Podcasts about cook smarts

In episode 663, Megan chats with Jess Smith to uncover the untold truths of traditional cookbook publishing—from crafting a winning proposal to landing a deal, and whether a large social media following really matters. Jess is a mom to three girls based in Kansas City, Missouri. While living in Thailand and working at the U.S. Embassy in 2010 she took Thai cooking classes on the weekends and shared everything she learned on her food blog InquiringChef.com. In the years that followed she pursued her dream of making a career in food and became the chief recipe developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Inquiring Chef has grown to over 6 million page views a year and has been featured in publications like Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost. In 2024 Jess opened a cooking school for kids in Kansas City called Inquiring Chef Academy where she spends school breaks guiding elementary-aged kids through lessons on everything from baking sourdough to chopping vegetables to setting the table. Her first cookbook, Start with a Vegetable, will be released in January 2025. In this episode, you'll learn how to write a compelling proposal, find an agent, work with a publisher and balance the whole process with running a blog and looking after your family. Key points discussed include: - A strong proposal is essential: Jess spent 6–8 months crafting a compelling proposal, which played a crucial role in landing her book deal. - An agent can be a game-changer: Having an agent helped Jess find a publisher and negotiate a significantly better advance. - A huge social following isn't required: Jess landed a traditional publishing deal without massive social media numbers—her strong concept and blog traffic helped. - Cookbook writing requires balance: Writing a book took time away from blogging, requiring a shift in priorities. - The editing process is intense: Working with professional editors improved her writing and recipe development skills. - Promotion is an ongoing effort: The marketing push doesn't end at launch—Jess continues to promote her book through various channels. - Photography can be a major challenge: Jess took all the photos for her book, which was rewarding but also a significant time commitment. - Investing in support is worth it: Hiring help for styling, editing, and even dishwashing made the process smoother and more manageable. Connect with Jess Smith Website | Instagram

Have you ever been told, "She ate and left no crumbs"? It usually means someone did an amazing job at something—like meal planning! You use what you have and leave no waste. In this episode, Jen and Jill, together with Jess Dang of Cook Smarts, help us get more creative with meal planning and explore its benefits for both our wallets and reducing food waste.

Simplifying and minimizing never go out of style! Listen in as we chat about the KonMari method, what we like, and the freedom we can find in identifying our own version of frugality and minimalism.  Sponsors:  Meal Planning Services: They are salvation when your brain just can’t decide what to eat anymore. We recommend Cook Smarts. It has three dietary options: traditional, paleo, and vegetarian, an amazing variety of recipes and the best quality recipes of the meal planning services we’ve tried. If you want to try Cook Smarts for 30 free head to https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cs to get some meal planning help this week! Timeless: Those items that never go out of style and supercede the ‘trends’; somehow bell-bottoms and belly shirts seem to be falling into this category, but we say frugality and minimalism are the real champs. Timeless: when you don’t need to look at the clock to know if somethings great. Notable Notes: We are pleased to bring you an oldie but a goodie as we play episode 37, all about the KonMari method, the pros, the cons and how to make minimalism work for us! For more episodes on minimalism check out: Episode 22- Interview With Cait Flanders, Author of The Year of Less (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-22-the-life-changing-magic-of-a-shopping-ban-with-cait-flanders/) Episode 32- Interview With Joshua Becker, Author of The More of Less (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-32-minimalism-with-joshua-becker/) Episode 59- Interview With Courtney Carver, Author of Project 333 (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-59-creating-soulful-simplicity-in-your-life-with-courtney-carver/) Episode 144- Creative Ways to Declutter (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/creative-ways-to-declutter-ep144/) Wrap-Up: Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com (mailto:frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com) . AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a copy of the Frugal Friends Workbook! Thanks for listening! See you next week!

Eating healthy and saving money don't have to be competing goals! We're talking about how we can get the nutrition we need without overspending at the grocery store. Sponsors:  Meal Planning services: They are salvation when your brain just can’t decide what to eat anymore. We recommend Cook Smarts. It has three dietary options: traditional, paleo, and vegetarian, an amazing variety of recipes and the best quality recipes of the meal planning services we’ve tried. If you want to try Cook Smarts for 30 free head to frugalfriendspodcast.com/cs (htttps://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cs) to get some meal planning help this week! Dishes: They’re sitting there, waiting for you. It feels like they’re watching, judging as you walk by and do nothing. Did you know that some people actually do their dishes every night and wake up with a clean kitchen? Those people are liars. Dishes are the unfortunate byproduct of cooking at home but they want you to know they can make it easier on you. If you soak things, wash them quicker, or have children, raise them for 10 years then make them do all the dishes. Dishes, they are still there. Check out these episodes for more on saving money on food: Ep 3 Healthy Food The Frugal Way (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-3-cheap-healthy-food/) Ep 70 Grocery Store Sales Cycles (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-70-grocery-store-sale-cycles-to-know-about/) Ep 92 Reducing Food Waste W/ Debt Kickin Mom (https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episode-92-reducing-food-waste-w-debt-kickin-mom/) Notable Notes: What the Internet has to say: This article from Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/19-ways-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5) provides us with a nice list of 19 ways to eat healthy on a budget What Jen + Jill have to say: Cook at home - saves money and reduces amounts of oil/salt, etc. Replace meat with other proteins Rurchase in season - and buy frozen fruits/veggies that aren’t in season  Plan your meals: pick 1 day/week to write down what you will eat, check your pantry/fridge for what you already have, make a shopping list (check out pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com) for helpful meal plans that resonate with you) STICK TO YOUR PLAN Grow your own - this may not be ultimately cost effective depending on your situation, but growing your own tomatoes and herbs could help reduce costs and lend to tastier meals! Appreciate less expensive food - i.e. beans, eggs, seeds, whole grains, cheaper cuts of meat, produce that is in season, etc. More from the Internet: This article from The Kitchn (https://www.thekitchn.com/foods-that-actually-help-me-eat-healthier-on-a-budget-264933) outline the best food that help us eat healthy on a budget More from Jen + Jill: Beans + lentils  Sweet potatoes (and regular potatoes!!) Cottage cheese EGGS!! There are SO many ways to use eggs! Hummus (healthier snack AND can be paired with veggies) Can of salmon - we found this one interesting! BILL OF THE WEEK -  Thank you Kelsie for sharing your bill about paying for your college tuition utilizing various loans and grants If you want to submit your bill of the week visit https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/billto leave us a bill Lightning Round  Food hacks Jen-  food blogs, paying attention to food portions Jill -  make my own! Use up extra fruit/veggies in a smoothie (coconut water), visual meal plan Wrap-Up: Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com (mailto:frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com) . AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a copy of the Frugal Friends Workbook! Thanks for listening! See you next week!

