6.02 Meal Preparation Strategies

1. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
6.02F MEAL PREPARATION
STRATEGIES
Scratch
Semi-homemade/Speed-scratch
Finished/Convenience

2. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
SCRATCH COOKING
 Meal preparation that uses a recipe and no
convenience foods for most foods served.

3. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages of Scratch Cooking
1. One can choose what ingredients go in to flavor the dish
and provides maximum variety, creativity, and more
flavorful in meal preparation.
(Example:
-Like lots of onions, add
extra
onions to the
casserole
-Add more spices if you
prefer
-OR substitute chicken
instead of beef)

4. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Are there recipes where
ingredients cannot be changed?
– Yes! Basic ingredients
in baked goods
CANNOT be changed
such as basic flour, fat,
or liquid ingredients.
– Flavoring ingredients
like cinnamon or vanilla
can be changed.

5. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages to Scratch Cooking
2. You can control ingredients based on
health concerns.
(Example: someone in your
family has high
blood pressure;
change or omit the
amount of salt the
recipe calls for)

6. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages to Scratch Cooking
3. Provides maximum nutritional value
4. Fewer additives and preservatives
5. Usually less waste in packaging
6. Uses quality fresh ingredients
7. Scratch cooking can be a way to relieve
stress
8. Share time with family and friends

7. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages of Scratch Cooking
6. Saves you MONEY! While your time is
worth money, the money you save buying
your own ingredients can help trim your
food bill.

8. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Disadvantages of Scratch
Cooking
1. Takes more time to plan
2. Takes more time to shop
3. Takes more time to prepare

9. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Examples of Scratch Cooking
 Making biscuits
using a recipe with
flour, shortening,
and buttermilk
instead of from a
can.
 Cooking pasta,
adding milk, eggs,
and cheese to make
baked macaroni and
cheese instead of
using a box version.

10. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Semi-homemade/Speed Scratch
 Meal preparation that uses a convenience
food, such as a mix or already prepared
food as part of the recipe.
+ pancake mix = speed
scratch pancakes

11. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages of Semi-
Homemade/Speed Scratch
1. Saves time and energy by providing
short cuts
2. Adds variety and creativity to recipes
3. Usually less expensive than
convenience foods
4. Easier for inexperienced cooks to
prepare recipes with more confidence
than scratch recipes

12. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Disadvantages of Semi-
Homemade/Speed scratch
1. Flavor may not be what you
wanted (example: too strongly
flavored in some ways and not
enough in others)
2. Mixes tend to be high in fat,
salt, sugar, and refined grains
—less good nutrition than
scratch recipes
3. Less meal appeal than scratch
4. More preservatives and
additives than scratch
5. Extra packaging
6. More costly than scratch

13. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Examples of Semi-
Homemade/Speed Scratch
 Browned ground beef +
canned beans + canned
tomato sauce + spices =
chili
-use dried beans to save
money and sodium, but it
takes several hours to
prepare dried beans
-using canned beans takes
only minutes
 Baking a cake, cookies,
or brownies from a box
mix

14. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Examples of Semi-
Homemade/Speed Scratch
 Bananas + instant
pudding + vanilla wafer =
banana pudding
-use homemade pudding
to control sugar and add
nutrition with eggs
-instant pudding is ready
in 5 minutes, preparing
homemade pudding, even
in the microwave, takes
about 8 minutes

15. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Finished/Convenience Foods
 Meal planning and preparation that uses all
precooked, ready-to-eat, serve and eat foods
 Can be used as a whole meal or as parts of a
meal
 May be purchased at a store or restaurant.

16. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Advantages to using
finished/convenience foods
 Convenient
 Time saving (macaroni &
cheese)
 Energy saving
 Fear of cooking success is
minimized
 Usually more nutritious
than fast foods (read labels)

17. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Disadvantages of Using
Finished/Convenience Foods
1. More expensive than the other meal
preparation strategies
2. Highest sodium/fat content than the other
meal preparation strategies
3. Flavor and appearance may not compare as
well as the other meal preparation strategies
4. More additives and preservatives than all
other meal preparation strategies
5. More packaging than the other meal
preparation strategies

18. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Examples of
Finished/Convenience Foods
 Roasted chickens
 Bagged salads
 Pre-cut fresh fruits
and vegetables
 Canned foods
 Frozen fruits
 Frozen pizzas and other entrees

19. 6.02F Meal Preparation
Strategies
Examples of
Finished/Convenience Foods
 Bakery items-cakes and pies
 Packaged cookies
 Using as parts of a meal, items such as
restaurant made salads, side dishes, or
entrees.