Time Management and Meal Planning

Time Management Organize the kitchen Assemble the ingredients and equipment before beginning Work on several items at the same time Clean as you go Use time saving shopping strategies Prepare larger quantities of food and freeze some for later Use convenience foods to save time Organize the kitchen Assemble the ingredients and equipment before beginning Work on several items at the same time Clean as you go Use time saving shopping strategies Prepare larger quantities of food and freeze some for later Use convenience foods to save time

A Good Meal… Follows MyPlate Follows the dietary guidelines Maintains nutritional balance Makes food look good to eat (aesthetics) Follows MyPlate Follows the dietary guidelines Maintains nutritional balance Makes food look good to eat (aesthetics)

Variety A VARIETY of Colors Textures Flavors Temperatures Shapes Will make your meal look and taste AMAZING! A VARIETY of Colors Textures Flavors Temperatures Shapes Will make your meal look and taste AMAZING!

Color Too many foods of the same color-no contrast or variation Clashing or unpleasant color schemes Too many foods of the same color-no contrast or variation Clashing or unpleasant color schemes

COLOR

Texture Too many soft foods Too many chewy foods Too many crisp or crunchy foods Lack of variety in shape Too many soft foods Too many chewy foods Too many crisp or crunchy foods Lack of variety in shape

TEXTURE

Flavor All bland flavors Too many strong or distinctive flavors Repetition of food and flavor No tart of acid-flavored foods Too many sweet or too many sour foods All bland flavors Too many strong or distinctive flavors Repetition of food and flavor No tart of acid-flavored foods Too many sweet or too many sour foods

FLAVOR

Flavor combinations we like…

More combos we like

Size, Shape, and Form Too many mixtures (casserole, mixed veg, fruit salad) Too many small pieces, especially the same size and shape Too many similar shapes such as “mounds” (mound of mashed potatoes, casserole mound, mound of ice cream) Lack of variety in shape Too many mixtures (casserole, mixed veg, fruit salad) Too many small pieces, especially the same size and shape Too many similar shapes such as “mounds” (mound of mashed potatoes, casserole mound, mound of ice cream) Lack of variety in shape

SHAPE

Temperature Too many foods of the same temperature

TEMPERATURE

Preparation and Type of Food Too many foods prepared in the same way (fried, creamed, “sauces over” foods) Too many starchy foods No main dish Too many of the same type fruits of vegetables Too many high protein foods Too many foods prepared in the same way (fried, creamed, “sauces over” foods) Too many starchy foods No main dish Too many of the same type fruits of vegetables Too many high protein foods

Remember VARIETY will make a good meal taste and look even better!