If you're anything like pre-Cook Smarts Becca, you have dabbled in meal planning services, used trials of big-name meal boxes sent to your door...but always left feeling a little jaded by the price or unhappy with the menu. Then, I found Cook Smarts!  Today on the podcast Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts Meal Planning, joins me to share her best tips for busy family meal planning, what the difference between CS and other services is, and how spending a little time prepping meals a mental load off for the week! Want to try out Cook Smarts? Get started here! Follow Cook Smarts on Instagram Follow Becca on Instagram Find your Sleep Training Program here!

Jackie Sun has been one of the greatest blessings to Cook Smarts. She was the first person I hired and took me from a one-woman show to a two-woman show. Not only has she proved herself to be an integral part of the team, but she is such a gentle, caring soul and has made me a better person over the years we’ve worked together.    In today’s episode, we’re getting to know this multi-talented lady and also taking a walk down memory lane. I cannot believe that Jackie has been working with me for 7 years -- time absolutely flies! Among the many stories you’ll get to hear:   How Jackie became a pastry chef and how she made the transition to working for Cook Smarts and learned an entirely new set of skills All the different hats she’s worn over the years at Cook Smarts and what she loves doing most now How working at Cook Smarts has helped her start her own company Wondershins How she meal plans and cooks for a mixed-diet household   If you love getting a behind-the-scenes peek at small businesses and love a transformation story, then this podcast episode is for you!   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!  

There were so many issues with Amy's health. She's been coping with back pain, has gone through spinal surgery, shoulder surgery, migraine headaches, and IBS. Through a friend, she was turned on to hemp oil and has found relief for these problems! Listen to her story and you'll be amazed that it all happened within six weeks!If you suffer from migraines, allow Amy to explain how hemp oil helped her.What triggers a migraine?  Do your research here:https://www.projectcbd.org/https://healer.com/#migraine #cervicalspine #spinalsurgery #shouldersurgery #hormones #hemp #cbd #cannabinoids #hempoil BUY QUALITY HEMP PRODUCTS HERE.***DISCLAIMER: MHOH does not express the views of any specific hemp product company and regardless of the health issues we talk about, we do not claim that hemp extract will diagnose, cure or treat any diseases. I am not a doctor and we are not making recommendations on treatment, dosing or making medical claims. I urge you to do your own research.WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:Support the show with a 1-time contributionSupport the show with a monthly donation at Patreon and get some free stuff!BECOME A PODCAST HOST - It's kind of easy with Buzzsprout!Home cooking made easy with Cook Smarts and you'll be supporting the show!Support the show (https://www.myhealthonhemp.com/support)

We’re on a little summer break, so I’m introducing you to another one of our Cook Smarts team members!   If every company had a Sarah Byun on the team, companies would have many, many more happy customers. Sarah started off as a Cook Smarts customer in 2014 and then joined our team as our Kitchen Happiness Cheerleader in the spring of 2015. Since then, she has helped countless customers get their questions answered, concerns addressed, typos on their emails fixed, always with the most cheerful demeanor.    In today’s episode, you’ll get to know this amazing multi-tasking mama and also get a behind-the-scenes look at our small but mighty company. Plus, you’ll get to hear:   How Sarah juggles being a homeschooling mom with her Cook Smarts responsibilities All the hats she wears because she does way more than answer customer service emails The negative customer service email she had to answer in her application to get the job!   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

We’re on a little summer break, so we’re rerunning one of my favorite episodes!   One of the best things that’s happened to Cook Smarts is bringing on a dedicated meal plan developer. Jess Smith joined the team in the spring of 2015, all the way from Thailand and has taken our recipe development process and the quality of our meals to a whole other level.   In today’s episode, we’re getting to know this multi-talented lady and also giving you a behind the scenes of our small little company. Plus, you’ll get to hear:   How she made a huge career switch going from working for the State Department in Thailand to working in food full time and all the lessons she’s learned during this transition What it’s like to go from food blogging to getting feedback -- sometimes less than positive feedback -- on every recipe you create The most challenging part of the job and what’s gotten easier over time   If you’re someone who’s wanted to make a career change and pursue your true passion, this episode is definitely not to be missed. Another added bonus: I also offer some advice to the entrepreneurs out there about building out your team.    For all the links mentioned in this episode and to see a picture of Jess’ family of 5, head to our show notes: www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/3  

In today’s podcast episode, we are bringing in teacher extraordinaire Katie Kimball to give us a few cooking and parenting lessons. Katie is an advocate for healthy kids cooking, a blogger, former teacher and the founder of the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. Her blog, Kitchen Stewardship helps families stay healthy without going crazy, and she’s on a mission to connect families around healthy food and teach every child in America to cook.   We are actually going through Katie’s course right now, and it’s been so fun. Katie is one of those people who was just born to teach kids. She has a naturally warm demeanor, a gift for explaining concepts in a way that anyone can understand, and a rapport with kids that cannot be taught. Plus, she’s got amazing camera presence! My kids are learning a lot from Mrs. Kimball and definitely loving their new kitchen skills, and I am learning a thing or two about parenting and communicating with kids from Katie through the course, which is such an added bonus.   Because of our businesses, I have known Katie for many years now, and I’ve always been so impressed with how smart she is but also how generous and thoughtful, and I am so excited to introduce her to you today to talk more about her program and the importance of teaching kids how to cook.   In today’s episode, we chat about:   How important it is to teach kids how to cook and how parents can do it without making it more work How to make your own DIY kitchen summer camp What kitchen skills children should learn at various developmental stages How to encourage a child to help in the kitchen when they show little interest in cooking   Check out this Knife Skills Lesson Katie is making available for free to the Cook Smarts community -- it is appropriate for children of any age! https://www.kidscookrealfood.com/cooksmarts   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!

In today’s podcast episode, we’re checking in with another one of our all-star community members Lauren Davis. Lauren lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is the mom to 4 year old Gavin. Her husband is immunocompromised so she has been extra diligent about staying away from the grocery stores and this definitely requires some next level planning.   In addition to the adjustments required for the pandemic, her family has also moved in with her parents, which is introducing another element into her planning process. However, using a sophisticated Post-It Note system (head to our show notes to see www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/31), not only has Lauren been able to get it done in the kitchen, but seems to be thriving during this time!   In our chat, Lauren shares:   How she gets 4 different adults to agree on what they’re eating How she’s meal planning so that she only needs to grocery shop just once every 3 to 4 weeks How she’s managing her mental mindset during this time   During our rapid fire round, Lauren shares a kitchen tool that I’ve never heard of. This spoon has a flat edge, and it’s her favorite kitchen tool. She’s never been able to find another one, so we’re on a hunt to help her find a backup in case this one breaks. Have you seen something like this? We need the help of our entire podcast community in this treasure hunt!   For photos of Lauren’s Post-It Note system and very-important spoon, head to the show notes at www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/31   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!  

