The Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast | Healthy Cooking Hacks for Busy Moms, Meal Planning, Meal Prep & Grocery Budgeting

I know it’s a big hang-up. You want to meal prep, but you dread the clean-up. So let’s talk about it! In this week's episode, I'm sharing some of my best hacks for making meal prep clean up easier and faster. -- Get $100 off the Healthy Mama Meal Prep Course (including 150+ prep-friendly recipes) through 4/28 using code SPRINGPREP Mentioned in the episode: My favorite meal prep containers and tools . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I know when it comes to meal prep, sometimes the hardest part is just coming up with IDEAS. For many moms I talk to, actually taking the time to make and enjoy meals that are nutrient dense and delicious to fuel your busy day is one of your biggest struggles. So if you’re working on getting into a meal prep routine this spring, keep listening for ten of my favorite easy, high protein spring meal prep breakfast and lunch ideas.  -- Get $100 off the Healthy Mama Meal Prep Course (including 150+ prep-friendly recipes) through 4/22 using code SPRINGPREP Click here for full show notes & links to recipes . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is here, and if you’re working on getting into- or back into- a meal prep routine, listen up! My best-selling healthy mama meal prep course has helped hundreds of women over the past seven years learn to meal prep in a way that’s do-able, fits with your life and doesn’t take your entire weekend. And now through April 22, the Healthy Mama Meal Prep Master Course is on sale for $100 off. It’s time to simplify and streamline your meals this spring! Click here and use code SPRINGPREP for $100 off Healthy Mama Meal Prep --- Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are three times a year I have moms come to me more than any other time looking for advice on how to start (or re-start) a meal prep routine- back to school, the new year- and now- the start of spring. Today I want to share with you a different conversation on meal prep- we're talking about what it looks like to revolve and evolve your meal prep throughout the different seasons, and how my own meal prep routine has evolved over the years, so this is the last time you need to start or re-start a meal prep routine. -- Dive into meal prep this Spring with the Healthy Mama Meal Prep System- use code SPRINGPREP for $100 off the Healthy Mama Meal Prep Master Course Looking for the mini? Get 20% off the 1-hour Meal Prep Mini Course Additional helpful episodes: The five things I meal prep every week Meal prep not working? It might be the way you're meal prepping (the three styles of meal prep) . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new monthly series where I share with you 10 weeknight meals my family is loving as of late (or are ongoing family favorites) that you can add to your meal plan, this month! -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. . Click here to get my free 30-day recipe calendar! Recipes Mentioned: Loaded Cobb Salads Buffalo Chicken Burgers Spring Chicken & Wild Rice Soup with lemon and dill Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Salmon with asparagus & potatoes and dill yogurt sauce Spring Roll Bowls (this one is in my Balance in a Bowl cookbook and the Cooking Club Spring Cookbook!) Pasta Primavera with lemon garlic chicken  Honey BBQ Glazed pork tenderloin & sweet potatoes  Tenderloin sliders with broiled onions & garlic mayo Mediterranean Braised White fish with orzo  Shortcut Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches . Links mentioned: Balance in a Bowl Book 30-day recipe calendar . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is it that salads you get at a restaurant often feel so much more satisfying than the ones you make at home? I want to change that! We’re ditching the iceberg lettuce, sad tomatoes and dry shredded carrots- let’s make some satisfying salads this spring and summer, substantial enough for a whole meal for the whole family. -- Click here to grab all five salad recipes mentioned in this episode! Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re feeling like everything that made sense about feeding your kids is all of a sudden different as they get older and their food preferences change, they can voice their opinion on food more and feeding them is both more free and frustrating that ever before… let’s chat. In today’s episode, I’m here as a mom- not a food expert- and we’re talking how we’re (practically) feeding our kids these days.  -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Click here for full show notes and recipe links Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homemade french fries, roasted veggies, crispy tofu, crunchy salmon bites… the air fryer has taken the home cooking world by storm- but maybe you've been wondering... should I get one? Is it worth it, will I use it- and what for- or maybe you have one that's been collecting dust aside from the occasional frozen fries- in today's episode, I'm sharing the pros and cons of owning an air fryer, my favorite air fryer foods and recipes and whether or not I think you actually need one! -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. Click here for full show notes and recipe links Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good tools make working in the kitchen easier and faster- but I don't think you need dozens of pots and pans or cupboards brimming with gadgets to get there! If I were to start over in a brand new kitchen, this is all I would need and all I recommend for tools for easier, more efficient cooking. -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. See my full Amazon Kitchen Tools List Tools Mentioned: Shun Chef's Knife Global Chef's Knife Boning knife Bread knife A good cutting board Plastic cutting board Good peeler Microplane Heavy bottom sautee pans: 8” and 12” (with lid preferred) Cast iron pan Dutch oven Pasta/large capacity soup pot Braiser Small sauce pot Small Blender OR immersion blender  Bowls of all sizes Silicone Spatula Wooden spatulas/turners Fish Spatula (optional but recommended) Colander Strainer (small) Tongs Sheet pans Slotted spoon  Box grater 8x8” and 9x13” baking dishes Meat thermometer . Nice to have: instant pot https://amzn.to/3ThyIHm  slow cooker https://amzn.to/48Af1yN  rice cooker https://amzn.to/431V6rt  air fryer https://amzn.to/3TkzByX  food processor https://amzn.to/48BTrds  mandoline https://amzn.to/3uTmMlE  silicone muffin pan https://amzn.to/49UZjPX  kitchen scissors https://amzn.to/3T1OEfr . