by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: January 20, 2009

The stresses, the trials and the tribulations, of modern life seem to be increasing exponentially as time goes by and workplaces grow ever more competitive and demanding. Often, we may leave at night physically and emotionally exhausted, knowing that we still have to consider what the family are to eat that night - perhaps then face the grocery shopping in a crowded, bustling supermarket - before heading home to listen to how everyone else's day panned out as we try to piece together an enticing meal.

Unfortunately, taking steps to prepare meals as much as possible ahead of schedule cannot help with our workplace stresses but what it can do, to a significant extent, is remove one of the stress factors from each day and free up some time to concentrate more fully on dealing with the others. Certainly, it will require a little planning, but this can be undertaken sitting in front of the TV, perhaps after the kids are in their beds, with a relaxing cup of coffee and a simple notepad and pen.

Step one is to look at how we can reduce the frequency of our grocery shopping and the best way to do so is to think about buying in bulk and, where necessary, utilising our deep freeze. Please note carefully that I do not mean stocking up on those horrendous, chemically enhanced, microwave meals! I am talking about buying root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips in bulk, investing an hour or two some weekend in peeling and chopping them, and freezing them in family portions. Potatoes and onions can also be bought in bulk and stored for weeks in a cool dark place. We can even buy meat in bulk and freeze it, remembering of course in this instance to defrost it properly before cooking with it. The possibilities here are many, though if in doubt about a particular ingredient, do some online research about how well it can be frozen or stored safely for any length of time.

There will of course be many occasions where we do require to shop for ingredients on the day of use or perhaps the day before. Items such as milk, certain types of fish and most salad items all require that they be used fresh. Is there a way here that perhaps your teenagers can pick these items up for you on their return from school? Does it absolutely have to be you personally who shops for them?

When looking at preparing meals themselves in advance, we of course have to be sensible. We wouldn't make, for example, scrambled egg at night for the next morning's breakfast! We have to consider such as stews, casseroles and hearty soups. Meat for the stew can be left to cook the night before while you relax, then when you get home the following evening, it is simply a matter of adding such as some frozen carrots and parsnips, some chopped up potatoes, and the whole pot left to re-heat/cook while you attend to other chores. Many soups can be made in bulk well in advance and frozen very successfully. Simply take some out the night before, leave it to defrost and heat it through thoroughly when you get home.

Brainstorm these principles - always with pen and paper at the ready! - and come up with your own ideas. Adopting them, even over a gradual period, will in time free you up to listen to how the kids fared at school that day or sympathise with your other half's problems. It will reduce your stress levels, help you become emotionally stronger - and put a bit of the "life" back in to living!

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