3 Big Ways I Cheat in My Real Food Kitchen (Without Compromising Taste or Health!)

Want to hear the 3 biggest ways I cheat in my real food kitchen without compromising what actually matters? Come closer, my friends. Learn a little bit more about my crazy (or perhaps brilliant?) ways and methods.

First a story —>

Malachi (our 13-year old) had a friend over this summer who watched incredulously as I opened 7 pounds of frozen hamburger meat and put it into my Instant Pot.

Malachi’s friend: “What are you making with all that meat?!”
Me: “I’m not sure.”
Friend: “Uhhh???”

Just another day at the Coppinger house in which I affirm that Mama Copp is a little bit nuts.

While it doesn’t seem to make sense that I would cook a huge batch of hamburger meat without a firm plan, it actually makes perfect sense in my mind because when I have 7 pounds of cooked hamburger meat on hand, I can very quickly make up any of these 33 meals:

• 20-Minute Taco Soup
• Beefy Enchilada Bake
• Calico Beans
• Calzones
• Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Cheeseburger Soup
• Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats
• Cheesy Beef and Rice
• Cheesy Salsa Enchiladas
• Chili
• Chili Mac
• Simple Crock Pot Taco Pasta
• Crustless Pizza
• Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip
• Hamburger Sauerkraut Dip
• Italian Pasta Bake
• Lasagna Casserole
• Meat and Cheese Burritos
• Pizza 
• Pizza Boats
• Pizza Casserole
• Pizza Pockets
• Pizza Soup
• Real Food “Velveeta” and Rotel Dip
• Simple Spanish Rice Bowls
• Skillet Taco Pasta
• Sloppy Cornbread Muffins
• Sloppy Joes
• Spanish Rice
• Taco Corn Fritters
• Taco Potatoes
• Taco Quesadillas
• Taco Rice Dinner
• Taco Salad

Hmmm, seems that Mama Copp isn’t quite so crazy after all. (Except that she is, but hey, at least she has lots of good food on hand.)

That is just one of the ways I get ahead in the kitchen in order to make our real food life so much simpler. If you ask me, when trying to keep up with a busy family without having stress over those 3 meals a day everyone must eat, keeping it simple is THE ONLY WAY.

3 Ways I Cheat in My Real Food Kitchen (Without Compromising Taste or Health!)

1. Cook meat ahead of time (so you can throw together meals quickly).

I obviously just shared this above, but the same goes with chicken and other favorite meats that are easily stirred into casseroles or soups. Cook meat in large batches, then freeze or refrigerate in meal-sized portions. Meal prep goes so much faster and simpler this way!

2. Serve easy fresh fruit and veggie sides.

I cannot emphasize this enough (though if you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, you know that I do say it over and over!). It is ridiculously easy to wash strawberries and serve them with your pizza. It takes no effort to steam green beans, peas, or broccoli to go with your casserole. Make your simple main dish, then slice a few peaches and set out a salad. IT IS SO EASY.

3. Buy mixed greens so you don’t have to make salads.

Please allow me to remind you of the magic of a container of mixed greens. This fabulous container takes all the work out of making salads. Plus it provides excellent nourishment and did I mention that THERE IS NO WORK INVOLVED? No washing, no prepping, no work. Just set it on the table and have at it. Add baby carrots and grape tomatoes if you want more in your salad than just greens.

And there you have it. My three favorite cheat methods for putting great meals on the table without going to extra trouble or compromising on nourishment!