Let’s face it, most people just don’t have the ability to spend a lot of time in the kitchen after a long, hard day. When speeding things up is the plan, there are some excellent shortcuts cooks can take to make meals that keep them coming back for seconds.

Some of the best ideas for hastening preparations involve a little planning, but they can pay off with tons of saved time when it matters the most. Some of the best ways to enjoy healthy meals in no time at all (besides calling the take-out place) include:

• Breaking out the slow cooker. This is a spectacular tool to use to enjoy incredible meals at the end of the day. Just chop vegetables, toss in a roast, some spices and water, turn on low and cover. By the time you get home, dinner will be ready to go. Just add some bread and butter and perhaps extra veggies and your supper will taste like you spent all day on it. Slow cookers are excellent for pork roasts, beef, chicken dishes and even certain . They also provide a perfect cooking environment for a mean stew, spaghetti sauce or chili.

• Cooking entrees in advance for the week. Some people adore cooking, but just don’t have the time during the week. To make the most of their time off, they prepare a week’s worth of meals on the weekends and freeze for reheating during the week. If stored in individual serving containers, family members can even satisfy their own cravings as they wish in a healthy, enjoyable way. Just about any main entrée can be handled in this fashion, along with many sides. If fresh vegetables are desired, just steam them up while dinner defrosts and reheats in a microwave. The trend for advanced cooking has become so popular, in fact, that gourmet food preparation businesses have cropped up everywhere, providing people a unique place within which to create meals to take home and freeze. You can save yourself the trouble and expense involved in this venture by using your own kitchen instead.

• Be an advanced cut up. If you have your menu plan in mind, but want to speed things up for the week, consider prepping over the weekend. Chop the vegetables and prepare basic items in advance. With a vacuum sealer, most veggies chopped on Sunday will work perfectly in dishes on Thursday or Friday.

• Plan one-pot/dish meals. Any meal that involves using a single pot, pan or dish for the entire production can save an incredible amount of time on cooking and clean up. Find some family favorites and enjoy.

Cooking a healthy dinner every night of the week isn’t an easy undertaking no matter the circumstance. If a full work schedule is also involved, the task can be daunting. When smart shortcuts are brought into play, it’s possible to deliver great meals with barely any effort at all.