft foods in the ziplock bags. I too will “cook one now freeze later” because we are empty nesters and most recipes are for 4-6 people. I love that you say to do what works best for you - we all have different lifestyles. One thing I do is use lunchmeat containers to freeze things as well. My husband eats sandwiches for lunch and I keep the containers because they can also be washed in the dishwasher and reused multiple times!
Congratulations on the new baby!!! I have started freezing prepped veggies- chopped onion, carrots, celery etc. It saves sooooo much time when cooking!
Have recently discovered dump meals and really like using them. One of the best things I do is freeze cooked brown rice (better for diabetics like me) in individual portions. I cook it in my instant pot, cool quickly and freeze. It’s a real, fuss free time saver. Congratulations you and your husband on your latest little baby.
Reheated rice and pasta is not only better for diabetics because the carb content changes on pasta etc that has been cooked and cooled and reheated, but is also better for anybody trying to follow a healthier lifestyle and lower the glycemic load of what they are eating 👍 I have always cooked a bit more and kept it in the fridge to use in a different meal but it never occurred to me to freeze until recently. What a great idea! 😂
Agree! Love to prep basics that I can do all types of things❤ Love the crockpot dump freezer bags ideas…seen these quite a bit recently…genius way to make crockpot even easier! I Also love the idea of prepping through the week, so I don’t use up my whole Sunday!
Just like you freeze rice, I also like to freeze mashed potatoes. I use an ice cream scoop and freeze balls on a cookie sheet and then transfer to a bag when frozen. I freeze everything- cheese sticks, babybel cheese, lunch meat, hummus.
Even tho I don’t have children, I still enjoyed these tips. One tip I have is to use the microwave more for cooking stuff. My Mum used to cook loads of stuff in hers. Also. there’s nothing wrong with fingers & chicken nuggets etc sometimes, in fact they are my favourite type of meals.
Such an inspiration! I had three kids under seven, who are all adults now. I sure wish I had this channel to watch back then! Now I take care of my first (and so far only) little 10-month-old granddaughter, and I will use these tips! Fantastic content.
I love this! I do this for chopped vegetables for the week, if im using onion, i chop what i need for the week and keep the rest in a container so i dont have to chop it repeatedly and that has really helped to save on time!
I freeze chopped onions, celery n carrot mix to throw in soups and stews… one big gallon bag lasts a while when all you need is about 1/2 cup. Just be careful when freezing onions if you have an icemaker… I freeze it in a bag + Tupperware then throw it into the mix..
I don't have any kids, but I love these videos! This one is especially helpful as I hate cooking, but need to do it more for my health. The dump and go crockpot bags are especially helpful!!!
Hey darling congratulations on your new baby and thanks for the great tips about prepping foods for the freezer is very helpful tips thank you and take care❤
I’ve been cooking for so long I’ve reached a point of burnout. I used to meal plan and I had a super system but I hit a wall and I haven’t been able to cook consistently. These suggestions are all really good. I just don’t know how to get my mojo back.
This was a very practical video with great details. Could you do a part 2 where you show yourself using everything? That's where I get tripped up - what to thaw versus microwave vs cook frozen, how to get the stuff out of the bags and containers, how to combine everything so it doesn't stay in the freezer forever. Also, the kids' snacks don't get soggy in the fridge? That's what I always worried about. And how do the apples not turn brown? So many questions, but great video!
For apples, you can dip them into water with a little lemon juice once you’ve sliced them. The water helps the moisture content remain high and the acid from the lemon with prolong their colour, but eventually they will turn brown so best not to keep for more than 2-3 days
Congratulations on beautiful baby ! I’ve been trying reusable silicone bags as we’re ditching plastic- my favorite is Oxo, followed by Stasher and then Ziplock. They’re an investment definitely, but I think essential.
I have found I’ve always gone back to the Stasher brand of reusable bags. I wasn’t sure it would be easy to use them for bulk cooking (I just bought a freezer) so I was going to buy the ziplock freezer bags. Ps the stasher bowls are easier to store stuff in bulk but do not lie flat.
When I make soup and cowboy baked beans I make a lot and freeze the extra in quart freezer containers. I make our dogs food and do that for him as well!