In today’s podcast episode, we’re checking in with one of our favorite community members Gabrielle Smith. Gabrielle lives in Fort Worth Texas with her husband and her 7 year old son and 4 year old daughter. While she works as an attorney, she could just as easily be a professional meal planner and prepper.   Gabrielle has been one of our most active Facebook members. She so generously offers tips and suggestions when others need it and routinely shares not only photos of her meals but the comments of the food critics she cooks for. During the time she’s been a part of our community, I can also tell what an incredibly organized, process-based person she is, and she’s stepped up those skills during the pandemic.   During our chat, I had her share how she’s had to adapt her weekly meal planning and grocery shopping process to accommodate all this new normal we’re living through. We talked the day before Mother’s Day, and it was such a delight to not only talk to one of my favorite members, but a mom I truly admire.   In our chat, Gabrielle shares:   How she meal plans normally and what changes she’s had to make during the pandemic How she’s introduced more meatless meals into her life, and how you can too, especially important now with potential meat chickens and pork shortages in our future How she manages her life week-to-week to fit in all the things that are important to her   Come join us as we talk to this great Cook Smarts friend!    For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/30   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!

* G I V E A W A Y*  Our podcast turned 1, and we are doing a little $50 Amazon gift card birthday giveaway. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast, snap a screenshot of your review and text it to 650-386-0290. It has to be a new review dated after April 22nd. If you’ve already left a review in the past but still want to enter the giveaway, you can leave your review as a voice message at the same number, and we might just play it on a future episode. At the end of the month, I’ll select 1 winner at random!   In our latest podcast episode, I got to chat with Yvette Marquez all about Mexican food. As a second generation Mexican-American, she has been sharing cherished family Mexican recipes since 2010 on her food blog Muy Bueno Cooking, which has been turned into its own cookbook.    I love Mexican food but like all ethnic cuisines, it can feel a bit intimidating when you’re getting started. There are ingredients you’ve never heard of, a new set of pantry staples to get to know, and new techniques that might not feel familiar.   So in this episode, I asked Yvette to break it all down for us and make Mexican cooking totally approachable and accessible. You’ll learn all about:   Peppers -- the difference between dried and fresh, plus which ones you need for simple sauces Sauces -- basic master sauces that will help you create a wide variety of Mexican dishes Plus other Mexican staples like spices, beans, tortillas, and cuts of meat.   For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/29   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!

In our latest podcast episode, I invited Jenny Best Founder of Solid Starts to talk all about baby led weaning, the process of transitioning a baby to solid foods using a finger food first approach. Jenny is the mom of 3, including a set of twins, and Solid Starts grew out of her own challenges of introducing solids to her little babes. From fears of choking to lack of information around what foods are best for babies, she started documenting all of it herself.   Now Solid Starts features an ever-growing food database offering parents incredibly pragmatic information on hundreds of foods, all for free. Each ingredient has a nutrition rating and nutritional information, when and how it should be introduced, if it’s an allergen or how it can be a choking hazard, and so much more. It’s such an incredible resource.    In this episode we also dig into some of the biggest questions parents have when starting their babies on solid foods, such as:   Why baby led weaning and is there still a place for purees with a finger food first approach? What are the signs that a baby is ready for solids? How do you start a baby on solids? What do you need? What makes a food a choking hazard and what steps you can take to prevent it from being one? What are some great on-the-go snacks and solids for a baby?   Even though I’m a mom of 3, I learned so much from this episode and wish I had had this interview 4.5 years ago when I was starting Neko out on solids for the first time. Clearly, it all ended up fine but I would have had a lot more context and a clearer process (and I love a good clear process!). Talking to Jenny has given me great inspiration to dig into the database and introduce even more variety into our family’s diet!   For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/28   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!  

For our 27th episode, I have a real treat, at least it was a real treat for me because I got to talk about one of my favorite topics of all time -- kitchen organization -- with Sam Pregenzer the Founder of SO | Home a residential professional organizing company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She’s a mom of 3 kids and her specialty is creating organizing solutions and systems for families, because it is so easy to just feel like you’re drowning in stuff when you start having kids. She’s been featured in lots of big publications like Redbook, Family Circle, Oprah.com and is field editor for Better Homes and Gardens.   In the episode, she shares: How one becomes a professional organizer How she works with clients and the important role of counseling and listening Her 2 simple tips for making more space in your kitchen (and home) The organizing tools she likes to use for kitchen spaces Her tips for organizing 3 trouble areas: spices, Tupperware, and kid items   This episode will inspire you to tackle some of your organization projects and make your kitchen a space you want to spend even more time in.   For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/27   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!

Our lives are so busy these days, and so often lived virtually, that we’ve lost this beautiful tradition of gathering friends around the dinner table. To help me revive this practice, I’ve invited Anna Watson Carl, an expert dinner party thrower onto our podcast today.   Anna is a cook and writer, and the author of “The Yellow Table: A Celebration of Everyday Gatherings.” Her writing has appeared in Food & Wine, Travel+Leisure, and Tasting Table just to name a few. A former private chef, she has cooked for countless dinner parties around the U.S. and in France. Today, she lives in Nashville with her husband and two young children.   In the episode, she shares: Her go-to 4 part dinner party menu Tips for making the evening stress-free Gathering people around your table even when you have kids How to make the evening special even when the food is simple Her new dinner party philosophy   Hopefully it’ll inspire you to invite a friend or 2 over!   For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/26   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!

Jess Dang is the founder of Cook Smarts online meal planning service, voted #1 on Lifehacker. She started Cook Smarts in 2012 to help families live healthier lives, feel empowered and inspired in the kitchen, and lighten the mental load of meal planning. Prior to starting Cook Smarts, Jess was a contestant on a Food Network cooking show and taught in-home cooking lessons around the Bay Area. She is a mother of three and host of the "In the Kitchen With Cook Smarts" podcast. Listen to this episode of the Mother Honestly podcast as Kristen and Jess discuss the good, the bad, and the simple when it comes to determining how to feed your family. With over 6 years of focused meal plans and member approved recipes, Jess Dang has great insight into making meals work for working moms. You can learn more about Cook Smarts and try them yourself by visiting https://www.cooksmarts.com/  The Mother Honestly podcast is sponsored by Motor City Woman.

