Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, see Girlfriends on the Go Cookbook by Suzie Roberts, some of the following are from that book, along with my own ideas.

How long does it take to prepare 10 meals?
Anywhere from 1-2 hours, it really depends on the meal! If you don't have that time in a run, do it in shifts! For example, one day cook all the meat, the next, assemble all the rest. It sounds like alot of time - but really you have 6 days off of cooking and the mess of preparing!

How does it save you money?
1) Plan your meals around sales (check out Grocery Smarts for sales).
2)Your shopping list is simple, you don't need a bunch of stuff for 6 different meals, instead you buy 6 of the same thing.
3) You'll eat out less. It's hard for me to cook on Fridays and Saturdays, so we usually end up grabbing take out, this way I can have a Make-Ahead Meal.
4) You have less waste. I always end up buying something, using a little bit for a meal, and then wasting the rest (like cilantro, green onions, basil, etc).
5)You can get ingredients in bulk.

What are the benefits besides saving time and money?
Add variety. It's someone else's cooking - which sometimes tastes better when you don't have to prepare it. when sick days come - we don't get the day off, we still have to get dinner ready. Also it can help serve others by taking a meal to them  like sickness, just had a baby, etc.

What is the best way to thaw the Make-Ahead Meals since the directions are for when it's thawed?
For best results, let frozen meals thaw in the fridge for 24 hours, but I never think that far ahead! According to Suzie Roberts, "If [you're] cooking directly from frozen, bump up the temperature 50 degrees higher than the recipe states, and double the time. Check it periodically to make sure you are on target." Also you can use a crock-pot for some meals to let it cook all day.

What about picky eaters?
Let us know if there are any allergies so we can let the rest of the group know. Also if you have any preferences (ex: boneless chicken) we'll let everyone know. Sometimes kids like other's cooking because it's different (sometimes they don't!) This will introduce your kids to new foods you may not have cooked otherwise. It's important for people to try new things, an acceptance for food comes from having a variety of meals at a young age.