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a new monthly series where I share with you 10 weeknight meals my family is loving as of late- that you can add to your meal plan, this month! -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. . Follow me over on Instagram for weeknight meals all month! Recipes Mentioned: Comfy Chicken Noodle Soup Bang Bang Shrimp Bowls Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma Greek Chicken & Quinoa Bowls Double the chicken up and make Greek Chicken Wraps   Cashew Chicken Lettuce Cups Honey Lime Salmon Tacos with cilantro jalapeno ranch & pickled onions   Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas Pesto Turkey Meatballs served with spaghetti squash or pasta Shortcut Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon & crispy sesame air fryer broccoli with rice Guinness Stew for St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread by Sally's Baking Addiction . Links mentioned: Brighten Up Winter Meals Episode Cooking In Season: Spring Episode Balance in a Bowl Book . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your kitchen set-up costing you time when you're cooking? It might not be something you've considered before, but the way your kitchen is organized can make a huge difference in how easily you move around your kitchen when cooking. An organized kitchen is a more efficient kitchen- so tune in for best tips and organization hacks for easier cooking. -- Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more starting at just $3/month. . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Follow Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I think most of us can agree we want to raise good eaters- and hopefully, kids who want to get in the kitchen and cook, too. Today’s guest is all about bringing kids in the kitchen, exploring global cuisines and introducing kids to new flavors and cultures.  Rowena Scherer grew up in Malaysia and her fondest memories are from when she cooked in the kitchen with her family. Years later, after working on Wall Street and living all over the world, she decided she wanted to create the same lasting memories with her children. She attended the French Culinary Institute, began to source hard-to-find non-perishable ingredients that highlighted her cherished foods, and started eat2explore, an explorer box filled with authentic recipes, activities, and collectibles that offered a worldwide cultural education through the exploration of food. In today’s episode we talk about Rowena’s story of getting started cooking with her own mom, to her inspiration to teach her kids to cook- and what they cook now as young adults- how to get your kids in the kitchen from an early age, the importance of introducing kids to global cuisine and how cooking can bring us together as a family.  As a quick note, we did have some audio issues on and off during this episode, I unfortunately had some internet connection issues so we had some lag on on our audio, I did my best to edit- but if we occasionally talk over each other or there’s a funny sound here or there, that’s what happened- I think our conversation is well worth the occasional audio mishap! Connect with Rowena: Eat 2 Explore Eat 2 Explore on Instagram A Taste of the World Cookbook . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more (starting at just $3/month). . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Find Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Thanks to our sponsors: Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you’ve ever wished there was a guide to just throwing together simple ingredients and somehow it magically turning into a delicious (and balanced) meal?! If so... tune in to this week's episode! Bowls are my absolute favorite way to pack flavor and nutrition into a deliciously satisfying meal, customizable and simple enough for the busiest weeknights. In this episode, I share with you my secrets for a bowl that is both delicious and satisfying. -- Balance in a Bowl is here! This is the customizable healthy meal solution you've been looking for! With 40+ done for you bowl combinations, 30+ base, sauce, protein and veggie recipes and over 200 possible combinations, Balance in a Bowl makes deliciously nourishing bowls EASY. Get $10 off the digital version using code BOWLS10. Click here to get your copy! . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more (starting at just $3/month). . Thanks to our sponsors: Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Find Kris on Instagram Podcast Instagram Meal Prep Course . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s that time of the year-  February can be dark, dreary and cold- at least in the northern hemisphere, and many of us are craving the brightness of spring- especially when it comes to flavors. But even if we’re not quite there yet with spring produce or the actual weather, I want to share with you how we can bring some much-needed brightness to our winter meals.  . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more (starting at just $3/month). Mentioned in this episode: Sauce episode Homemade spinach almond pesto Peanut sauce Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma Chicken Tortilla Soup Chicken Gnocchi Soup . Thanks to our sponsors: Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris Healthy Mama Courses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all been there- you're bored, your family is bored, you've been making the same meals over and over again and your family is sick of them (or you just don't know what to cook!). Listen in for my favorite ways to get out of a recipe rut. . Join the Healthy Mama Cooking Club for access to 200+ family-friendly recipes, weekly done-for-you meal plans, bonus podcasts and and more (starting at just $3/month). Mentioned in this episode: FREE Meal Planning Guide Anchor Meals Episode Curried Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs  Ginger Pork Bowls  Greek Chicken Wraps  Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma . My recipe search formula:  [Time] x [Dietary Concerns or Needs] x [Meal/Meal Type] Recipes  OR  [Time] x [Dietary Concerns or Needs] x [Cuisine/Specific Detail] x [Meal/Meal Type] Recipes  i.e.  20 minute gluten-free dinners  30 minute family-friendly Italian weeknight dinners  Make-ahead dairy-free meal prep lunches . