I love that you include "convenience" foods as a way to create no guilt meals. It's a great way to ease into scratch cooking. Thank you for always giving us cost conscious nummy ideas!

@yvonnepalmquist8676

2 жыл бұрын

Pretty much how I did learn to cook. I'd bulk up convenience foods until I no longer needed the convenience foods. Still a great time saver for me when I need, though.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words! I try to balance saving money and saving time. Life happens!

@shelzp7272

2 жыл бұрын

I figure if I’m stirring at the stove I’m cooking… 🤷🏻‍♀️

@momentsformoms9467

2 жыл бұрын

Yes. I only have one kid and he’s easy going but I’m still so busy. I work 3-4 nights a week,do all the cleaning,& cooking. I just started making his dad cook dinner every other week bc it’s just too much for me. I’m taking the extra time to practice for my drivers license,extra cleaning,& finding a side job. Cooking is a weak spot,I don’t understand anything,have a super tiny kitchen and it’s all so overwhelming and I get panic & anxiety attacks. I’m trying to be a good mom,make healthy meals for us,get a good budget going and teach my son how to cook & life lessons so I’m trying but it’s hard when his dad doesn’t like half the vegetables or any beans,& almost no fruit. I do delivery orders on most of it but do usually get my vegetables and meat at a different store so I always feel awkward when the delivery people see I ordered mainly prepackaged items. 😬 My son goes to his grandparents on the weekends so I don’t cook then and usually have one weekday where I just pull something from the freezer to toss in the oven or microwave unless we have leftovers.

I'm not a mom, but definitely using these! Hubby and I both work full time and these will come in handy on days we don't feel like cooking after work. ❤

I've been watching and lurking for a few months now, but I wanted to pop in and say thank you for the videos! I live alone, don't have too much money to spend on food, and I have very little free time. I usually meal prep once or twice a week, so I love your recipes! I'm actually a culinary school graduate, but in the process of school I kind of forgot how to make meals realisticly for one, on a budget, and in a small home kitchen. I really appreciate your videos for inspiration! I would love more quick and cheap meal prep videos like this. Again, thanks so much!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Kyle! Glad you found something helpful here! 😊

I love these ideas! One of my Mom's favorite winter lunches is Lentil soup over rice with fresh parmesan- I still love it 😀 My friends and I back in college would do baked potatoes, cottage cheese and if we had extra money, a can of chili! We called these meals "Bundy blue light specials" after the family on 'Married With Children' 🌻🤪

@yvonnepalmquist8676

2 жыл бұрын

Lentil soup over rice with parmesan sounds delicious.

@juliemariariley3212

2 жыл бұрын

@@yvonnepalmquist8676 it definitely is!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Haha! I love that!

@phoeniciacloud1515

2 жыл бұрын

Rotfl 🤣 I used to love that show lol 😂 it’s interesting how many people overspend on a budget and miss these yummy 😋 simple ideas.

Love this!!! i have a microscopic kitchen (no dishwasher and one tiny counter) and these kind of meals help my sanity. Thank you!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could give some ideas!

I really liked this video. This is my style of cooking. Pre-made meals and adding to it. 💙

That soup and rice deconstructed nacho thing as a lunch… genius… I can’t believe I have never thought of that. What a great idea. I’m totally using that. Thank you for sharing!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dennise! You should have seen me in the soup aisle trying to figure out if I wanted to do this with a chili/southwest chicken soup or like a broccoli cheddar. 😂

I love this. I'm in a very busy season of my life and having quick meals is a must. And yes they are more expensive than from scratch but so much cheaper than takeout!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! It’s about balance. I don’t always have time to cook from scratch myself.

I’ve never thought to match the packaged foods with other foods so I’m super excited to try yours and challenge myself to think outside the box when shopping!! Thank you Mindy! This will come in handy when I take care of the grandkido’s on busy nights after activities!!!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Grandparents are superheroes, Joyce! We sure appreciate the Grands in our life! 😊

The gnocchi is good on it own, but if you saute the gnocchi first and get it a little toasty...so much better.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Great tip!