I love your content and the great things you create, thank you so much you really helped me with a lot of ideas. I also have an advice if you don't mind, in my research about what's healthy and what's toxic for our bodies I've found that with plastics in temperatures under 0 or above 45 some toxic matters from tha plastics gets mixed with the food especially if this food contains water or something like this, and so if that food cant be washed we will have a lot of toxic matters in the food that won't be removed by heat and so I advise you to look for other stocking materials that will help you prevent diseases. I love you and I'm so grateful to you so I couldn't pass by without saying what I think is serving, thank you again ❤
Please look into souper cubes. The brand name really makes a difference since 2 trays(4 cubes) fit into a gallon zip lock or reusable bag. You loose so much space in your freezer when using round containers, you save space by the contents in bags being square, seriously. It’s a life changer for vegetable broth! Also if you freeze in the cubes it’s easier to take out portions.
That’s what she’s using in the video. She talks about them all the time. So much so that I have been tempted to order them and I hardly ever make soup.
I love your videos but this is missing a major “no fuss” tip: get a rice cooker. Especially, if you’re cooking a decent sized batch. Just rinse the rice a couple times to remove excess starch, but don’t overdo it, maybe 4-5 times. Once you start the cooker, the most basic cookers go from “cook” to “keep warm” automatically. You don’t have keep checking or watching the time. My mother, who was Japanese, preferred to let the rice sit a bit longer in “keep warm” mode, so if you get busy or distracted, you don’t have to worry about it burning on the stove. And most rice cookers can be used for other foods, like oatmeal or steaming vegetables. You can even use some to cook package ramen, since it brings the water up to a low boil before going into a simmer.
I meal prep 4-5 days of breakfast at a time. Scrambled eggs or tofu with vegs, pancakes, healthy muffins. Store in glass containers in fridge. Freeze muffins individually.
Try using your slow cooker all year. It doesn’t heat up the house and there are great spring and summer recipes that use the fresh veggies during that season! Use google or whatever browser you use and you’d be surprised what pops up. Good luck for next year. ❤
1. I cook and freeze hamburger eith onions for a month at a time. I also do two gallon bags with onions and peppers for chili. 2. Make 3 of everything that is freezable. One for now, one to share, and one for later.
Most helpful video in a while ❤. This is your wheel house.. Not selling more Amazon stuff we don't need.
This reminds me of your older But First Coffee Video’s, I have missed those 😊
Oh my gosh, yes! Me too!
I have the opposite problem. It’s just my husband and myself now- and we don’t eat a lot anymore I now make the recipe and divide and freeze half. It works great.
Right!?! And it's as easy or easier than processed foods which are More and More problematic, as we age.
I swear, I can feel the difference the day after a Big Spinach salad. Popeye knew some stuff!
Us too!😊
I pass along lots of tips to my daughters from watching these videos and I prep for two also.
Best wishes on the new sweet baby! And can we all just pause and give mad respect to the challenges of 4 kids in 4-5 years?!! Holy wow! I don't know how you're still standing upright, let alone still working (for money). BRAVA! *stands and applauds*
I'm pregnant right now. This is the video I needed today.
Congratulations! 🎉
@@Manipooh131 thanks! I just found out a week ago. Very excited.
@candacethegreat of course! I remember the excitement of learning you're expecting. Wishing you a happy, and fulfilling pregnancy!
Same here! Congrats!
I second that remark.
I'm not a mom, but these tips seem applicable to my ADHD brain. I get excited about cooking once in a while, but because I'm single, didn't think of meal prep for multiple meals. It makes so much sense! Thanks K and congrats on baby 4! 💙
Haha I have ADHD too and it sucks. I have to cook for my elderly mom and I. So hard to think of meals🤦🏻♀️
Remember, you don't have to be a mom to take advice from a mom
I feel like bulk cooking works so well for ADHD. I have stuffed my large 21 cu freezer with a month of hyperfocused cooking. It is grrrreeaattt. I enjoy cooking but the planning, cleaning, etc sucks. So doing as much as I can on single nights works the best for me.
I was caregiving for my mother for many years and she had a garage freezer and I would often prep three or four different types of meals throughout the month with the average of 6 to 8 servings per meal. I would stock that garage freezer for her and that way it was something she could just take out and microwave instead of us purchasing processed microwave dinners at the grocery store. This way I could tailor it to what I knew she absolutely loved, and I knew it was healthier than what we could purchase at the store.