For those of you who have been following my personal Instagram account @jessdangcs, you’ll know 2 things: 1) I am terrible at posting on Instagram and; 2) I love my air-fryer. Probably every 3rd post is something I made in this amazing machine because it’s the 1 appliance I probably use every single day.   I know that there are quite a few of you who got air-fryers over the holidays, and I want to make sure you take full advantage of this incredibly useful appliance, so in today’s episode, I’ll go over: What the heck an air-fryer is Why you need one, especially if you have kids! When you should use your air-fryer and when you shouldn’t The 13 things I cook in it all the time and actually think are better made in the air-fryer over the stovetop or the oven   By the end, you’ll be so excited to fall in love with your air-fryer just as I have with mine (I’m actually on my second as I wanted to upgrade to a larger one) or go out and get one if you don’t own one yet.    For all the links in today’s episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/25   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). If we read your review on a future podcast, you’ll win a Cook Smarts tote bag!  

Today's guest is Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts, an online meal planning service. Jess started Cook Smarts in 2012 to help families live healthier lives, feel empowered and inspired in the kitchen, and to lighten the mental load of meal planning. Jess and I chat about content creation and the 5 step approach she takes in creating content for Cook Smarts that you can apply to your own business. And, she's really the perfect guest to be chatting about content creation, since it is really what her business is built around. Krista and I are signing up for a 30 day free trial of Cook Smarts, so we will have to keep you updated on how that goes. If you are also interested in a trial, head on over to cooksmarts.com to check it out. For the show notes, go to https://daveyandkrista.com/btb-jess-dang-episode-78/

I have such a treat for you all today and it is completely unrelated to cooking, but it might just become your favorite Cook Smarts podcast episode. I’m excited to share another part of our origin story today -- there would be no Cook Smarts meal plan service without the talents and persistence of Jen Gilbert, who helped me build our meal plan service back in 2013.   Jen and I met in the fall of 2012 at a Railsbridge workshop. We had both just turned 30 and made huge career changes. She wanted to learn to code to become a software developer, and I wanted to learn to code because I was determined to build a meal plan service. There were many challenges and hiccups along the way, but in the end we launched the service on May 1, 2013 with paying customers on day 1. Come join us in this walk down memory lane and hear how we made the impossible happen. Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2). Screenshot it and text it to 650-386-0290 for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. If you’ve already left a review there, send us a voicemail review at the same number instead!

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts, all about self care and outsourcing as a form of self care.   We talk about: - The overused phrase “self care” and what it means to each of us - The best things to outsource to simplify life and make room for the things that make us happier - How to overcome budget constraints and the mentality that you have to do everything yourself - Jess’ weekly self care rituals and so much more. :) Here’s a little bit about Jess:  Jess Dang is the founder of Cook Smarts online meal planning service, voted #1 on Lifehacker. She started Cook Smarts in 2012 to help families live healthier lives, feel empowered and inspired in the kitchen, and lighten the mental load of meal planning. Prior to starting Cook Smarts, Jess was a contestant on a Food Network cooking show and taught in-home cooking lessons around the Bay Area. She is a mother of three and host of the "In the Kitchen With Cook Smarts" podcast. Resources from this episode: - Try Cook Smarts here. You’ll get 30 days free and use the code FITNESSISTA for 20% off!  - Connect with Jess on Instagram here and on their podcast here  Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you.  You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.  

Hi friends, this isn’t an episode but two short community announcements about our sale and giveaway. First, I wanted to make sure you knew were are in the middle of our big New Year’s sale. 2020 is the year where I want to help you do more by doing less. If you’re not using our meal plan service already, free yourself of tedious mental labor with a meal plan subscription. It’ll be the best money you spend all year because it’ll save you time and money and free you from so much stress and decision making. And for the entire month of January, you can use code DOLESSIN2020 for 20% off. Gifts are included too for those who are still sending some belated holiday gifts.   The other thing I wanted to let you know about is that we’re also kicking off the year with a giveaway. To enter, we need you to submit a review on Apple Podcast. This helps our podcast grow and also get some big names to interview!    The prize is a $100 Amazon gift card for you to get whatever you need to make your year more successful.   You have 2 options to enter the giveaway:   Leave a review on Apple Podcast and then text the screenshot to 650-386-0290. If you’ve already left a review in the past or are just not an Apple person, leave a review on our voicemail. The number again is 650-386-0290. Introduce yourself, tell us why you love Cook Smarts and our podcast.   We’ll then mix up all the Apple reviews and phone reviews and select a winner at random at the end of the month.   Now for those of you who want to participate but have never left a podcast review, let me walk you through how to do it. There are 2 easy ways to do it. If you have the Apple Podcast app on your phone, just  head to our podcast page from there, scroll to the bottom where you’ll see ratings and reviews and just click on the Write a Review link. If you’re on a desktop computer that has iTunes, just click on this link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429, and then choose to listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast. It’ll open it in iTunes and from there you can click on “Ratings and Reviews” and click on the “Write a Review” button.   So leave us some kind words on Apple Podcast or give us a ring at 650-386-0290 and head to cooksmarts.com for our sale! 

I wanted to just pop into your feed today with a little Thanksgiving reflection, thank you note and request! Our biggest sale of the year is on right now. Enjoy 30% off everything with code THANKS19 https://www.cooksmarts.com/weekly-meal-planner/sale Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag! If you’ve got questions you want us to answer in a future episode, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 1-650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail. You might just hear your voice on the podcast!

Can you believe that the holidays are just around the corner? I’ll be hosting Thanksgiving this year and am excited to be in menu planning mode. I know cooking a big holiday meal can feel quite intimidating, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience entertaining. So as someone who’s planned and cooked a lot of big meals for friends and family and clients during my catering days, I wanted to pass on celebratory meal planning system. With the right kind of planning and organization, you’ll be able to create an incredible feast without stress and anxiety. In this podcast episode, I’ll share: How to create a holiday menu that won’t have you cooking for days The Excel template that I use to make sure my big holiday dinner goes off without a hitch How to prepare your kitchen for extra helpers  And even if you’re not hosting Thanksgiving, these “big meal” planning tips can be used for any large gathering you might plan in the future. Have a listen and gain the confidence you need to rock a big holiday dinner! Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag! If you’ve got questions you want us to answer in a future episode, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 1-650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail. You might just hear your voice on the podcast!

