Meal Prep and Cooking Tips

Use these tables to convert U.S. cooking measures to metric measurements.

Discover handouts and guides for shopping and planning healthy meals on a budget.

Look at over 50 tasty heart-healthy recipes that can also help lower your risk for heart disease and other conditions.

 Read this handout to learn about healthy cooking methods, and the equipment required for each method. 

View a table of spices to learn about their flavors and uses.

Learn when it is safe to eat fish you catch and how to clean and cook fish to reduce adverse health effects.

Use these videos, recipes, and cooking tips to prepare healthy meals at home.

Learn how to dry vegetables at home using oven or dehydrator methods.

Learn how to freeze fresh fruit using dry and tray packing methods.

Explore this directory of 80+ healthy foods, and learn about their health benefits and how they can be prepared.

Perfect recipe-making skills with these measuring tips. 

Learn about ingredient substitutions for favorite recipes. 

Follow along to learn the best ways to cut fruits, vegetables, and other foods.

Use these videos and tips to learn basic kitchen skills for cooking healthy foods. Topics include:

• Baking
• Boiling and Blanching
• Dressings and Sauces
• Herbs and Seasonings
• Knife Skills
• Sautéing and Stir-Frying
• Steaming

Read what ingredient replacements are acceptable when missing ingredients from the recipe. 

Learn how to use healthier ingredients in your favorite recipes.

Learn the benefits of a slow cooker and how to use it safely, as well as a number of sample recipes to try at home.

Learn basic kitchen skills, including methods for cooking, cutting and measuring.

Use this glossary to look up common food preparation terms and techniques. Also find videos on kitchen skills and cooking.

Read tips on saving money and maximizing your meals when cooking for one or two people. 

Find tips on how to store and transform leftovers to reduce food waste in your kitchen.

Discover how one common household ingredient can be used for five different meals. Featured ingredients include rice, oats, beans, and canned vegetables.

Try these tips and recipes to create healthy, easy meals with five ingredients or less.  

Find basic information about fruits and vegetables, including how to clean, freeze, and eat them. Use the Fruits A-Z directory and Veggies A-Z directory to look up facts about a specific food. Read various methods on how to cook vegetables. 

Get step-by-step instructions on how to cook dried beans.

Find instructions on how to prepare roasted vegetables that are packed with flavor.

Explore different parts of a healthy diet including recipes, popular diet and nutrition facts, facts about healthy and affordable diets, and more.

Discover ways to safely use leftovers in new meals.

Follow along to these step-by-step recipe tutorials. Find recipes including protein bites, apricot chicken, and hummus.

Watch these Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) cooking videos that demonstrate quick-and-easy, USDA standardized recipes for children of all ages.