There is something reasuring abour knowing a loved one will eat well and easy.
When hamburger goes on sale I buy as much as I can afford and cook it up with onions and freeze in quart bags. It breaks apart easily if you don't need the whole bag for a meal. That and frozen cooked chicken or turkey saved my life when I had all my 5 kids still at home.
Do a lot of these already as a 75 year old but i loved the sectioning you did with the rice
I’m definitely going to try these ideas but in glass containers, not for the planet, but for my endocrine system and to prevent cancer from plastics. Great ideas! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Great reminders! One of my go-to preps is to cook up a bunch of ground beef or turkey, season some of it for tacos, leave some plain, and freeze flat in quart bags. You might want to look into canning! I finally tried pressure canning my homemade stocks, after freezing them for years. It’s really easy to do and then to use later (no thawing), and saves a ton of freezer space. Lots of other things you can can, too, once you get into it. Congratulations on your baby! ❤
Congratulations Cali!!! God bless you, your baby, all your children, your family!!! Amazing, new baby and publishing, you are a tough woman!!! Enjoy your baby.
Yes yes yes❤ More videos on bulk meal prep! 🎉 Thank you for sharing this!
I always cut at least 2 onions at a time. If I know I'm going to need one soon I'll put one in the frig but all the extra goes in a reusable freezer bag and into the freezer. Frozen onions are great for cooking.
Glass food storage containers can be frozen, thawed in fridge, and are oven safe. I avoid plastic food storage at all costs.
Same! I wish more people knew how bad plastic bags are for our health! 😢
I’m just finding out about it now! Thanks 😊
Same! I never want to shame people for using them, but also want them to know how bed they are. It’s a conundrum!
Great ideas! I would love an upright freezer rather than our chest freezer. I’m short, & I’ve come close to falling in a couple of times! 😂 Just FYI, you’re looking for the word “score” rather than “scour” when you put the impressions in your rice bags. Thanks! 😊
yes! I do that too -- have single ingredients prepped. That way I can put together a variety of items with an ingredient or, combine some to make different meals. Very practical.
I love my souper cubes! And yes, label everything.
I love your videos. You always share really helpful and practical tips. I especially like that you get straight to the point and speak quickly.
So excited for you with your new family addition! When you recover, I would love to see a new intro video from you where we can see all your sweet family. I used to love your intro for But First, Coffee.
The less people show their kids online, the more I respect them. Being too interested in online strangers kids is not good I think.
YES to the basement freezer! My husband and I got one when I was pregnant with our 3rd baby. Such a lifesaver!
THIS!!! I’d love to see even more detail about this. Which veggies you shred up, how and what you freeze, etc! I’ve been slowly adding this to my system but I feel like I’d learn so much faster watching you! 😊
Thanks for the great tips. Congratulations on your newest little one.
Brilliant! Thank you for the great tips. Super easy to integrate into my current habits and also be more efficient!
I just have to say Congratulations I...you absolutely are amazing.....inspiration to all young moms
My favorite recipe to meal prep: sliced chicken (seasoned) on white rice and peas. Love this video!
I love bulk meal prep! Your kitchen stays cleaned too.
Thanks for some really helpful tips! Especially sectioning off soft foods in the ziplock bags. I too will “cook one now freeze later” because we are empty nesters and most recipes are for 4-6 people. I love that you say to do what works best for you - we all have different lifestyles. One thing I do is use lunchmeat containers to freeze things as well. My husband eats sandwiches for lunch and I keep the containers because they can also be washed in the dishwasher and reused multiple times!
Congratulations on the new baby!!! I have started freezing prepped veggies- chopped onion, carrots, celery etc. It saves sooooo much time when cooking!
Love the tip of batch cooking the rice and sectioning it off in the freezer bag to use individual portions when needed.
Have recently discovered dump meals and really like using them. One of the best things I do is freeze cooked brown rice (better for diabetics like me) in individual portions. I cook it in my instant pot, cool quickly and freeze. It’s a real, fuss free time saver. Congratulations you and your husband on your latest little baby.
Reheated rice and pasta is not only better for diabetics because the carb content changes on pasta etc that has been cooked and cooled and reheated, but is also better for anybody trying to follow a healthier lifestyle and lower the glycemic load of what they are eating 👍 I have always cooked a bit more and kept it in the fridge to use in a different meal but it never occurred to me to freeze until recently. What a great idea! 😂
Kallie, You have beautiful babies!