NEW: If you’ve got questions you want us to answer in a future episode, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 1-650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail. You might just hear your voice on the podcast!   Most of us don’t have a pantry stocking system or plan. We simply stock it as we go, based on the recipes we’re cooking. This means that our pantries can become a graveyard of long-forgotten, expired ingredients that were used once and then abandoned because we never knew what to do with them again. Sound familiar?   However, if we stock our pantries with the right ingredients, we create a versatile foundation of supplies that we can draw from every single week. Our pantry can then be used as input for our meal planning so that we only need to purchase a few perishable items to create delicious homemade meals.   Knowing what to stock in our pantry means that we’re not only creating less clutter in our homes, but we’re also saving money each week. Since we want to help you do both, we’ll help you take control of your pantry in this episode by covering:   What ingredients to stock so that you’re never far from a home-cooked meal Simple meal templates to take advantage of whatever is in your pantry How to create more opportunities to use everything in your pantry Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag!

NEW: If you’ve got questions you want us to answer in a future episode, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 1-650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail. You might just hear your voice on the podcast!   If every company had a Sarah Byun on the team, companies would have many, many more happy customers. Sarah started off as a Cook Smarts customer in 2014 and then joined our team as our Kitchen Happiness Cheerleader in the spring of 2015. Since then, she has helped countless customers get their questions answered, concerns addressed, typos on their emails fixed, always with the most cheerful demeanor.    In today’s episode, you’ll get to know this amazing multi-tasking mama and also get a behind-the-scenes look at our small but mighty company. Plus, you’ll get to hear:   How Sarah juggles being a homeschooling mom with her Cook Smarts responsibilities All the hats she wears because she does way more than answer customer service emails The negative customer service email she had to answer in her application to get the job!   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

Hi friends, this isn’t an episode but a little podcast community announcement. You know how like every other episode I nag you about improving your knife skills? Well, I only do it because you can’t be a confident and efficient cook without having some good knife skills. However, instead of just telling you that you need to do this, we’re gonna actually help you make it happen with our first ever community challenge.    Our three main goals with this Chop Like a Pro community challenge is to help you: Improve your kitchen confidence Teach you a life skill that will make such a difference in your cooking experience Save you time in the kitchen   Now here are the main details: The challenge will take place within our Facebook Group. If you’re not a part of it already, get the link in the episode description (https://www.facebook.com/groups/cs.heroes/) or search for Cook Smarts Kitchen Heroes in Facebook. You do have to be a member of our meal plan service to join the group but you can get a free 30 day trial at cooksmarts.com. The challenge will begin the week of October 14th and last for 4 weeks. While you can join in later, it’s best to start from the beginning because the skills will build on each other. Every week, I will be doing a video lesson in the Facebook group and then assign you some homework to practice the skills discussed in the lesson. You can watch the videos anytime you’re free so it’s not like if you missed it live, you’ve missed the lesson. There will also be PDF downloads and some infographics posted to support your learning too. Plus, we’re tying the lessons into the meal plan menus so you’ll be killing 2 birds with 1 stone -- talk about efficiency, cause that’s just the Cook Smarts way!   So that’s really it. Super simple, right? If all of that sounds good you, make sure you’re in our Facebook Group. You’ll start to see announcements for it soon, and I’m so excited to kick it off the week of October 14th and have you going into the holiday season chopping like a total pro that I know that you are. See you in the Facebook Group!

NEW: If you’ve got questions you want us to answer in a future episode, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 1-650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail. You might just hear your voice on the podcast!   We’ve invited Kacie Barnes a pediatric Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (better known as Mama Knows Nutrition) onto the podcast to help break down toddler nutrition for us because toddlers don’t always make it easy on us.   In our chat, we cover:   Big picture nutrition guidelines for toddlers and what a balanced toddler diet should look like (it turns out that they do need way more carbs than adults do!) The feeding worries parents have and how to handle them Everything sugar and how to make sure there’s less of it in your toddler’s diet   If you’re a parent of a tot, then don’t miss this episode full of Kacie’s wise and grounded advice that will have you feeling way less stressed and worried as a parent. If you want to grab her Picky Eater Starter Guide or get any of the links mentioned in the episode, head to www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/17   Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please tell a friend about our podcast and leave us a review on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429?mt=2) . If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!  

What’s this?  A reminder for our giveaway, which ends Wednesday, 10/2   What’s the prize? An 8” Global chef’s knife worth $125. This is the amazingly sharp and light chef’s knife that I use every day in my kitchen. I honestly couldn’t live without it, and I want one of our supportive listeners to win one too!   How do I enter? Leave a review on Apple Podcast and then send us a screenshot of it at hello@cooksmarts.com. That way we can easily contact you if you’ve won because it’s not always obvious from your iTunes user name who you are.  If you’ve already left a review in the past or are just not an Apple person, you can call 650-386-0290 and leave a review as a voicemail. Please introduce yourself, tell us why you love Cook Smarts and our podcast, and then make sure to close with your email address. Don’t worry, we won’t share your email address on the air, but it’ll make it easy for us to contact you.   We’ll then mix up all the Apple reviews and phone reviews and select a winner at random on Friday, October 4th and then announce the winner on Monday, October 7th. And because we get to make our own rules, I just may add a bonus prize for my favorite review.   What if I don’t know how to leave a review on Apple Podcast? If you have the Apple Podcast app on your phone, just  head to our podcast page from there, scroll to the bottom where you’ll see ratings and reviews and just click on the Write a Review link. If you’re on a desktop computer that has iTunes, just click on the link in our episode description (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429) and then choose to listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast. It’ll open it in iTunes and from there you can click on “Ratings and Reviews” and click on the “Write a Review” button.   Remember to enter by Wednesday, 10/2 and thank you for your support of our podcast, Cook Smarts, and home cooking!

