Simple planning turns leftovers into healthy meals
VA News ·
Learn how to portion, freeze and reinvent leftovers into quick, healthy meals.
You don’t have to cook a brand-new meal each day to eat well . Leftovers make it easy to have healthy options even on busy days. With a bit of planning , you can give last night’s dinner a fresh new twist.
When you make dinner, prepare one or two extra servings. Set them aside before you sit down to eat. These extra servings can help you:
A little planning at dinnertime can make your whole week easier. Before putting food away, divide it into one-meal dishes or bags. Good options to make extra of include:
Quick tip: Pack your containers right after you cook—before you sit down to eat. It only takes a few minutes and makes healthy meals easy to grab later.
Use the VA MOVE! Program plate method to plan your meals. Here is how to get all the food groups:
Keeping a food log can help you see which meals keep you full and support your goals. The MOVE! Veteran workbook has more ideas for planning meals and shopping smart.
A small change can turn last night’s meal into something new. Try these ideas using food from a previous meal:
With a little planning , yesterday’s meal can become today’s healthy choice .
Ready to learn more? Contact your local VA to speak with a registered dietitian about a plan that works for you. You can also learn more about nutrition, like tips for reducing food waste and preventing malnutrition .