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THE KITCHEN ACTIVISTAuthor: Florencia Ramirez
THE KITCHEN ACTIVIST podcast will give you bite-size action steps in each episode you can implement NOW in your kitchen, the most effective place to grow well-being for people and our planet. The host is the award-winning author of EAT LESS WATER and Kitchen Activist Florencia Ramirez. Language: en Genres: Arts, Food, Home & Garden, Leisure Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Turning Prep Into Dinner: A Real Kitchen Reset
Episode 99
Wednesday, 25 February, 2026
Send a textThe fridge is full, but dinner still feels hard. We’ve been there.In this episode, we meet Pilar Ortega—mom, restaurant veteran, and flamenco dancer—and step inside a real family kitchen to build a system that finally turns batch cooking into actual meals. The goal is simple: cut waste, save money, and support a teen with Type 1 diabetes without turning dinner into a burden.We start with the foundational shift: shop your kitchen before you shop the store. Pilar’s weekly compost purge becomes a must-use list—broccoli, beans, leftover carne asada—so what’s already cooked actually makes it to the plate.From there, we build structure:Theme nights to reduce decision fatigueA planned flex night to rebuild meals from leftoversMapping one batch of protein or beans into three distinct dinners by planning the finishers—herbs, slaws, greens, sauces—so you’re not scrambling for cilantro at 5:45 p.m.Health anchors this conversation. Pilar shares what it takes to support a teen with Type 1 diabetes through predictable, balanced meals—protein and fiber first, right-sized carbs, steady energy. We talk about how simple planning systems make insulin dosing and mealtimes more manageable without turning food into stress.We also borrow smart habits from restaurant kitchens:Painter’s tape labels with datesClear stacking systems so you can actually see foodA running list separating what you have from what you needOne-book inspiration to prevent recipe overloadWe map meals to real schedules—dance nights, late shifts, grab-and-go salad bars, low-lift reheats—and bring teens into the process with simple recipe options and a standing weekend check-in text. Agency changes everything.By the end, you’ll have a clear template you can try this week: Shop your fridge first. Build simple themes. Plan meals around the batch cooking. Schedule flex.If this episode resonates, follow the show, share it with someone drowning in leftovers, and leave a quick review. It helps busier kitchens find a better rhythm and build better health for people and the planet. Open the meal plan linked in the show notes and try it for a week, for a month.....What theme night will you start with?Start Meal Planning to Save the Planet and Money! Click Here to get started. Sign up for my weekly newsletter. Get a copy of the EAT LESS WATER book.Reach Florencia Ramirez at info@eatlesswater.com
