We recently wrote about the Gourmet Food Personality, however, as we all have our own preferences and cooking styles, clearly not everyone will fall into this distinction. There is also the possibility that you are usually a Gourmet, but work and the family’s schedule may not allow the time necessary to prepare those delicious meals, and at those times you may find that you have a different Food Personality.

In this post we’ll touch on a Food Personality that is quite a bit different than the Gourmets; it is known as Last Minute Meals. Often those who fall into this category simply don’t like to cook or are often unsure of what to make for dinner. As a result, those who fall into this Last Minute Meals category may opt for the quickest and easiest choice.

The unfortunate part about the Last Minute Meals category is that fast foods or prepackaged meals are not always the healthiest options. Think about the burgers and fries that you can find at the fast-food restaurant just down the street. The fries and hamburger combined can easily reach half of your daily calorie needs in one meal, if not more!

The good news is that local grocers are realizing the need to make healthier options readily available. Next time that you find yourself in a time crunch or simply not wanting to cook, don’t forget the healthier alternatives or the even recipes that require fewer ingredients for quicker preparation. Below are a few tips that may help you to more easily focus on healthy eating if you find yourself in the Last Minute Meals category:

• Instead of a fast food restaurant, opt for a café or take-out from a restaurant where you can order salads and fresh veggies.
• Pre-cut or frozen vegetables are available in most grocery stores. Stock up on these for quick sides or to add to pizza or casseroles during the week.
• Eat cheese and crackers with a bowl of soup for lunch or dinner.
• Don’t forget that many foods can be cooked in the microwave and this can be an easier, quicker way to cook. A few ideas of food that can be cooked in a microwave are frozen veggies, potatoes, frozen burritos, pre-cooked meat, etc.

You can also browse through our Quick Meals to find delicious recipes you and your family will love!

A Food Personality can be defined by one’s cooking style and we are all unique when it comes to how we like to prepare meals. A Food Personality can be influenced by one’s lifestyle, daily schedule, and culture, all of which play a role in eating habits. For instance, not everyone views the thought of cooking or preparing meals in the same way. For some, cooking is an art, but for others it may be a chore.

Do you love to cook? Have meals always been an important part of your family or culture? Do you get excited about new cooking shows and do you look forward to trying new recipes? If you answered yes to most of these questions, you may have what is known as a Gourmet Food Personality.

Those who may consider themselves Gourmets love to try new recipes, often from scratch. Food is an important part of their lifestyle; however, healthy choices may not always be put at the forefront.

As we all know, making elaborate meals every night of the week can be time consuming and it is not realistic for many of us. That said, here are a few tips to keep your meals fresh, exciting, and most importantly, healthy throughout the entire week.

• Think of those spices in your collection that haven’t been put to use recently. What recipes call for these rarely used spices?
• Establish a themed night to help think of new ideas, such as an Italian or Greek night.
• Cut fresh veggies in advance during your spare time so that they’re ready on short notice.
• Share healthy recipes with friends and store them to create your own cookbook with your favorites. In addition, contribute your favorite recipes with other Meals Matter enthusiasts.

So, if your cooking style is to prepare meals that are more involved than basic recipes, try these ideas to help you continue keeping food an important part of your daily schedule without it becoming a chore. Also be sure to incorporate functional foods (foods that are good for your health) into recipes where possible.

If you haven’t already, find out your Food Personality today by taking our simple quiz!