1. Introduction
By cleverly incorporating prepared foods into daily meals, you can create budget-friendly menus while saving time. This article introduces tips for waste-free shopping methods and meal planning that helps reduce food waste while saving money by utilizing prepared foods.
2. Practical Points and Specific Examples
- Create balanced menus by combining prepared foods and home cookingYou don’t need to cook everything from scratch. For example, you can reduce household expenses by using prepared foods like fried chicken or simmered fish for main dishes while easily cooking side dishes and soups at home. For instance, on weekdays, try combining prepared croquettes with homemade miso soup and simmered hijiki seaweed for a well-balanced meal that’s easy to shop for.
- Reduce waste with weekly planned shopping listsCreate shopping lists along with meal plans and only purchase necessary ingredients to reduce waste. For prepared foods, plan to consume items with shorter shelf life at the beginning of the week and save longer-lasting items for later in the week. For example, fresh prepared salads for Monday and Tuesday, and frozen-suitable simmered dishes for Thursday – organizing your shopping list according to shelf life is helpful.
- Keep food costs down by utilizing seasonal ingredients and salesYou can save more by taking advantage of sales days and seasonal ingredients. It’s also cost-effective to prepare simple salads and side dishes using seasonal vegetables that pair well with prepared foods. For instance, adding shredded seasonal cabbage to salads or miso soup improves nutritional balance while keeping costs down.
3. Important Points and Tips
It’s important to be mindful of storage periods and consume prepared foods promptly. If you’re concerned about the calories and salt content of prepared foods, balance them with low-calorie side dishes like salads and ae-mono (dressed vegetables). Another way to prevent waste is to freeze leftover prepared foods and incorporate them into next week’s menu.
4. Summary and Next Steps
Through smart use of prepared foods and planned menus combining home cooking, you can enjoy satisfying meals while saving on household expenses. For your next shopping trip, review how you select prepared foods and your ingredient list, and challenge yourself to maintain a waste-free eating lifestyle. Make the most of prepared foods to create menus that satisfy both your budget and your body.
