Some pups have asked me, “How do you survive pup-trepreneurship in the winter?”
Well, I’ve got two words. MEAL PREPPING. Seriously, meal prepping, especially in the winter, has been an absolute life saver in my pup business ownership journey.
Organizing my schedule helps. Building new pup connections have been a game changer. But, during these cold, dark and sometimes bluesy months when pups prefer to work from home and no one feels like venturing to the Dog Park, having a meal already prepared is amazing.
As a pup business owner, my days are a toss-up between feeling like a creative pup genius and wondering why I even started this project in the first place. I’m usually caught between “that’s not in my budget” and “you only live once.”
So, the last thing I want to do is stand in line at a packed Wagmen’s to buy groceries with all the other pups who need to grab their essentials before the blizzard hits.
Building time into my schedule to prepare my meals has saved me a lot of time. It even saves me a few nudges for those times I want to give in to my “you only live once” side. And in case I decide to work from home, I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to make a meal or go out and battle the cold wind just to grab a quick bite from the Corner Barkery.
So, for those winter moments when you decide to take advantage of the infamous work from home policy, don’t feel like making something from scratch or simply don’t want to spend the extra nudges on takeout, here are a few meal prep tips to get you started.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR FREEZER SPACE
One thing I don’t do is waste food. Even if I have food leftover after eating out at a restaurant, I’m coming home with a doggie bag. Cooking my meals ahead of time and storing them in the freezer instead of the fridge helps them last longer. So, instead of meal prepping for just the week, I can do two weeks. And if I’m really feeling ambitious, a whole month.
PAY ATTENTION TO PORTIONS
Instead of stuffing the entire pot of food in the freezer, separate your prepared meals into eating portions. That way all you have to do is grab one portion out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave and start eating. It’s a great idea to invest in some freezer bags and plastic containers for storage. And if you really feel like getting saucy, label each of your containers before you put it in the freezer. This way, you’ll know exactly what it is when you pull it out. Sometimes everything in the freezer starts to look the same.
THINK CASSEROLES, STEWS AND SOUPS (OH MY!)
In the winter time, this pup loves meals that actually stick to my bones. Meals that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Especially, since most offices keep their air on meat locker all year long. Casseroles, stews and soups are great for meal prepping in the winter. You can cook a lot at one time and store them in the freezer for months. Oddly enough, casseroles, stews and soups simmer in their own sauces while sitting in the freezer as well. So, it actually becomes more flavorful the longer you store it.
MAKE (OR BUY) WHAT YOU LIKE
The best way to guarantee you’ll actually eat what’s in your freezer is to actually like the food you have in it. So, have fun cooking recipes that you absolutely love. That way the urge to “just get takeout” will dwindle a little. And for those pups who just don’t like to cook, there are several meal services that will deliver pre-cooked and portion meals to your home. Try using one of these services to help with your meal prep. All you have to do is pull it from the freezer and heat it up. Try
ALWAYS KEEP A FEW STAPLES
Sometimes running to the store isn’t an option. You know like those times when you’re working late, don’t feel like making a stop or your human decides to get home early ruining your plans altogether. So, for these moments always keep a few staples in your home. Foods like tuna, rice, frozen veggies, some Pup-tella Pupcakes, etc. that are quick and easy to prepare as well as filling.
Meal prepping is my secret pup-dultng trick in my cold winter survival bag. It’s also made the pup business juggle much more manageable, which keeps me thriving all winter long. I’d love to hear what helps you thrive during the winter.
What pup-dulting trick do you use to help you thrive during the cold winter season?
Please share in the comment box below.
