Foods 1 - 6.01 Meal Preparation Strategies

1. MEAL
PREPARATION
STRATEGIES
Scratch
Semi-homemade/Speed-scratch
Finished/Convenience

2. SCRATCH COOKING
• Meal preparation that uses a recipe and no
convenience foods for most foods served.

3. 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. 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. 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. 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. Advantages of Scratch Cooking
9. Saves you MONEY! While your time is worth
money, the money you save buying your own
ingredients can help trim your food bill.

8. Disadvantages of Scratch
Cooking
1. Takes more time to plan
2. Takes more time to shop
3. Takes more time to prepare

9. 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. Semi-homemade/Speed Scratch
• Meal preparation that uses a convenience food, such
as a mix or already prepared food as part of the
recipe.

11. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.