For a quick meal I love Ramen Noodles. 1. While noodles are heating in the microwave you can cut up leftover Chicken, add Tomatos, Peppers and Cucumbers toss with Italian Dressing and seasonings 2. Boil the noodles, heat up slices of Meatloaf top with Tomato Sauce and Cheese. microwave until Cheese is melted and the Sauce is heated. 3. Place noodles in a microwaveable bowl, cut up leftover Chicken, open can of Mixed Veggies add them all together with seasonings, and a can of water more if needed microwave until your quick chicken soup is heated through. I skip the seasoning packet and use my own seasonings

This morning when I got up I was hungry and looked in the fridge I saw leftover sweet carrots (carrot coins in butter with brown sugar) and a third a jar of applesauce. I added that and the last couple of nuts in a nut mix bag, and some golden raisins to oatmeal. I mixed it with some spices, milk, apple juice and baking powder to make baked carrot cake oatmeal. I wanted to thank you for all your use it up videos. I got a whole meal for the family out of scant leftovers and pantry staples. It was also really good. Your videos help me think of how can I reuse this, and we are getting more bang for the grocery money we have already spent.

To save time we cut up whole vegetables and put some in the fridge for the week and some in the freezer for a quick ingredient. We cook a big pot of rice or pasta and do the same. Half for now and half in the freezer. It makes it so much easier to do a quick stirfry ,casserole or soup and we don't have the chemicals in packaged foods.

@yvonnepalmquist8676

2 жыл бұрын

My kitchen often has pasta or rice pre-made waiting for whatever goodies we decide to add to them. A sauce, a cheese, some soup, the addition of precooked meats. make for some really quick and easy meals.

Thank you! Now that my kids are older I need quick and smaller ideas for our lunches.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I hope these give some ideas, Amanda!

Hey Mindy! I had a single portion of leftover mashed potatoes hanging out in my fridge. Just wanted to tell you that you inspired me to have them for lunch today with cottage cheese and a side salad! I never would have thought to eat cottage cheese and potato, but it IS surprisingly good!! Thanks girl!

Just curious - Do other people think the bagged salads have more dressing and toppings than you prefer? I am totally opposite!! I use the dressing/toppings on like half the bag, and then have to find a different use for the rest of the bag (add bottled dressing)

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I’m an oddball. I just don’t like much dressing, only a little. I like other toppings though!

These are all great ideas! One of the things I used to do was bank freezer meals. I never made a meal that could be frozen without doubling (or even tripling) the recipe and freezing the extras for a later date. Whenever I had a few hours to cook I would make pasta sauces to freeze or prepare veggies to freeze. I could then have a homemade meal on the table with little to no effort. Of course this didn't work out 100% of the time. We still had takeout and convenience meals, but most of the time we ate healthy, home cooked meals. I would also just throw out there that paying a babysitter for 2-4 hours gives you time to get a ton done and the cost of the sitter is nothing compared to the cost of takeout food. Just my two cents. When things are crazy, we do what we need to do! 😀

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

That’s a good point!

I’m so tired now at end of the school . Perfect timing! These all look amazing and I can’t wait to add them to my list.

Love these ideas. Thank you

Loving the combination of convenience foods. Never have thought to combine rice with a soup...genius!! Great idea!

Mindy, you go girl! You know how to throw some quick meals together. Much appreciated 😊

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Paula!

Great ideas Mindy! With warmer weather coming, and me wanting to spend more time in the garden in the evening after work, I love easy quick and convenient ideas. This way my family is fed. And momma gets some outdoor time. Less time in the kitchen is always a win. Thanks for sharing!

What great ideas for well-rounded, delicious meals. Thanks Mindy!

These ideas are great and several of them have been added to next shopping trip! Thanks!

These all look really good and easy!!! So many ideas and endless possibilities!!!! We have a small grocery section in our target but i always still find some kind of gem that my other stores dont have

Great meal ideas Mindy! I love quick and easy meal preps!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great ideas for meals

I don't know how I missed this video. Glad I found it. Love the ideas! ❤

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Becky!

Mindy, you are such a lovely inspiration! Thank you ❤️

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the kind words, Nancy!

Yess thank you for making cooking seem less intimidating

Great video, thank you for sharing!

I love the idea of using a dip for sauce. I'm going to try these for sure!❤

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I do it all the time, Cheryl, it’s a great shortcut! 😊

Love these lunch/dinner ideas!! ⭐️

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Sheri!

I need to try those little potatoes! They sound good! Tomorrow is grocery day and I added them to my list. Thank you so much for sharing!

I loved these ideas! I deal with chronic pain so doing much standing & cooking isn’t happening for me. It seems most of what I eat is throw & go crockpot meals or already made that I throw in the oven. I really like your twist on things

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

So sorry to hear that, Ann! I hope these ideas are helpful for you. 😊

These are great ideas that people can easily use!! Love your videos! I have used rotisserie chickens to meal prep when I am at a loss and tired! I bulk up homemade Buffalo Chicken Dip with shredded rotisserie chicken and use that as the 'pasta sauce' my family loves that! Then I can save the bones for homemade broth in my IP.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Great idea!

