Meal PlanningMeal Planning

Time ManagementTime Management

Organize the kitchenOrganize the kitchen Assemble the ingredients and equipment before Assemble the ingredients and equipment before

beginningbeginning Work on several items at the same timeWork on several items at the same time Clean as you goClean as you go Use time saving shopping strategiesUse time saving shopping strategies Prepare larger quantities of food and freeze Prepare larger quantities of food and freeze

some for latersome for later Use convenience foods to save timeUse convenience foods to save time

A Good Meal Includes…A Good Meal Includes…

Following the food pyramidFollowing the food pyramid Following the dietary guidelinesFollowing the dietary guidelines Maintaining nutritional balanceMaintaining nutritional balance Making food look good to eat (aesthetics)Making food look good to eat (aesthetics)

ColorColor Some of the most beautiful objects in nature are Some of the most beautiful objects in nature are

foods. Many colors of food are available. Color foods. Many colors of food are available. Color combinations can be appealing or make you lose combinations can be appealing or make you lose your appetite. Colors that are nearly the same are your appetite. Colors that are nearly the same are dull and boring. dull and boring.

Example of a dinner served to special guests:Example of a dinner served to special guests: fresh broccoli, raisin, peanut salad (green)fresh broccoli, raisin, peanut salad (green) cran-raspberry drink (red)cran-raspberry drink (red) chicken cordon blue (yellow)chicken cordon blue (yellow) rolls with blackberry jam (dark purple)rolls with blackberry jam (dark purple)

COLORCOLOR

Texture:Texture:

What can’t be seen; it can be felt with the What can’t be seen; it can be felt with the tongue. A variety of textures adds interest; i.e., tongue. A variety of textures adds interest; i.e., smooth, rough, lumpy, soft, crisp. The way smooth, rough, lumpy, soft, crisp. The way food feels when you chew it, such as soft, food feels when you chew it, such as soft, hard, crisp, or chewy.hard, crisp, or chewy.

Some foods that have similar textures:Some foods that have similar textures: soup, milk, puddingsoup, milk, pudding chili, stew, some casseroles, baked chili, stew, some casseroles, baked

beansbeans tacos, chips, crackerstacos, chips, crackers

TEXTURETEXTURE

Flavor:Flavor:

Variety is important! Each person has Variety is important! Each person has 9,000 tastebuds that can taste sweet, 9,000 tastebuds that can taste sweet, bitter, sour, and salt. Smell is also bitter, sour, and salt. Smell is also important to tell small differences. Avoid important to tell small differences. Avoid using foods with similar flavors in one using foods with similar flavors in one meal. If all the foods have a strong meal. If all the foods have a strong flavor, the combination can be flavor, the combination can be unpleasant. Instead, serve both strong-unpleasant. Instead, serve both strong-flavored and mild foods for a meal.flavored and mild foods for a meal.

FLAVORFLAVOR

Size and Shape:Size and Shape:

Use various sizes and shapes. Use various sizes and shapes. Meatballs, peas and olives are different Meatballs, peas and olives are different colors but not different shapes.colors but not different shapes.

SHAPESHAPE

Temperature:Temperature:

Meals are more interesting if some are Meals are more interesting if some are hot and some cold foods are used. Hot hot and some cold foods are used. Hot foods should be served piping hot and foods should be served piping hot and cold foods should be crispy, chilled and cold foods should be crispy, chilled and served on separate plates. The served on separate plates. The temperature outside is a considerationtemperature outside is a consideration

TEMPERATURETEMPERATURE

Heavy/Light:Heavy/Light:

Rich, very sweet or fatty foods need to Rich, very sweet or fatty foods need to balance with lighter foods. When balance with lighter foods. When planning a menu start with a main dish, planning a menu start with a main dish, add appetizers, beverages, and a dessert add appetizers, beverages, and a dessert that complements it.that complements it.

Parts of a Meal:Parts of a Meal:

Appetizers: Appetizers: Include fruit/vegetable juice, raw Include fruit/vegetable juice, raw fruits/vegetables, soup, sea food, etc.fruits/vegetables, soup, sea food, etc.

Main dish: Main dish: A main dish can be meat, seafood, A main dish can be meat, seafood, poultry, a salad, an omelet, pancakes or a poultry, a salad, an omelet, pancakes or a casserolecasserole

Accompaniments: Accompaniments: Vegetables, breads, rolls, Vegetables, breads, rolls, sauces, relishes.sauces, relishes.

Salad: Salad: Tossed vegetable or fruit, jellied.Tossed vegetable or fruit, jellied. Dessert: Dessert: Cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, Cakes, cookies, pies, puddings,

Family DifferencesFamily Differences

Family Size: Family Size: This affects the amount of money This affects the amount of money needed, the preparation time, and the style of table needed, the preparation time, and the style of table service preferred.service preferred.

Age: Age: Babies, children, teenagers and parents need Babies, children, teenagers and parents need different foods and don’t eat the same amount.different foods and don’t eat the same amount.

Activity Level: Activity Level: With more exercise, the body With more exercise, the body requires more energy.requires more energy.

Food Preferences: Food Preferences: All families don’t like the same All families don’t like the same kinds of foods because of culture and traditions.kinds of foods because of culture and traditions.

Time: Time: Recipes vary greatly in preparation time Recipes vary greatly in preparation time required. When there is little time, fix foods requiring required. When there is little time, fix foods requiring little time.little time.

Special Diets:Special Diets: Health considerations such as Health considerations such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lactose intolerance, diabetes, high blood pressure, lactose intolerance, ulcer, stroke, and heart problems influence what ulcer, stroke, and heart problems influence what people eat. What are some examples of foods some people eat. What are some examples of foods some people must limit and why?people must limit and why?

Food Budget: Food Budget: If money if limited, foods from basic If money if limited, foods from basic ingredients prepared from scratch may be a better ingredients prepared from scratch may be a better choice than fast-food or convenience foods. Some choice than fast-food or convenience foods. Some families don’t realize this and the fact that they could families don’t realize this and the fact that they could help themselves out of a trying financial situation with help themselves out of a trying financial situation with their food budget.their food budget.

Shopping TipsShopping Tips

Fruits and vegetables in season are Fruits and vegetables in season are generally at their lowest price.generally at their lowest price.

Plan menu around grocery ads.Plan menu around grocery ads. Make a weekly menu plan.Make a weekly menu plan. Make a list and use it.Make a list and use it.