50+ Lifestyles

Helpful Holiday Solutions – Cook Once, Eat Twice Meal Ideas

By Melissa Jaeger RD, LD
Hy-Vee Registered Dietician
(515) 695-3773     mjaeger@hy-vee.com

The holidays are busy enough without having to meal plan every night! While cook once, eat twice meal solutions might sound unachievable between the hustle and bustle of holiday events, shopping, work, and picky eaters in your house, I am here to tell you it’s doable. Let’s start by un-complicating the matter and breaking down a few reasons to consider why you should incorporate cook once, eat twice meal solutions into your meal plan during the holiday season and year-round.

Cook once, eat twice doesn’t mean just eating leftovers all week – consider it an opportunity to reinvent leftovers in a way all household members will enjoy! First of all, it’s time-saving – the holiday season is jam-packed with gatherings, family events, shopping, work and your typical everyday hustle and bustle. Creating meals with leftovers that can be repurposed helps you save valuable time in the long run. (HELLO to not running to the store every day or spending hours prepping dinner each night!) In turn, it allows you more time to spend with friends, family or simply enjoying the holiday season. Consider purchasing some ready-made or quick meal solutions such as rotisserie chicken, instant rice or frozen vegetables to help you save time and have key ingredients at the ready when the inevitable question “What’s for dinner?” is asked. Plan ahead and purchase ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes throughout the week. Keep reading for a few simple suggestions and a delicious cook once, eat twice recipe!

Second, it helps you reduce food waste and use up those often forgotten leftovers. Ever get to the end of the week and realize when clearing out the fridge you completely forgot about certain ingredients you purchased and intended to use or leftovers that got pushed to the back? It’s time to cut back on food waste by utilizing leftovers and ensuring you use all ingredients purchased before they expire. This will help you save money and is better for the environment! Start by taking inventory before you head to the store to see what you have on hand. Determine which primary ingredients you can batch cook or purchase pre-prepared to save time and avoid making a new meal each night. When you come home, decide how to tackle the meal prep. Once your meal is finished, pack up leftovers in a way that makes them easier to grab and go – for instance, packaging up enough leftovers to take for lunch or freezing what you know you will not eat the remainder of the week.

Last, it’s cost-effective! Cook once, eat twice helps you save money by avoiding multiple trips to the store, reducing food waste and eliminating the need to make a quick run to the drive-thru for dinner. Saving money during the holidays is key!

Ready to get started? Cook once, eat twice meal solutions don’t have to be complicated – let’s get back to basics. Start by selecting your protein, pairing it with a vegetable and rounding out the meal with a grain or starch. For example, rotisserie chicken is a time-saving protein option that can easily be served with a side of steamed vegetables and rice to balance out the meal. To save additional time, opt for grabbing a steamable bag of frozen vegetables and a package of instant brown rice. For your leftovers, take the rotisserie chicken and turn it into chicken salad and pack whole-grain crackers and fruit for an easy lunch solution. Does your family prefer options where they can customize their meal? This is perfect for cook once, eat twice meal solutions – for example, burrito bowls! Opt for a bed of brown rice and top with your family’s favorite lean protein. Then have your favorite veggies pre-cut and ready for serving, include healthy fats from avocado slices or guacamole, pack in extra flavor with salsa and a dollop of plain Greek yogurt to help balance any heat! For leftovers, simply swap your bed of rice for several large handfuls of leafy greens and top with all your leftover pre-cut veggie toppings. Use salsa as your salad dressing or try Bolthouse Farms Salsa Ranch or Cilantro Avocado dressing.

Looking for more cook once, eat twice meal solutions? Check out the recipe combination below or head to https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/advice-how-tos/living/family/double-duty-dinners for more ideas.

Spicy Honey-Garlic Pork Meatballs

All you need:

• 1 (1 lb) pkg lean ground pork (or can sub ground turkey or lean ground beef)
• 1/4 cup Hy-Vee whole-wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions, plus additional for garnish
• 1 Hy-Vee large egg, beaten
• 1 tbsp refrigerated ginger paste
• 1/4 tsp Hy-Vee salt
• 1/4 tsp Hy-Vee black pepper
• 4 cups brown rice, cooked, hot (for serving)
• 1/2 cup assorted vegetables, stir-fried (for serving)

Sauce:

• 1/2 cup Hy-Vee honey
• 2 tbsp chili-garlic sauce

All you do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking pan with foil; lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Gently combine ground pork, bread crumbs, green onions, egg, ginger paste, salt and pepper. Shape meatballs with 1¼-inch cookie scoop or moistened hands.
3. Place meatballs on prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake 4 to 8 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Drain on paper towels.
4. For sauce combine honey and chili-garlic sauce in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes or until hot, stirring halfway through. Toss with meatballs. Serve over hot cooked rice with stir-fried vegetables. Garnish with sliced green onions, if desired.

Dietitian Tip: To cook meatballs in a skillet, spray a large nonstick skillet with Hy-Vee nonstick cooking spray. Working in batches, cook meatballs in skillet over medium heat for 4 to 8 minutes, turning often (until reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees). Drain on paper towels.

Recipe adapted from: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/spicy-honey-garlic-pork-meatballs

Take these delicious meatballs and turn them into the perfect quick sliders for dinner tomorrow with this recipe https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/leftover-meatball-sliders!

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Melissa Jaeger represents Hy-Vee as a nutrition expert promoting healthy eating throughout the community. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as the American Dietetic Association). She can be reached at (515) 695-3773 or at mjaeger@hy-vee.com.