Have you ever been sucked into seeing a recipe that looks simple and says it’s 15 minutes but it takes at least twice that? I’m always looking for shortcuts to simplify healthy eating, so when a recipe says 15 minutes, I’m naturally drawn to it. But the reality is, most recipes seem to take longer than they claim. Could be that I’m just slow in the kitchen and if I moved a little faster I could make the threshold. Could also be that the 15 minutes is predicated on having help in the kitchen to make it happen.

I put it to the test recently. I was going through a stack of recipes I’ve torn out from magazines and came across “Bean and Sausage Stew” from Real Simple magazine. The recipe looked great and I liked that it only had nine ingredients and required almost no chopping. Plus it’s healthy with fresh greens, tomatoes and beans. Did I make it in 15 minutes? Not quite, it actually took me 21 minutes, but that’s still pretty quick. The slow down? Washing and prepping the fresh kale took longer than I expected (handy tip: Trader Joe’s sells Southern Greens – turnip, mustard and spinach – already packaged). But it was easily balanced by the simplicity of the meal. And the great news is that it’s healthy and delicious!

How do I make recipes as quick as possible when time is a factor? I regularly stock up on staples and keep them on hand. I also make time on the weekends to plan menus, go to the store and do food prep, such as chopping veggies. That way I can easily prepare healthy meals when time is a factor.

What’s your experience with quick meals and what are you favorite tips? Share them here with our community. And check out this delicious recipe from Real Simple: Bean & Sausage Stew. Enjoy!

Filed under: Eating, Food, Food Shopping, Greens, Healthy Meals, Legumes, Meal Planning, Vegetables