FOOD! We love it, but it's one of the biggest budget challenges we face each month. But what if we could reduce our spending and save more money by cutting costs on food? We're challenging all of us (including ourselves!) to cook at home by dispelling some myths about home cooking and providing some tips on how to do this with ease! Join in and share your own progress!Sponsors: Rakuten: An online shopping portal where you can get cash-back on purchases from your favorite stores. We use it for Groupon, Amazon, Walmart, travel sites and more. If you haven’t tried Rakuten yet we’ve got a $10 welcome bonus for you on your first purchase of $25 or more when you sign up through frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakutenStainless Steel: Are you sick of your eggs sliding gently off the pan only to realize the nonstick coating has come off with it? Have your plastic utensils seen better days? Try stainless steel. It’s virtually indestructible to all the bad things you can do in the kitchen. All you have to do is remember to oil the pan once it's already hot, not before, but it won’t judge you when you forget. Stainless steel, when it’s time to adult in the kitchen.Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Mind Body Green gives a 30-day home cooking challenge, the benefits they encountered by doing this, and how to guide for us readers!What Jen+Jill have to say:For 30 days - 100% of food must be made at homeBenefits:Making your own food gives voice and choice “you can decide the ingredients rather than what’s given"Causes more hosting- invite friends into the process!Eating TOGETHER + stressing less = better for health :)“There's eating, and there's nourishment, and I'll take the latter any day of the week.”HOW TO;Be realistic  about amount of timeDecide what “homemade’ means to youFind a buddyHold yourself accountableDon't put other restrictions in place!More from the Internet:This article from Help Guide dispels some of the myths or barriers to cooking at home. We are now without excuse!More from Jen+Jill:People who eat out consume an average of 200 more calories a day than those who prepare meals at home :/It doesn't have to be complicated - go simple!Receive $10 off your first grocery purchase at frugalfriendspodcast.com/walmart OBSTACLES:I don't have timeFast food is cheaperI'm too tiredI don’t know how to cookI hate being in the kitchenI cant get my family to eat healthyGet startedUse fresh ingredientsKeep it simpleMake substitutions for healthStock up on staplesGive yourself leewayBILL OF THE WEEK -  Thanks Melinda for your Bill of the Week! Congrats to you and your husband for paying off your house!If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning RoundHow to cook at home for a month:Prep some freezer meals and double recipes that freeze well.Use what you have at home, invite friends for a freezer meal swapRepurpose leftoversAnything can be turned into a soup, fried rice, pasta, salad, or stir-fryMeal plan once for the whole month, or use Cook Smarts. New users get their first 3 weeks free at frugalfriendspodcast.com/cs; promo code frugal (for 25%off)Don’t be afraid of eating cereal for dinner. Have provisions to make a sandwich, omelet, quesadilla, a smoothie,  or any other quick dinner to keep you from eating out.Frugal Friends Book Club:For this month’s frugal book club book we are finishing up The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker! If you want a free copy, leave us a review on iTunes or Stitcher, screenshot the review and send it to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. We’ll select the winners at the end of the month.

In honor of my 38th birthday, I wanted to share what inspired me to leave the corporate world to then start Cook Smarts 8 years ago. Hint: it was more than just a love for food and cooking but a life-altering medical diagnosis that ended up changing my whole perspective on life and health. At the age of 17, in 1998, I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, and in today’s episode I talk about how it all happened and how a potentially life-threatening illness became one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.    If you want to leave me some birthday love, got a question you want us to answer, or comments about a previous episode, give us a call at 650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail (or a text for those who have no idea how to use their phone as a phone).  Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please share this episode with all your friends who want to be better cooks, and leave us a review on Apple Podcast. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

We’re on a mission to help you never say, “This meal was bland,” ever again because there is no reason why any of us needs to cook or eat a bland meal. With some simple seasoning habits and a few tips on how to make those habits stick, you’ll be on your way to cooking only the most flavorful and enjoyable meals in no time!   If you’ve got questions you want us to answer, comments about a previous episode, or just want to say hi and share some love, give us a call at 650-386-0290 and leave us a voicemail (or a text for those who have no idea how to use their phone as a phone).  Want to be a super supporter of the show and home cooking? Please share this episode with all your friends who want to be better cooks, and leave us a review on Apple Podcast. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

Hi friends, this isn’t an episode but a little podcast community announcement. We’re still a relatively new podcast and one of the best ways for us to grow our audience and support more home cooks is to gather more reviews and ratings on Apple Podcast, so we’re gonna run a little giveaway starting today Thursday, September 19th, running through Wednesday, October 2nd.   The prize is an 8” Global chef’s knife worth $125. This is the chef’s knife that I use, and I love it so much that I want a lucky listener to get one too!    You have 2 options to enter the giveaway:   Leave a review on Apple Podcast and then send us a screenshot of it at hello@cooksmarts.com. That way we can easily contact you if you’ve won because it’s not always obvious from your iTunes user name who you are.  If you’ve already left a review in the past or are just not an Apple person, is to leave a review on our voicemail. The number is 650-386-0290. Introduce yourself, tell us why you love Cook Smarts and our podcast, and then make sure to close with your email address. Don’t worry, we won’t share your email address on the air, but it’ll make it easy for us to contact you.   We’ll then mix up all the Apple reviews and phone reviews and select a winner at random on Friday, October 4th and then announce the winner on Monday, October 7th. And because we get to make our own rules, maybe there will be a bonus prize for the review that gives me the biggest smile!   Now for those of you who want to participate but have never left a podcast review, let me walk you through how to do it. There are 2 easy ways to do it. If you have the Apple Podcast app on your phone, just  head to our podcast page from there, scroll to the bottom where you’ll see ratings and reviews and just click on the Write a Review link. If you’re on a desktop computer that has iTunes, just click on this link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-kitchen-with-cook-smarts/id1454754429, and then choose to listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast. It’ll open it in iTunes and from there you can click on “Ratings and Reviews” and click on the “Write a Review” button.   So leave us some kind words on Apple Podcast or give us a ring at 650-386-0290. We’d love to hear your voice and remember to introduce yourself at the beginning and leave your email at the end!

Today I’ve invited Ruth Garrett one of our most enthusiastic community members to the podcast. Ruth is in her early 60’s and instead of enjoying the luxury of an empty nest, Ruth found herself doing the whole parent thing all over again when she became the guardian to 2 of her grandkids a few years ago. Shuttling kids to and from activities after work and cooking for 2 often picky kids have been challenging but Ruth has taken it all in stride.   I have such admiration for this incredibly curious and capable woman, and I know you’ll feel the same way after listening to our conversation. She’ll share:   How she became the experienced not-afraid-to-improv cook she is today Going from cooking for 1 to including the needs of 2 picky kids Her tofu tips for tofu haters   If you’re someone who loves inspiring stories, don’t miss this episode with Ruth. Head to our show notes for all the links we mention. www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/14 Help us continue to put these info-packed episodes together by subscribing to us in your podcast player and throwing us some stars. If you really love us and want to be a super supporter (and we hope you do!), please do leave us a review on Apple Podcast too. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

In today’s new podcast episode, we share more strategies for saving time in the kitchen. If you haven’t checked last week’s episode, make sure to start there so you have the full game plan to kick off your most efficient school year yet!   While last week we shared ways to cut down on your prepping and cooking time by being smart about your tools, skills, and ingredient choices, this week we’re all about giving you tips for getting ahead so that dinner goes smoothly every weeknight. After listening to this episode, you’ll be able to:   Shift your mindset to always help your future self out Find the time to meal prep Reduce your meal prep time with simple kitchen hacks   Please share with all your busy friends out there, and head to our show notes for all the helpful links we mention. www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/13   Help us continue to put these info-packed episodes together by subscribing to us in your podcast player and throwing us some stars. If you really love us and want to be a super supporter (and we hope you do!), please do leave us a review on Apple Podcast too. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

Today’s podcast episode (and next week’s) is for anyone looking to save some time in the kitchen -- so basically, it’s for everyone because in all the years I’ve taught cooking and run Cook Smarts, not one person has said, “I wish it took me longer to cook a meal.” Nope, not one.   I know many of the parents in our community have kids headed back to school this week, and with the after-school activities, homework help, PTA meetings, your schedule is about to get packed. So, this episode is for all the busy parents out there and anyone who wants to save time cooking!   I have so many tips to share that I’m breaking them down into 2 episodes. In part 1, I’ll cover:   The most important kitchen skill one needs to reduce their prep time The ingredients to have on your weekly menu to ensure quick and easy meal prep Quick cooking ingredients that will make sure you have dinner on the table in a flash   Please share with all your busy friends out there, and head to our show notes for all the helpful links we mention. www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/12   Help us continue to put these info-packed episodes together by subscribing to us in your podcast player and throwing us some stars. If you really love us and want to be a super supporter (and we hope you do!), please do leave us a review on Apple Podcast too. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!  