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris Healthy Mama Courses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simple, nourishing recipes with BIG flavor are the name of the game for Kat Ashmore from Kat Can Cook. A classically trained chef who has worked with the likes of Matha Stewart (yes, that Martha), Kat is a wealth of culinary wisdom, but as a busy mom who is no stranger to shortcuts, she creates recipes that are nourishing, simple and full of flavor for her over 3 million combined followers on TikTok and Instagram. Her brand new cookbook, Big Bites, is a perfect example of her wholesome, upleveled casual cooking style, and in today's episode, we talk food, family, how to uplevel your everyday cooking with some easy but effective tips and our never-ending love for Maldon salt. Connect with Kat: Get a copy of Big Bites Kat on Instagram Kat on Tiktok Kat's Website . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes The Healthy Mama Cooking Club (try it free for 7 days) Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast . Thanks to our sponsors: Get free breakfast for life with HelloFresh with code HEALTHYMAMAFREE Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s cold outside, which means it’s soup season… I LOVE a good soup. But a bad soup is… well, bad soup! Today I want to share with you secrets to making a GREAT soup- no more watery, bland soup in your house! Click here to get a clickable list of my favorite soup recipes Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes The Healthy Mama Cooking Club (try it free for 7 days) Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris . Thanks to our sponsors: Get free breakfast for life with HelloFresh with code HEALTHYMAMAFREE Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asian cuisines like Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and others have rich culinary traditions with incredible depth of flavor that takes someone dedicated to learning the beautiful complexity of Asian ingredients to truly create incredible Asian meals- which is why I am so thrilled to welcome this week's guest, Sophia Nguyen Eng on the podcast to share her experience cooking traditional Asian cuisine (from a real food perspective). Growing up in a Vietnamese family, Sophia noticed Asian food in the United States often relied heavily on processed ingredients containing artificial flavors and preservatives. She was determined to recreate the flavorful recipes she loved while making them healthier. The recipes she shares explore the proper preparation of grains, dairy, meats, and ferments, emphasizing fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods while focusing on flavor, food quality, ingredient sourcing, seasonality, and eating nose-to-tail. In this week’s episode, we’re talking all things Asian cooking and her new book- the Nourishing Asian Kitchen. . Connect with Sophia: The Nourishing Asian Kitchen Sprinkle with Soil Sophia's Pho Masterclass Joy and Jolie Pho spice blends Sophia on Instagram . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes The Healthy Mama Cooking Club (get it free for 7 days) Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris . Thanks to our sponsors: Get free breakfast for life with HelloFresh with code HEALTHYMAMAFREE Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So many of you want to get into a meal prep routine this new year and for good reason- meal prep is a game changer for making meals easier, all week long. But one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they jump into meal prep is going in too hard, too soon and prepping so much they overwhelm themselves and don’t want to prep again- or prepping things that don’t make enough of an impact on their daily life so they don’t WANT to go back and meal prep again- and that’s what I want to talk about today. I'm sharing with you eight specific (as in, I’ll give you the recipe or tell you how to prep them) go-to meal prep ingredients and recipes I use to make meals easier, all week long.  Mentioned in this episode: Free 5-day meal prep email series 25% off Healthy Mama Meal Prep using code NEWYEAR24 10% off the 1-hour meal prep mini course using code PODCAST Episode 349: Mise En Place Episode 341: Freezer Prep Episode 339: The five things I meal prep every week Episode 348: 30+ ways to use rotisserie chicken as a meal starter Episode 329: Sauces and dressings and marinades (oh my!) Episode 356: Exactly how to start meal prepping this new year Episode 338: How I meal prep in just 1 hour a week Episode 340: The three styles of meal prep . Click here for full show notes + recipe links Thanks to our sponsors: Get free breakfast for life with HelloFresh with code HEALTHYMAMAFREE Get 20% off any Aquatru Purifier at aquatru.com using code HEALTHYMAMA Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes The Healthy Mama Cooking Club (get it free for 7 days) Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new year is HERE! And if you’re like me, and you like to work on healthy habits over the new year (rather than grand resolutions that fall off in the second week), AND meal prep is one of those habits, this is the episode for you. I’m going to give you step by step how I recommend you start a meal prep habit in the new year (or any time, really).  Mentioned in this episode: Free Meal Prep Worksheet 25% off Healthy Mama Meal Prep using code NEWYEAR24 New Year Meal Planning Episode (Spotify) New Year Meal Planning Episode (Apple) . Connect with Kris: Healthy Mama Kris Recipes The Healthy Mama Cooking Club Instagram: Healthy Mama Kitchen Podcast Instagram: Healthy Mama Kris . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices