In a previous post, Mindful Money Matters on 1/9/2026, I discussed a variety of ways to reign in expenses in the new year and provided many resources. In that post, I also briefly addressed becoming aware of how much money we are spending on take-out and fast food. We often feed our family in this way when our time is limited. Work schedules and children’s activities tend to dictate a hectic pace. As promised, I am circling back with some suggestions for reducing our reliance on fast food and strategies for having more home-made, quick and easy options for feeding the family. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. (Proverbs 31:15) In the following verse, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that caring for one’s family, especially in providing necessities, is a basic Christian responsibility. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8) The Bible also dictates that we are responsible managers of God-given blessings. There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it. (Proverbs 21:20) Wise people are good stewards, saving resources like "choice food and oil," while foolish people squander everything on immediate pleasure. The following provides suggestions for being good stewards of our money and still feeding our families well.

Keeping premade meals in the freezer is probably one of the best ways to combat the take-out issue. Some foods that freeze well are soups, stews, meatloaf, and chili. I also like to keep things like frittatas and muffins for breakfast on the go. The easiest way to start is to make extra when you do cook. Package for the freezer in ways that will defrost more easily and take up minimal space. Individual portions allow for flexibility. You can take out only as many as you need at that time. Also, individual portions defrost more easily and can be manipulated into where there is room in your freezer. To help with defrosting, prepare ahead and put in the refrigerator the night before. These Rubbermaid containers are my favorite for this purpose. They stack well, are BPA free, leakproof, and dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe. Other foods, you can just wrap in plastic wrap and they take even less space in the freezer. This works well for slices of meatloaf and squares of sheet pan quesadillas (recipe to follow).

Having parts of meals prepared ahead of time and stashed in the freezer is another strategy that works well. I always have grilled chicken in my freezer. Whenever chicken breasts are on sale at the grocery store, I stock up. Breasts can be pounded out or sliced into thinner pieces. I marinate in Italian dressing and cook on the grill. After grilling, slice the chicken into strips, freeze on a foil or waxed paper lined cookie sheet (so pieces don’t freeze together), then place in a zip-locked bag. You can take out the amount of chicken you need, easily defrost, and throw together a chicken caesar salad or chicken fajitas. Consider other things that you could have already cooked off and ready to go like sausage or hamburger for quick and easy recipes. A few more tips: Consider trying other grains like quinoa or barley. They freeze better than pasta. If freezing pasta, always add a little water before reheating. Limit the number of bulky boxes of processed foods, like frozen pizzas that take up a lot of room in your freezer. Keep veggies in your freezer that come in microwavable bags for easy pairing with meatloaf, etc.

I am including my recipe for chili as well as links to a number of other recipes that I like to make and have in my freezer.

Diane’s Chili

1lb ground turkey

1(10.75oz) can Condensed Tomato Soup

1(14.5oz) can Petite Diced Tomatoes

1(15.25oz) can Pinto Beans

1(15.25oz) can Black Beans

1 medium yellow onion chopped

1 large green pepper chopped

2 medium potatoes diced (optional)

1tsp Mexican Seasoning

1/2tsp Chili Powder