Gadgets/hacks to cut down food prep time

[LondonMum34]

Hi lovely people

I am new to mumsnet and wanted to know if anyone is willing to share hacks to reduce lunch/dinner prep time. I'm seriously struggling to shift weight also so tips here would be great

Thanks xx

Chop a load of onions/garlic/carrots/celery/spring onions/herbs at once and freeze in separate bags in the freezer - then you can just use the necessary quantity when cooking during the week as base for recipes. You can also buy pre-chopped frozen ingredients like this but it is cheaper to do your own.

Batch cook things like tomato sauce at weekends and again freeze in smaller quantities - can then be used as base for meat sauces, pasta bakes, casseroles, etc.

Get a slow cooker - chuck in ingredients at the start of the day and then is all ready and waiting for you at end.

Lunch ideas - look at jar based soups - you stack jars with fresh veg, noodles, miso etc and then add hot water when ready to eat. Also - when cooking night before, make slightly larger quantities and eat leftovers for lunch next day if you have access to microwave.

Re the chopped vege base above, do it in the food processor. It just requires a rinse out at the end.