Excellent ideas Mindy! Even if you purchase some convenience things to round out a meal, the price of that compared to the time and perhaps the other ingredients you would need to purchase, still makes for a cheaper and healthier meal then anything you would be able to buy as takeout!

Very clever! Thanks Mindy Jennifer 🌸🌷🌼

Great, easy quick lunch ideas, thank you so much!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Anita!

When I lived alone I took cooked rice and mixed in with canned beef stew. I wasn't in a hurry so I would pop in over topped with cheddar cheese

👏🏾 👏🏾 👏🏾 another video with done ✅ I am so excited to try these.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Phoenicia! You always give great encouragement, I really appreciate it! 😊

Oh thank you so much you gave me some really cool ideas thank you

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad! Thanks for watching!

I loved these ideas!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Mary Beth!

i love your videos! all these ideas are awesome. you have such a variety of videos, thank you for making these for us to enjoy! im totally trying that buffalo chicken gnocchi dish. YUM!

Wow great ideas! Sports nights are always so busy especially spring time

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

So true!

Such fantastic ideas! The soup with the rice is genius, I think it might work well with some sort of curry style soup too!

Oh I love this video! I’ve been working long hours and then take my son to all his extracurricular activities/sports. Meaning there’s hardly any time left for cooking :/ I am stealing some of these ideas. We can eat well and I have leftovers too. Yay... Thanks so much!

What wonderful ideas., I put a whole chicken on the insta pot when I get them for a dollar a pound,. I cup water and the chicken put on the trivet . Process for six minutes a pound. The bonus is a quart of stock, It is bland, but means it can be versatile with the bags from the freezer section.

Love this Mindy! I prepped my breakfast this week and it was a life saver. I made a video with some breakfast ideas to prep if you want to watch it to get some ideas! ❤️

Really nice ideas..my hubby is not a salad or rice fan. So using the bag salads and the rice mixes work great for me to eat those things. I'll be checking out the frozen section.

Love this lady always helping out people that are always busy while saving money❤ Godbless you!👍 looking forward for your next videos😊👍

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

These are great ideas ! I agree with you, the meat in the frozen pasta meals is not very good. I am glad to see just bags of pasta and sauce ! Thanks Mindy for your tips and meals tricks ! They look delicious !!!

Great ideas that I never thought of!!!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Cindy! I hope they’re helpful. 😊

I have always been a fan of cottage cheese. I love these quick easy meal prep ideas❤️❤️❤️🤗

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Great ideas

Mini pretzels dipped in marshmallow fluff was one of my favorite snacks in college!

These are such great tips

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Amy!

Now this is my kind of dinner! .. one of my favorite ready lunches is a bag of Birdseye what ever you want and a prepackaged pouch of seasoned tuna or salmon. Delish! Heat the bag, you can usually split it into 2 bowls. Carry and heat for lunch. Add tuna after heating mix and eat.

These look delicious!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Renee!

Those tacos are so good! I love your videos. Thank you for all you do!

Awesome ideas!!! Thank you for helping me make my grocery list completed for the week lol!!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Haha! Glad I could help!

I do my food prep on Sunday after church I do it for a week at a time I don’t what I’d do if I did not do this thank you more ideas

Great ideas!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Gloria!

Oh, now I have to go inside Target! 😂 I've been doing pickup more for time saving. Target does know how to do the convenience area right. These are beyond great ideas! I will be definitely be bringing better lunches to work. Thanks Mindy!

Very creative Mindy, love your unique videos!! 🙌🤩

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Kailey!

Love love love your video 💛👍thank you again for all you do ,you really are a sweet blessing and I thank God for you and all that you do 🙏🙌💛👍

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Leynett!

Great ideas as usual! I love your channel! :)

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Brooke!

Combo ready to heat and eat! Is the way to go!

A standard quick meal of this kind for me is a rice-a-roni type boxed rice extended with about two cups plain white rice, veggies and a protein and/or beans. I find the boxed rice is too seasoned/salty, and I can add my own additional seasonings while making the meal go farther. I love to get creative. A favorite is the Spanish rice with more white rice, extra chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder, and cooked beans, sometimes corn, cubed chicken, or spinach. Another favorite is the chicken rice boxed mix with extra white rice, cubed chicken, and spinach or broccoli. They are easy, and transport and reheat well.

Great video Mindy!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Cathy! I appreciate it. 😊 You are always very encouraging!

This was fantastic and will be so handy for baseball field nights!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

You and me both, Alicia! 😂 Basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball, and swim keep us running!

