Take good care of your time.

Time Management for Solo Cooking.

O.f.O. is here to help coordinate weekly kitchen workflow for more productive multitasking at home.

From writing a weekly grocery list to implementing seven steps for seven days of meal prep, a comprehensive system of time management is at the heart of getting it all done on a hectic schedule.

So, what's the best kitchen-time management style for busy singles?

Going about it like gig-work; tasking flexibly on a timeline of preset progress targets.

Foregoing marathon meal prep in favor of a flexible task-by-task approach can alleviate potential scheduling conflicts, but can more casual kitchen-time actually improve productivity?

Yes!

Random, noncommittal moments of micro-tasking can serve as super powerful weapons against ovewhelm!

Multitasking in a whirl? That's my girl!

Squeezing varying bursts of kitchen-time in between daily activities throughout each week enhances productivity and fosters an empowered, multitasking mindset.

A few minutes loading bread machine pizza dough here, a few minutes prepping produce and shredding cheese there...Multitasking during cooking time to neatly fold kitchen tasks into everyday life... Sound like a lot? It's actually not!

Planning for flexible workflow is easy.

Special servings washi

When it comes to carving out kitchen-time, there really are no rules other than shopping on schedule and staying stocked up.

Handy homemade freezer preps, FRESH & FAST low prep recipes, BACK BURNER skippable slow perishing ingredient based recipes, and PACK TO GO lunchbox recipes can all help put time on your side.

O.f.O.'s special servings washi can highlight flexible recipe choices.

Try O.f.O.'s free Seven Day Solo Meal Planner for more practical time management for solo cooking.

Section completion check-off washi

Detailed with deadlines, yet adaptable to fluctuating schedules, weekly workflow is guided by a step-by-step system for planning, sourcing, prepping, and storing yummy food that makes take-out seem like a waste of time.

Here's how to get started and stay on track:

Set up recurring weekly progress reminders on the Kitchen Time Tracker.

Fill the tracker's day-of-the-week fields with your chosen shopping day positioned at the top. Day-of-the-week field entries will auto-migrate to the budget tracker, meal tracker, and meal & macro tracker pages.

Set section completion target reminders on the tracker's time totaling column, just right of the timeline.

Target section 1 completion near midweek; two or three days after shopping day.
Target section 2 completion near week's end; one or two days before the following week's shopping day.

Plan and track weekly workflow:

Use the Mix & Match Scratch Pad to complete each week's meal plan & shopping list before shopping day.
Code special servings with FRESH & FAST, BACK BURNER, and PACK TO GO washi on the Plan & Shop page during planning.
Source ingredients and complete the recipe task list on the same day each week. Complete the task list after shopping, delivery or pickup.
Log prep sessions in the Kitchen Time Tracker as you progress through the task list.
Forget to log kitchen time in the tracker? Try referring to published recipes to approximate prep time for back-planning.

Cook and dine on flex-time:

Task on your own time to meet preset progress targets.
Fuel up on low-no prep options as more time consuming recipes come together.
Log (or plan) meals in the meal (or meal & macro) tracker. But only if you want to.

Confirm progress with stickers and washi on the Kitchen Time Tracker:

Confirm each week's meal plan & shopping list completion with Meal Plan & Shopping List check-off washi.
Confirm shopping with a "Went Shopping" sticker.
Confirm Tasklist completion with a "Tasklist" sticker.
Confirm completion of sections 1 and 2 with check mark washi.
O.f.O.'s Sheets layout comes with plenty of fun food, task, and character stickers.

Here's an example of the four recurring timeline targets on O.f.O.'s seven day shop, prep & plan cycle:

M: Shopping & task list day.
T:
W:
T: Section 1 completion target.
F:
S: Section 2 completion target.
S: Meal plan & shopping list deadline.

Stay in control to keep food safe.

Peachy Partay, the self indulgent fruit parfait. Fresh & Fast recipe rep., always ready for a good time.

When plans change, time is short, and fresh food is at risk of neglect at home...

Here's how to make room on any given weekly menu, so nothing goes to waste:

Pass on "Prep or Pass" recipes. Postpone or cancel prep on all recipes which do not contain "use it or lose it" perishables like fresh produce.
Complete remaining recipes as time allows.
Prioritize fresh-produce-rich "no frozen leftovers" servings from section 1 whenever dining at home during the week.
Freeze section 2 servings.
Leave section 3 servings in the freezer.

Code fast and flexible recipes with washi during planning:

Recipes made from slow perishing/keepable ingredients are safe to plan and postpone for another week. Skippable BACK BURNER recipes like chocolate chip cookies, grilled steak, or linguica pizza make meal plans more flexible.

Code low priority, no-rush-recipes with BACK BURNER washi.

Low-no prep section 1 recipes made from fresh ingredients cut down on prep time without compromising freshness. Fresh, fast whip-ups like sandwiches, yogurt bows, or charcuterie are perfect for lightening up weekly task lists.

Code fresh & fast recipes with FRESH & FAST washi.

Here are ten steps to managing kitchen workflow like a pro:

Use the Try & Buy Notepad & Image board to plan kitchen setup. Equip kitchen workspace with inventory display organizers, food storage containers, and time-saving tools.
Free up flexibility by planning FRESH & FAST low prep section 1 recipes, optional BACK BURNER recipes, and PACK TO GO recipes for a lunchbox. Code special servings with washi.
Cut down on shopping and cooking time by freezing a conservative rotation of freezer preps. Prepared recipe components, sides, freezer meals, snacks & treats, and ingredient scraps are all serious time savers.
Complete each week's meal plan & shopping list before shopping day.
Create a recipe prep task list on shopping day, after ingredients are sourced. Then code matching tasks with stickers.
Knock out prep-ahead tasks when it's convenient.
Check off prep-ahead tasks, recipe completions, and single serving recipe repeats on the Tasklist Builder.
Log prep sessions in the Kitchen Time Tracker.
Confirm planning, shopping, and section completions with stickers on the Tracker.
Start a digital recipe box using a free or cheap note taking or word processing app like Apple Notes, Google Keep, Goodnotes, or Google Docs. It's easy!

Crossing the finish line is fun!

One of the most positive aspects of prep-ahead tasking are the morale boosting moments when planned recipes come together quickly and easily, with beautiful results.

Twig by twig, build that nest.

The kitchen is the heart of the nest and should be appointed as a comfy, welcoming workspace. Good organization saves time, so treat your kitchen to a mini makeover with tools to speed up prep, and organizational aids to reduce clutter and streamline image-based inventory tracking.

Review and revamp.

Review weekly workflow and make notes in your planner. Week after week, build your collection of guaranteed-to-be-good recipes and meal plans to semi-automate time management for solo cooking.

Treat yourself from time to time.

Meal kit delivery needn't be banned from the table, so long as it's a treat, and not a necessity. Grocery delivery can be great if the right shopper is on the job.

Self sufficiency sets you apart.

Learning to run your kitchen with easy, artful efficiency is a priceless life skill that can free you from restaurant dependence. Here's to eating well!