As someone who loves being in the kitchen and creating delicious, wholesome meals, I know firsthand how time-consuming the process can be. Between prepping ingredients, cooking multiple dishes, and cleaning up afterwards, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and spend the majority of your day in the kitchen. But what if I told you there’s a better way?
Enter the Pemmican Principle – a brilliant technique that can revolutionize the way you approach meal prep and save you tons of time in the process. This method, inspired by the wise practices of Native Americans, involves cooking in “blocks” to efficiently utilize your time and energy.
The idea is simple: instead of slaving over the stove every single night, you dedicate a few hours on the weekend (or whenever you have a free stretch of time) to prep and cook a variety of dishes that will carry you through the first half or three-quarters of the week. This not only streamlines the cooking process, but it also ensures you have healthy, nourishing meals at the ready when hunger strikes.
As someone who has embraced this approach, I can attest to its life-changing potential. No more last-minute scrambles or relying on quick-but-unhealthy options. With a little planning and a few clever tricks, I’ve been able to consistently enjoy fresh, homemade meals with minimal effort. And let me tell you, it’s a game-changer.
The Beauty of Cooking in Blocks
The key to the Pemmican Principle is to think in terms of “blocks” of time. Rather than trying to cook a fresh meal from scratch every single night, you set aside a dedicated block – say, 4 hours on a Sunday – to prepare an array of dishes that will sustain you for the next few days.
This efficient use of time is a revelation, especially for those of us with busy schedules or limited kitchen space. Instead of constantly running back and forth between the cutting board and the stove, you can leverage the oven space and multitask your way to a veritable smorgasbord of nourishing fare.
As The Nourishing Gourmet explains, “Cooking every meal from scratch sun up to sun down is impractical. And why cook for a single meal when you can make enough for 2 or 3 meals at a time?” The beauty of this approach is that it allows you to efficiently utilize your kitchen time and energy, setting you up for success throughout the week.
The Pemmican Principle in Action
So, what does this look like in practice? Let me walk you through an example of how I’ve put the Pemmican Principle to work in my own kitchen.
One recent Saturday afternoon, I set aside about 90 minutes to work my meal prep magic. In that short timeframe, I was able to:
- Chop 2 pounds of carrots and start roasting them
- Peel and chop 2 pounds of potatoes and start roasting them as well
- Chop 2 pounds of onions and assemble a batch of balsamic-roasted onions
- Blend a double batch of my favorite Sesame Garlic Chive Dressing, which yielded 16 servings
- Chop 1 onion and 2 pounds of collards to cook the next day
- Assemble a basic green salad for 4-6 servings
- Cook bison burgers on the stovetop
- Season and start a smokey roasted turkey in the oven
While those dishes were cooking, I took the opportunity to prepare a few more items: baking 6 small to medium sweet potatoes, and chopping an additional onion and 2 pounds of kale to sauté the next morning.
By the time dinner rolled around, I had an incredible spread to enjoy: burgers with the green salad and creamy tahini dressing, freshly roasted veggies, and a sweet potato or two for dessert. And that was just the start!
The following days, I was able to repurpose the leftovers in all sorts of delicious ways. The roasted turkey became the star of sandwiches and a hearty turkey soup. The roasted veggies were a quick and easy side dish, or tossed into salads. And that dressing? It lasted for two weeks, adding a flavorful punch to everything from grain bowls to raw veggie snacks.
Maximize Your Time with These Strategies
The Pemmican Principle is so much more than just a one-time meal prep session. It’s a holistic approach to streamlining your cooking process and ensuring you have a well-stocked “healthy salad bar and deli” in your fridge at all times.
Here are some additional strategies to help you make the most of this time-saving technique:
Remake Leftovers: Don’t just reheat the same dish over and over. Get creative and reimagine your leftovers into entirely new meals. Roast chicken can become chicken salad, chicken curry, or a topping for a fresh green salad.
Cook Large Batches of Grains and Beans: Make big pots of rice, quinoa, or beans and use them as the base for multiple dishes throughout the week. Rice can become fried rice one night and a Mediterranean-style salad the next.
Prep Veggies in Advance: Wash, chop, and store your produce ahead of time so it’s ready to go when you need it. This makes throwing together quick veggie-centric meals a breeze.
Pre-make Sauces and Dressings: Invest a little time upfront to whip up batches of versatile dressings, marinades, and condiments. They’ll be there waiting for you when you need a flavor boost.
Utilize Your Oven Space: When you’ve got the oven fired up, make the most of it. Roast veggies, bake potatoes, or cook a protein while other dishes are in the works.
Embrace Soup Season: Soups are a fantastic make-ahead option. Whip up a few pots and freeze individual portions for easy, nourishing lunches or dinners.
By incorporating these strategies into your Pemmican Principle routine, you’ll be well on your way to a streamlined, stress-free cooking experience. No more last-minute scrambles or unappealing takeout – just wholesome, satisfying meals at your fingertips.
The Pemmican Principle: A Game-Changer for Busy Folks
I know what you might be thinking: “This all sounds great in theory, but I’m just too busy to pull it off.” I get it – the idea of spending hours in the kitchen on a weekend can seem daunting, especially if you have kids or a hectic schedule. But hear me out:
The Pemmican Principle is not about slaving away for an entire day. It’s about strategically utilizing small blocks of time to set yourself up for success. And the payoff is immense. By investing a little effort upfront, you’ll enjoy the freedom and convenience of having healthy, homemade meals ready to go throughout the week.
Plus, as BuzzFeed points out, this method can be a game-changer for anyone trying to eat more nourishing foods without the stress of daily cooking. It helps bridge the gap between the desire for wholesome, homemade meals and the reality of busy, time-crunched lives.
So, if you’re tired of feeling like you’re constantly in the kitchen, or if you’re simply looking to streamline your meal prep process, I encourage you to give the Pemmican Principle a try. It might just be the secret weapon you need to reclaim your time and enjoy more delicious, nutritious meals.
Saint Marc is here to support your meal prep journey with a wide selection of high-quality kitchen tools and appliances to make the process even easier. From durable cutting boards to versatile blenders, we have everything you need to transform your kitchen into a hub of efficiency and culinary creativity.
So, what are you waiting for? Embrace the power of the Pemmican Principle and unlock a whole new world of time-saving, nourishing meals. Your taste buds (and your schedule) will thank you.