I'm so impressed with how you make it all work! Great info! 🎉👏
These videos are great bc they are good for anyone & not just moms to young ones 😊
Agree! Love to prep basics that I can do all types of things❤ Love the crockpot dump freezer bags ideas…seen these quite a bit recently…genius way to make crockpot even easier! I Also love the idea of prepping through the week, so I don’t use up my whole Sunday!
Just like you freeze rice, I also like to freeze mashed potatoes. I use an ice cream scoop and freeze balls on a cookie sheet and then transfer to a bag when frozen.
I freeze everything- cheese sticks, babybel cheese, lunch meat, hummus.
Oooh! The ice cream scoop idea is great!
Thank you so much for this! I never thought to meal prep school lunches. That will make my mornings SO much easier.
Itty bitty baby omg adorable. Congratulations
Even tho I don’t have children, I still enjoyed these tips.
One tip I have is to use the microwave more for cooking stuff. My Mum used to cook loads of stuff in hers.
Also. there’s nothing wrong with fingers & chicken nuggets etc sometimes, in fact they are my favourite type of meals.
Such an inspiration! I had three kids under seven, who are all adults now. I sure wish I had this channel to watch back then! Now I take care of my first (and so far only) little 10-month-old granddaughter, and I will use these tips! Fantastic content.
Same here ! I love it ! Congratulations.
Lots of great tips! And if you can do this with 4 littles, I can do it for myself!! Thank you! 😊🩷
I love this! I do this for chopped vegetables for the week, if im using onion, i chop what i need for the week and keep the rest in a container so i dont have to chop it repeatedly and that has really helped to save on time!
This is the best meal prep video I've ever seen!! ❤
Congrats on your new beautiful baby!💜
I really like Zwilling vacuum bags and the mini vacuum sealer
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!
I freeze chopped onions, celery n carrot mix to throw in soups and stews… one big gallon bag lasts a while when all you need is about 1/2 cup. Just be careful when freezing onions if you have an icemaker… I freeze it in a bag + Tupperware then throw it into the mix..
I don't have any kids, but I love these videos! This one is especially helpful as I hate cooking, but need to do it more for my health. The dump and go crockpot bags are especially helpful!!!
I love that you wanted a freezer for your 4th baby!!! ha ha that's great
This is the best way to save time in the kitchen. My kids are grown, and I still prepare multiple meals at a time.
I like the vacuum storage bags. Makes the smallest bags, and I think they last longer.
I freeze finished meatloaf, meatballs, plain cooked chicken, pork or other meats. Then make meal later. Thanks for all the tips. ❤
You are my hero😊
Wow awesome ideas 😊✨ thanks for sharing your ideas ❤🎉
so sweet! thanks!
Making lunches ahead is genius. I get tired of doing it each day. Thanks Kallie - genius !!
Congratulations on another beautiful baby!🎉 I love my souped cubes- so worth the investment- really helps utilize freezer space.😊
SO clever!!!❤
I love this and I am not a mom and am in my sixties! Thanks so much for the tips!
Congratulations on the new baby….he’s gorgeous love from london
She is a girl ❤
😂 ❤xx
Love all the tips!
Love this..This is such good advice for new moms and mom's of teens..
Excellent video! Subscribed!
Recipes for your freezer meals please!
Watched this and got inspired... made myself a list of things to make and freeze before #4 gets here!
I love your channel and content! I’m a GenX empty nester, and I love your tips for efficiencies!
thank you and congrats on the new baby!!!🎉🎉🎉
Hey darling congratulations on your new baby and thanks for the great tips about prepping foods for the freezer is very helpful tips thank you and take care❤
Congrats on your sweet little one!!
Have you considered using a vacuum sealer for your frozen foods? Rather than expensive zippers? ❤
I’ve been cooking for so long I’ve reached a point of burnout. I used to meal plan and I had a super system but I hit a wall and I haven’t been able to cook consistently. These suggestions are all really good. I just don’t know how to get my mojo back.
I am having the same problem and I love to cook
This was so helpful, thanks for sharing!
Congrats on your new baby!
I’ve been waiting for this video for so long 😅
Congratulations on your new baby ❤
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing!
