Although it costs more, you can save preparation time by purchasing a free-range organic chicken, cooked rotisserie-style from your market.
You can also buy pre-washed and pre-cut fresh vegetables, everything from spinach to peeled and cubed butternut squash. You can even find high quality, pre-mixed salads in a bag.
Buy fresh frozen vegetables. Make sure they are high quality, free of all additives, and raw or blanched. These vegetables are generally frozen shortly after harvest, so they retain high levels of nutrients. They are also pre-washed and often pre-cut, which can save you a lot of time.
You can skip cooking your beans and simply use high quality canned beans in all the same ways.
Spending about an hour each weekend preparing these “base” foods will allow you to assemble meals for your child (and the rest of your family!) throughout the week in minutes. See our ideas for Top 10 Ways to use pre-cooked grains, beans and meats.