For most, the pandemic meant cooking at home more often. Over time, burnout with at-home cooking became too real. We ran out of ideas and couldn’t always find the things we needed at the grocery store. But, there were some positives. People learned basic cooking skills and tried new recipes! Now, as families head back to school or resume working in an office, plan a menu that includes semi-homemade meals. They’re sensible because they save time and money. On busy school nights, less time prepping and cleaning up is helpful. Buying a prepared sauce instead of making it from scratch saves you money and avoids waste.

You can boost the nutritional quality of a meal without spending a lot more, just by adding frozen and canned ingredients. Choose packages stating an item has No Salt Added, Low Sodium, or No Added Sugar. Make restaurant-quality meals better-for-you with a semi-homemade recipe! You can even get creative and explore different ethnic flavors you might not make from scratch. Enjoy a taste of THAI!