Plan Smarter. Cook Faster. Spend Less.

Join Jones County Cooperative Extension this fall for a six-part cooking and meal planning series designed to help you save time, reduce food waste, and stretch your food budget. Whether you're feeding a busy family, cooking for one, or simply looking for fresh ideas in the kitchen, these hands-on classes will provide practical skills you can use right away.

Classes are held Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Filling Station, 221 Main Street, Pollocksville, NC 28573.

Registration: go.ncsu.edu/Aug-Oct-2026

August 13 – Simple Meal Planning

Meal planning doesn't have to be complicated. Learn simple strategies for planning meals that fit your family's schedule, budget, and preferences. This class will help you take the guesswork out of "What's for dinner?"

Participants will learn to:

• Create a simple weekly meal plan.
• Build grocery lists that reduce impulse purchases.
• Identify strategies to save time during meal preparation.

August 27 – Prep Once, Eat All Week

Save time during busy weekdays by preparing ingredients and meals in advance. Learn practical meal prep techniques that make weeknight cooking faster and easier.

Participants will learn to:

• Demonstrate basic meal prep techniques.
• Repurpose ingredients into multiple meals.
• Practice batch-cooking strategies to reduce weeknight stress.

September 10 – 30-Minute Family Meals

Healthy meals don't have to take hours to prepare. Discover quick recipes and cooking techniques that help you put a balanced meal on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Participants will learn to:

• Identify components of balanced quick meals.
• Demonstrate time-saving cooking techniques.
• Prepare a meal in 30 minutes or less.

September 24 – One-Pot & One-Pan Dinners

Spend less time washing dishes without sacrificing flavor. Learn simple recipes that use minimal cookware while creating satisfying meals for the whole family.

Participants will learn to:

• Prepare meals using minimal equipment.
• Reduce cleanup time through efficient cooking methods.
• Adapt recipes using commonly available ingredients.

October 1 – Planning Affordable Holiday Meals

Holiday meals don't have to break the budget. Learn practical tips for planning festive meals while keeping food costs under control.

Participants will learn to:

• Develop a holiday meal budget.
• Compare strategies for reducing holiday food costs.
• Identify lower-cost ingredient substitutions.

October 22 – Holiday Leftovers

Don't let holiday leftovers go to waste. Learn safe food storage practices and creative ways to transform leftovers into delicious new meals.

Participants will learn to:

• Practice safe storage of leftovers.
• Transform leftovers into new meals.
• Reduce household food waste.

Registration Information

• Cost: $10 per class
• Location: The Filling Station, 221 Main Street, Pollocksville, NC 28573
• Time: Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Questions? Contact Sarah Ware, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent, at
Sarah_Ware@ncsu.edu or 252-448-9621.