In this episode we welcome Emily and Tyler to the show to tell us their interesting story of meeting, starting a family, teaching and ultimately starting a lifestyle brand dedicated to sharing tips for tidy, simple and joyful living.  Tyler is the face of the brand but they work on it together, with Emily preferring the work behind the scenes! We hear from our guests about their long life together, from meeting in school, becoming friends and then dating to changes during their college years and eventually settling down in Queens to start a family. We also chat about career paths and how to work in the education sector morphed into their current work situation and the busy and beautiful life they currently enjoy.  Our guests get into the impact of therapy, using new technologies and emphasize the importance of new routines that have improved their lives. So for all this and more, from two inspirational people raising a wonderful family right here in Queens, tune in! Welcome to Parenting in Queens Key Points from This Episode How our guests met in eighth grade!   The effect of having kids and navigating the new landscape of parenthood.   A period of high stress and transition that the couple endured together.  The natural flow of the school year and how this related to their relationship.  The influences of parents on our guests' own parenting styles and ideas.   Cleaning up their living space and the birth of The Tidy Dad!  Utilizing technological advancements and learning from younger generations.  The gift of therapy and the amazing help it has given Tyler and the family in general.   The gender gap and how mothers and fathers typically deal with emotions differently.   A new laundry routine that has made a big difference!   Meal planning and the convenience of Cook Smarts.  Cleaning routines and the way this had to change after the birth of their daughters.   Why Emily and Tyler love living and raising a family in Queens.  And much more!   This is a peek into their beautiful and tidy apartment Links Mentioned in Today's Episode The Tidy Dad — https://thetidydad.com  The Tidy Dad on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/tidydad/?hl=en  Marie Kondo — https://konmari.com  Cook Smarts — https://www.cooksmarts.com/

For this kick off to Season 2 of the Cook Smarts podcast during back-to-school season, I’ve invited one of my entrepreneurial heroes Laura Fuentes to give us advice on planning for and packing school lunches. Millions of us are about to face that daily task, and Laura is an official lunch expert. Her company MOMables started out as a lunch meal planning company but has grown to also offer dinner meal plans and 3 transformative health programs tackling processed foods, picky eating, and budget meal planning.   However, because Laura is such a remarkable individual who’s totally winning at life, she gives us lots of great tips for beyond the kitchen as well. In today’s episode you’ll:   Learn how to think more creatively about kid lunches Gain a new perspective on what food battles to fight (or not fight) at the dinner table Discover how to help yourself by letting others help you (even if they don’t do it exactly the same way you would)   If you’re someone who’s looking for a lunch and / or life coach, don’t miss this episode full of Laura’s practical and wise advice for life in and out of the kitchen. Head to our show notes for all the links we mention. www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/11   Help us continue to put these info-packed episodes together by subscribing to us in your podcast player and throwing us some stars. If you really love us and want to be a super supporter (and we hope you do!), please do leave us a review on Apple Podcast too. If we share your review in a future episode, we’ll send you a Cook Smarts tote bag to bring you more fun and eco-friendly grocery shopping!

We feel so lucky to have a community of such special members at Cook Smarts, and today we’re chatting with one of our original members! This is our first member interview on the podcast, and we’re so excited to kick it off with Brian Powers. Brian’s been cooking with Cook Smarts meal plans since 2014 and has gone through quite the physical transformation during this time. In today’s episode, we’re getting to know this awesome husband, dad, physical therapist, and all-star cook. You’ll also get to hear: His cast iron tips! As the resident cast iron expert at Cook Smarts, he gives us tips on how to find a vintage skillet. His latest adventures. The Powers family has taken their kitchen on the road, traveling all over the US in an RV with his wife Denise and daughter Evelyn. How despite living in an RV, Brian still manages to create delicious homemade meals in this small space. If you’re someone who’s looking for some inspiration in the kitchen, Brian’s story will definitely give you some great motivation. Head to our show notes for some photos of our Kitchen Hero and his RV adventures! www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/7

Sponsors: Master Your Money Super Bundle: This one’s not a sponsor but an amazing deal and every purchase supports the show. The Master Your Money Super Bundle is a collection of 45 courses, ebooks, printables and videos to help you do better in all areas of your money. Whether that’s budgeting, paying off debt, investing, making more money, whatever. The bundle has over $1200 worth of resources in it but you can get it for only $49.97 when you visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/masteryourmoney Hidden fees: These are fees we didn’t tell you about. But you still have to pay them. You’re probably here because we advertised a great deal but you forgot to check the fees and now you’re too invested go elsewhere, that’s what we were hoping. Nobody likes fees, that’s why we hide them, sometimes in the fine print, other times in the poor product we make so you have to give us more money to get another one in a few years. Hidden fees, squeezing every last dime out of you since always. Notable Notes What the Internet has to say: This article from To Love, Honor, and Vacuum gives a list of 6 things that are not worth being frugal. What Jen + Jill have to say: We like the reasoning for the times when it's worth spending more: (1) because it might cost you more in the long run to go with the less expensive option or (2) because it will make a tremendous difference in your life! Items not worth 'going cheap': Beds - and we agree! HOWEVER you can still find good secondhand options Shoes - YES - sometimes that good, comfortable, long-lasting, versatile shoe is worth the money! A few nice outfits - again, we agree - when mixing and matching from the thrift store is not working - spend a little extra on some nice clothes! Last minute meals - it's ok to spend some extra money when time is short! We also recommend meal planning - get a good jump start with our affiliate: Cook Smarts and use code: frugal for 25% off Food delivery - we say 'maybe' - this all depends on lifestyle and whether this is a good option for you! Housekeeping - but we would add, hiring any service that you could technically do yourself. If life circumstances afford for this to be in the budget - it can be economically responsible (Check out Episode 1: Frugality 101 - talked about giving jobs to others) More from the Internet: This article from Wallet Hacks explores 4 common 'frugal tips' that actually are not worth it - and can end up costing you more! More from Jen + Jill: We like the what this article had to say about frugality being about mindfulness and making wise decisions with your money rather than just doing everything the cheapest way possible! Frugal Tips to Ignore: DIY repairs - as the article points out 'there's a fine line between money-saving and downright dangerous' - and may cost more in the long-run if not fixed properly Extreme Couponing - we covered this one in our previous episode Couponing for Extra Normal People Getting the cheapest (or no) insurance - compare rates instead, negotiate, etc. but have insurance! Adhering to a Rice and Beans diet - it's important to get proper nutrition, so we also recommend not setting up camp here if it's not necessary! Bottom line - we’re walking a tight rope - be careful of falling into ‘cheap’ territory BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Lucy for sharing your bill with us! If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a bill Lightning Round From the Community: Frugal Friends Book Club: It’s May and we’re reading The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist for our book club! If you want a free copy, leave us a review on iTunes or Stitcher, screenshot the review and send it to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. We’ll select the winners at the end of the month. See you next week!

