Cooking Tips

Tips

• Start easy: Make simple foods first, like casseroles, frittatas, sandwiches, salads, or pasta dishes. This will help you learn and feel confident.

• Use few ingredients: Pick recipes with only a few ingredients. This makes cooking faster, easier, and more affordable.

• Keep your kitchen stocked: Keep basics on hand—like herbs, spices, oil, canned beans, and canned fish (tuna or salmon).

• Use ready foods: Frozen veggies, cooked chicken (like rotisserie chicken), and jar sauces can save time.

• Learn simple skills: Practice easy ways to cook, like stir-frying, grilling, or baking food on a pan in the oven.

• Cook in one pan: Try meals you can make all in one pan or skillet. It makes cleanup simple.

• Cook once, eat twice: Double the recipe to have a second meal ready to go.

• Plan weekly meals: Think about what meals you’d like to eat for the week. Find recipes to see what ingredients are needed. Check to see what you already have in your cupboards, pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Then, create a shopping list of the remaining items needed.

• Post your menu: Post your weekly meal menu in your kitchen so you can stay on track throughout the week. If you have kids, have them help create the menu artwork.

Mitten Eats

For easy, affordable, and tasty recipes head over to Mitten Eats, Michigan Fitness Foundation’s recipe hub for delicious, affordable, and seasonal meals using Michigan grown fruits and vegetables.

All recipes are based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Pinterest Recipe Boards

Here you will find some of our favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, as well as cookbooks and other useful resources.