Love your vlog. The curry looks delicious, I will definitely be giving it a try 😋 x
Great video Kallie. Good tips. Much appreciated😊❤
Oh, that baby!!!
This was very helpful ! Thanks for the video ⭐
This was a very practical video with great details. Could you do a part 2 where you show yourself using everything? That's where I get tripped up - what to thaw versus microwave vs cook frozen, how to get the stuff out of the bags and containers, how to combine everything so it doesn't stay in the freezer forever. Also, the kids' snacks don't get soggy in the fridge? That's what I always worried about. And how do the apples not turn brown? So many questions, but great video!
For apples, you can dip them into water with a little lemon juice once you’ve sliced them. The water helps the moisture content remain high and the acid from the lemon with prolong their colour, but eventually they will turn brown so best not to keep for more than 2-3 days
Watching this while cutting apple to last for the week.
Great tips! Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations on beautiful baby ! I’ve been trying reusable silicone bags as we’re ditching plastic- my favorite is Oxo, followed by Stasher and then Ziplock. They’re an investment definitely, but I think essential.
I have found I’ve always gone back to the Stasher brand of reusable bags. I wasn’t sure it would be easy to use them for bulk cooking (I just bought a freezer) so I was going to buy the ziplock freezer bags. Ps the stasher bowls are easier to store stuff in bulk but do not lie flat.
When I make soup and cowboy baked beans I make a lot and freeze the extra in quart freezer containers. I make our dogs food and do that for him as well!
This is wonderfully inspirational. Thank you ❤
❤🎉😊 LOVE 💘 YOUR CHANNEL!!
I love your content and the great things you create, thank you so much you really helped me with a lot of ideas. I also have an advice if you don't mind, in my research about what's healthy and what's toxic for our bodies I've found that with plastics in temperatures under 0 or above 45 some toxic matters from tha plastics gets mixed with the food especially if this food contains water or something like this, and so if that food cant be washed we will have a lot of toxic matters in the food that won't be removed by heat and so I advise you to look for other stocking materials that will help you prevent diseases. I love you and I'm so grateful to you so I couldn't pass by without saying what I think is serving, thank you again ❤
Please look into souper cubes. The brand name really makes a difference since 2 trays(4 cubes) fit into a gallon zip lock or reusable bag. You loose so much space in your freezer when using round containers, you save space by the contents in bags being square, seriously. It’s a life changer for vegetable broth! Also if you freeze in the cubes it’s easier to take out portions.
That’s what she’s using in the video. She talks about them all the time. So much so that I have been tempted to order them and I hardly ever make soup.
Great ideas😊
Congratulations on the lovely new baby! :D
Tip, if you make broth, keep simmering it until the water evaporates more and then it takes less space in the freezer.
I love your videos but this is missing a major “no fuss” tip: get a rice cooker. Especially, if you’re cooking a decent sized batch. Just rinse the rice a couple times to remove excess starch, but don’t overdo it, maybe 4-5 times. Once you start the cooker, the most basic cookers go from “cook” to “keep warm” automatically. You don’t have keep checking or watching the time. My mother, who was Japanese, preferred to let the rice sit a bit longer in “keep warm” mode, so if you get busy or distracted, you don’t have to worry about it burning on the stove. And most rice cookers can be used for other foods, like oatmeal or steaming vegetables. You can even use some to cook package ramen, since it brings the water up to a low boil before going into a simmer.
I'd recommend an instant pot. We cook rice in it, but it also has other functions 😊
I meal prep 4-5 days of breakfast at a time. Scrambled eggs or tofu with vegs, pancakes, healthy muffins. Store in glass containers in fridge. Freeze muffins individually.
Congratulation on having a new baby😊
Great tips! Thanks
Looks rrally good! Just a suggedtion to add the recipe in the description!
This is so helpful- I like slow cooker meals in the fall and winter but never thought of just freezing enough of the ingredients for multiple meals…
Try using your slow cooker all year. It doesn’t heat up the house and there are great spring and summer recipes that use the fresh veggies during that season! Use google or whatever browser you use and you’d be surprised what pops up. Good luck for next year. ❤
1. I cook and freeze hamburger eith onions for a month at a time. I also do two gallon bags with onions and peppers for chili.
2. Make 3 of everything that is freezable. One for now, one to share, and one for later.
Loved loved loved it ❤ thank you 😀