One of the best things that’s happened to Cook Smarts is bringing on a dedicated meal plan developer. Jess Smith joined the team in the spring of 2015, all the way from Thailand and has taken our recipe development process and the quality of our meals to a whole other level. In today’s episode, we’re getting to know this multi-talented lady and also giving you a behind the scenes of our small little company. Plus, you’ll get to hear: How she made a huge career switch going from working for the State Department in Thailand to working in food full time and all the lessons she’s learned during this transition What it’s like to go from food blogging to getting feedback -- sometimes less than positive feedback -- on every recipe you create The most challenging part of the job and what’s gotten easier over time If you’re someone who’s wanted to make a career change and pursue your true passion, this episode is definitely not to be missed. Another added bonus: I also offer some advice to the entrepreneurs out there about building out your team. For all the links mentioned in this episode and to see a picture of Jess’ family of 5, head to our show notes: www.cooksmarts.com/podcast/3

Jess is the CEO of Cook Smarts, a meal planning service. Each week she sends you a well thought out, explained, and yummy dinner meal plan. You take the grocery list and go for it. This mom has all the tips for how to make a home cooked meal happen. If you are struggling or stressed with your current dinner routine, this episode will inspire you. She has been helping families get dinner on the table in a stress free way for over seven years.

Hi Friends, this is Jess your loyal and always enthusiastic kitchen cheerleader here. So I’ve got some really exciting news -- Cook Smarts is launching a podcast, and it’ll be hosted by yours truly. We’ve already got a bunch of episodes taped, and I don’t want you to miss any of them, so make sure you subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher, or whatever you use to listen to your podcasts. Our first episode is definitely not to be missed. It’s a new parent’s survival guide to feeding yourself but has great lessons for every busy person wanting to get a better meal prep system in place. It’s going live in mid-April right around when I start my maternity leave. So even though I’ll be taking a little bit of time off, you’ll still be hearing from me. As I said before, we’ve got lots of great topics planned to help you become a more organized and efficient cook -- anything to make you a smarter cook, and many of them were suggestions from our community, of course. We’ll also be interviewing some of our members and giving you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into our business from time to time too. If you have a question or topic you’d like me to cover, just email us at hello@cooksmarts.com or just DM us on Instagram. I’m so excited to spend even more time with you all, whether it’s in your kitchen, car, gym, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Again, remember to subscribe so you don’t miss our first episode when it goes live and all the ones to follow. Meet you back here in a few weeks! Until then, happy cooking from your kitchen cheerleader.

Sponsors: Cook Smarts: Not an official sponsor, but we are big fans! It’s a meal planning service that provides 4 meals per week and they have regular, gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian versions AND they’re offering 3 free meal plans  Receive 25% off your purchase just for being a Frugal Friends podcast listener when you use the code: frugal. Check them out at frugalfriendspodcast.com/cs. Borrowing: It’s not just something you do at the library. This is deeply rooted value in the frugal community and you can try it out for free today! Need a nice pair of shoes you know you’ll only wear once? Borrow it! Thinking about buying a deep fryer but you’re not sure it’s worth the investment? Borrow it! You can try this tactic with anything but food and underwear! Borrowing - the better option to spending. We talk with Jess about how Cook Smarts got started, and some of her tips for meal plan, prep, recipe selection, kitchen skills, and must-have gadgets. Whether or not you use Cook Smarts, Jess has some great advice to share! Questions for Jess from Jen and Jill: For the person who's too busy, what are some easy quick solutions to make dinner happen? For the person who doesn't like leftovers, how do they get around that and eliminate food waste? For the person who hates cooking, where should they start? What are the top kitchen gadgets to have and which should we pass on? Questions from the Community: "What are your best tips regarding cooking for 1" "If I can't get fresh veggies, should I buy frozen - or is it better to just purchase an entire frozen meal at that point?" BILL OF THE WEEK - Thanks Jess for sharing your 'bill' with us this week! If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill  Frugal Friends Book Club We are reading “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez in the month of October - Head over to our Frugal Friends Community to join the discussion! We are still giving away 1 book for every 5 reviews we get this month! You can get a free copy of November's book: The More of Less by Joshua Becker! To enter; leave us a review on your podcast listening device (not just Itunes), screenshot the review, and email it to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com We’ll select the winners for this book at the end of the day October 31st. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today! Hit the subscribe button wherever you’re listening to this episode and we’ll come at you every Friday with more frugal goodness. Until next week!

Today's podcast guest is a friend and fellow entrepreneur, Jess Dang, founder of Cook Smarts! Cook Smarts gives you weekly meal plans, cooking guides and infographics and online cooking lessons, all designed to help anyone build a strong cooking foundation. Basically, it's a life saver for anyone who feels like meal prep and weekly menu planning is a GIANT pain in the ass. This episode is one part entrepreneurial inspiration, one part map for meal prep success, & a dash of how to maintain your identity as a mom and all your other titles. It's a good one, friends! Jess shares some of the best meal prep tips I've ever heard. Seriously, with all the blogs and articles about meal prepping on Sundays, you'd think we'd be able to get it together by now, but nope! Jess's tips are ones I've ACTUALLY implemented because they're that easy. They just make sense! You'll see... Find out more! www.cooksmarts.com Instagram.com/jessdangcs --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/badyogi/support

Jess Dang, most notably from Next Food Network Star Season 2, joins Xandarr & Anna to talk about life after "FNS" and her amazing company Cook + Smarts