Amazing! Make more of these videos please!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

It’s on the list!

Love the chicken dip recipe!

Although this isn't relatable to where i live this is amazing video! All your videos are 😇

For those of you who don't like cottage cheese texture what you can do is put it in a blender a ninja bullet a food processor of some sort and just give it the consistency of sour cream and use it in the exact same case you would sour cream and there you go

I would never have thought to put cottage cheese with potatoes, but it sounds yummy. Wish I could have the carbs. I'm diabetic and it wouldn't be good for my blood sugar. I love, love, love how you have combined ready-made foods with your own add-ins. How creative and inspiring this video is. Diane in NC

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Diane! Glad I could give some ideas. I think the cottage cheese might be good over cauliflower rice, too.

You should try that Cheddar Broccoli bake. It is so good!

Thank you-Convenience foods _aren't_ evil!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I agree!

Any good easy sandwich ideas for a family lunch meal?

This may seem like such a silly question but what do you do in regards to warming the meal preps up? Do you microwave those plastic containers and just take the celery out to do so or do you warm the meal up in some different container? Thanks!

cool

I reallllly realllllly love your video.🤟 🇨🇦💜

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Good video,thanks for the ideas. Can you do an inexpensive video specifically without beans,my sons dad won’t eat them. I’ve heard a lot in videos yours & others about Aldi’s being inexpensive. I’m not sure if it’s just my area or what but it’s actually more expensive,& some of it ju quite a bit. Like milk here went up in stores from $2.39 to about $3 this year but Aldi’s is $5+,green peppers at stores are about 79(/ but aldis are about $1.12. Seemed to be the thing across their whole website.

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

I find the prices on the website are not accurate compared to in store. Their grocery delivery/pickup is operated by Instacart and I believe there is a mark up.

Love these ideas! Do you have a link for the containers you used to store the lunches in?

Hey all, please be careful with the bagged salad mixes. I always triple wash my lettuce even if it says prewashed, and I have found MANY bugs in prewashed lettuce. I found a pincher bug in Target lettuce the other day ☹️

That Alfredo would be good with a frozen bag of spinach or broccoli along with the sausage too!

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

POTATOES AND COTTAGE CHEESE ARE MY FAVE!!!❤

Not related. Just wanted to tell you I have been making your easy bread a lot. We love it. 3 cups flour, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. yeast with 1 1/2 c. warm water. I did add 2 tsp. sugar.

Do you not do WW at all anymore or fitness updates? Loving the new content!

FYI, cottage cheese is an excellent source of the essential amino acid methionine. Methionine functions as an antioxidant in the body. Because it is a sulfur containing amino acid, it also helps with skin elasticity. Plus cottage cheese is versatile and tastes good. Enjoy!

👍

Love your videos!! Do you have an air fryer? I love sausage cooked in the air fryer😛

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

Yes I do!

I love all the tasty, time saving ideas but I am concerned about all the sodium & preservatives. How can we avoid those?

Do you recommend investing in a cast iron pot or cookware? I’ve been thinking about it 😊

@SeeMindyMom

2 жыл бұрын

You mean a skillet or a Dutch oven? I think it’s a good investment if you like to cook and intend to use it often.

When I saw the gnocchi I had to comment. My husband works at a food manufacturer and sometimes the truck drivers that deliver to his plant have extra items that couldn’t be delivered to other locations for some reason and offer them for free to my husband and his crew. Nothing is wrong with these items. One night he came home with 20 bags of the gnocchi. I still have 8 in my chest freezer. Let me tell you, too much of a good thing is really just TOO much.

I tried to find meatless frozen meals and couldn’t 🤔 maybe looking in the wrong part of freezer section?

I just can't get on the cottage cheese train. It's not that it tastes bad... if I had to I would eat it but it's the texture that throws me off.

Girl you just make me want to eat better

Wondering what the sodium content would be with all the packaged foods together?

@thisorthat7626

2 жыл бұрын

Sodium is vital for every cell in our body to function correctly. Unless you don't like the taste, it shouldn't be a concern. A low salt diet only reduces blood pressure approximately 7 points, so it's sad that doctors are still pushing a low salt diet. Take care.

@natalieeubank4533

2 жыл бұрын

You need salt, if you eat from home then you have to work very hard to get your salt intake

Sorry this sure isn’t what I thought this video was going to be. I didn’t realize it was someone else doing the meal prep. Guess I thought it was showing us how to prep meals ahead not buying it already done

@natalieeubank4533

2 жыл бұрын

It isn't, she is