Clean_Eating 2019-09-01

Take a peek inside Karlene Karst’s breakout new

cookbook, This Kitchen Is for Dancing, for family meal

solutions that are creative, inspired and most of all, fun.

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Where Healthy

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30 cleaneating.com

Due to busy days and activity-

packed evenings, preparing

meals ahead of time has become

a mainstay in the lives of many

familes, including my own. Between

swimming lessons, soccer and

gymnastics, it’s hard to carve

out time to cook. What a treat

it is to come home to a delicious,

nourishing meal that takes just

minutes to get on the table! It’s

possible, with some pre-planning

and meal prep.

The art of planning meals and

preparing food a few days a week

is a skill, and like all acquired skills,

it takes practice. Shopping, cooking,

chopping, baking and properly

storing and reheating meals so they

taste exceptional takes preparation.

Even professional cooks and chefs

tell me they struggle with this very

thing – preparing meals that go from

refrigerator or freezer to the dining

table in minutes.

Over the years, I’ve gathered

many tips and tricks to help this

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In my new book, This Kitchen Is for

Dancing, I hope to arm you with

easy-to-follow suggestions and

encouraging reassurance that,

you too, can master the art of

pre-planning and meal prepping.

First, let me share with you one

of the most common mistakes I see

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complicated recipes. While that

Crispy Chicken with Tangy Sweet

Sauce and Candied Walnuts may

look and sound oh-so delish, the

many steps involved in putting

it together are sure to slow you

down, trip you up and squash your

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a few necessary steps to ensure your

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are enjoyable and stress-free.

Here are a few reasons why

smart meal prep is a lifesaver

for busy families:

You’ll save money. It may sound

like common sense, but you’d be

surprised at how preparing your

meals ahead of time will save you

money. Instead of spending 10 to

15 dollars on lunch, you’ll spend a

fraction, and then you can put the

savings towards a much-needed

family vacation.

You’ll save time. Investing a few

hours on the weekend will save

you heaps of time throughout the

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smoother and you’re more prepared.

Even your brain gets a break

because you don’t have to make

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more time during the week for fun

with your family — and what’s more

important than that?

You’ll waste less. With your meals

planned out, you’ll know what you’re

making and exactly how much

you need, so you’ll only buy the

ingredients you require. LEA

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