Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/362030
FREEZER COOKING IS all about making meals in bulk. The idea is to prepare meals that can be safely frozen so they are ready to pop in the oven or slow cooker and onto your table with minimal effort. "Making meals ahead of time is a great way to be proactive about the foods your family eats," says Heather Krieger, RD, CD, Dietitian with St. Joseph's Hospital. "If you have several healthy choices at your fingertips, you're less likely to turn to fast food or other options that might not be as healthy for you. Freezing foods preserves the nutritional value, texture, and flavor of food, as long as it's done properly and you make sure you heat and cool meals safely before storing and reheating." LOCAL FLAVOR One group of St. Joseph's and Sacred Heart Hospital colleagues met for the first time in July 2014 to try batch cooking. The verdict? It's a lot of work, but it pays off at mealtime. "Preparing a multitude of meals when there's weekend free time definitely takes the stress out of making dinner," says Michele Paquette, Marketing Specialist at St. Joseph's, who was inspired to start the group after seeing a make-ahead recipe online. "Cooking with friends while sharing laughter makes it seem like much less of an endeavor." Paquette's goal was to spend the summer avoiding the mad dash at the end of the day to assemble the four food groups into something palatable as well as nutritious, while also strengthening bonds of friendship. "The key is to find a batch of recipes with overlapping ingredients and a group of friends who share your love of veggies and an open mind to try new things," Paquette says. "I was lucky on that part. I have two co-workers who not only embraced my 'running with scissors' style of coming up with unique ideas, but also invited me back to join them again. "We really wanted to showcase the fact that this can be done economically without running to several specialty stores," she adds. Fortunately, the group's initial foray into team cooking— coconut curry chicken—was a tasty, if only slightly mushy, success. "We spent four hours chopping and chatting," Paquette says. "Because we each had a task, we could take more time carefully peeling, cutting, and chopping, and at the same time, we shared techniques and tips. There was little waste. The end result was nice, uniform chunks—something we never see when we are rushing and doing it for our family. In the future, I'll add more liquid and add more chicken to bulk it up a bit, especially if cooking longer." IT'S 5 P.M., AND YOU'RE FACED WITH THE ROUTINE QUESTION— WHAT'S FOR DINNER? FINDING A SIMPLE, HEALTHFUL SOLUTION MAY BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK. JUST LOOK IN THE FREEZER. > For more ideas to be healthy as a group, download the free GO myWay app or visit GoChippewaValley.com. 1 4 I N S P I R I N G H E A LT H YOU THINK. JUST LOOK M eal Magic Words : "Make Ahead"