This lesson is 641 words, a 2 min and 33 second read time. It is part of How to Boil Water and the MaxF Recipes collection. Leftover roasted potatoes & beets, toasted pine nuts, shredded white cheddar, defrosted pesto cube, veggie sausage, pickled red onions, red quinoa. 📍 Introduction:  Allowing you to use what you already have on hand, grain bowls are the ultimate, elegant MaxF meal. These delicious, nutritious, and fun-to-make bowls require no unique ingredients or techniques....

This guide is 1,098 words, a 4 min and 23 sec reading time. It was co-written with houseplant expert David Dekevich. To learn more about David check out the partner lesson, The Joy of Indoor Gardening 🎬🌟🎙. Pot, plant, gloves & drip tray ⚡️ TLDR: Water approximately once per week, soak the roots, and ensure the pot has drainage. 📍 Introduction Indoor gardening is rewarding, fun, and once you get the hang of it, relaxing. Additionally, plants bring nature into the home, help...

David Dekevich shares his story of how he fell in love with plants and became an Instagram & TikTok star. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.trylifeschool.com/subscribe

This lesson is 661 words, a 2 min and 38 sec read. It is included in How to Boil Water & the Breakfast Collection. 📍 Introduction Thick but not mushy, fluffy but not chewy, oatmeal can please even the pickiest of eaters. Additionally, with its neutral flavor and customizable texture, it’s the ultimate blank canvas for building a hearty, satisfying, & economical breakfast.  The most important thing to remember about oatmeal? It’s best the way *you* like it. Go ahead and experiment....

This post is 778 words, a 3 min and 6 second reading time. It is the third lesson of Simmering, Steaming, & Poaching (How to Boil Water II). It is also a part of the MaxF Meal Prep Collection. 📍 Introduction:  Knowing how to cook grains is an invaluable skillset worth having in your back pocket. When you memorize the main principles of cooking grains, you can:  Buy in bulk & store grains in containers without instructions.  Save money. Pre-cooked/frozen grains are marked up...

This post is 334 words, a 1 min 20 sec reading time. It is the (updated) 13th lesson of How to Boil Water. It is also part of the Breakfast Collection. 📺 Video Demonstration (1 min 37 sec) 📍 Introduction Packed with protein & speedy to make, hard (or medium)-boiled eggs are a delicious, timeless, economical treat. The trick to nailing boiled eggs is ensuring they cook for a precise number of minutes. If overcooked, eggs are hard to peel, tough & chewy. They can also have...

This lesson is 552 words, a 2 min 12 second reading time. It is part of the Efficiency Collection and features Claire Conly, Life School’s first guest star. 🎙⭐️ Claire is currently the VP of Analytics at Thumbtack. Prior to that, she spent eight years at the management consulting firm Bain & Company. 📍 Introduction  Claire Conly’s philosophy, “MaxF,” is about making life better by being more efficient. From strategizing errands routes to optimizing downtime while cooking, Claire has a...

This lesson is 467 words, a 1 min 52 second reading time. It is part of our Winter Collection. 📺 Watch on YouTube. 📍 Introduction  A brunchtime classic, french toast is hearty, delicious, and quite customizable. An excellent use of stale bread, french toast elevates the most basic ingredients (e.g., eggs, milk, vanilla, salt, oil) and turns them into a fluffy, scrumptious, crispy-on-the-edges treat.  The trick to french toast is temperature control, which makes it a great practice...

This lesson is 431 words, a 1 min 43 second reading time. It is part of our new course, Poaching, Simmering & Steaming.  🎬 Demonstration Video: 📍 Introduction:  Poached eggs are delicious, nutritious, economical & versatile. Whether you have them for breakfast alongside a piece of toast or at dinner topping a grain bowl or bed of sautéed greens, a poached egg can add high-leverage nutrition & rich flavor to almost anything, fast. Like riding a bicycle, once you poach, you’ll...

This lesson is 515 words, a 2 min 3 second reading time. It is part of the ❄️ Winter Collection ❄️. 📍 Introduction Hot cocoa is sweet, warm, and chocolaty, making it a lovely treat after a meal. Easy and fast, this dessert beverage is also economical and endlessly variable. While the base recipe requires only a few ingredients, you can get creative with your add-ins, flavorings & toppings.  For a thicker, creamier version, we add chocolate - which yields… Hot Chocolate! What a...

This lesson is 356 words, a 1 min 25 second reading time. It is the eighth lesson of Lunch 2.0. Crispy tacos with jack cheese, leftover sautéed onions, & ground chicken. Garnished with cilantro & sour cream. 📍 Introduction:  Pre-dating the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico, tacos are now beloved globally. Consisting of a corn or wheat tortilla heaped with fillings and garnish, tacos are nutritious, tasty, and versatile.  Additionally, they are fun to experiment with. Traditional...

This lesson is 406 words, a 1 min 37 second reading time. It is the seventh lesson of Lunch 2.0. Toast, slaw, sausage, manchego, avocado, olives, carrots, tomatoes & pickles. 📍 Introduction:  A little resourcefulness, scavenging, and creativity go a long way in making a most satisfying nosh plate. Made up of items like cheeses, nuts, veggies, & meats, the nosh plate is an efficient way to put together a tasty bite fast.  Mixing and matching what you have on hand reduces waste and...

This lesson is 406 words, a 1 min 37 sec reading time. It is the sixth lesson of Lunch 2.0. 📍 Introduction:  Salty, sweet, tangy, & crunchy, bread & butter pickles bring tremendous flavor and texture to myriad weekday staples. They are delicious alongside rich meats, heaped onto sandwiches, or even nibbled alone as a pre-dinner snack. Taking ~10 minutes of active work and lasting for weeks, this condiment is exceptionally high leverage.  While jarred, shelf-stable b&b pickles...

This lesson is 614 words, a 2 min 36 sec reading time. It is the fifth lesson of Lunch 2.0. 📍Introduction:  Roasted turkey breast is lean, packed with protein, easy to prepare, and next-level delicious - especially on a sandwich. Requiring ~15 minutes of active work and costing ~$2/lb, it is also highly economical. (Compare that to a package of sliced deli turkey, which can reach anywhere from 4-8x that price). One significant benefit of roasting the breast alone is temperature control....

This lesson is 913 words, a 3 min 39 sec reading time. It is the fourth lesson of Lunch 2.0. 📍 Introduction:  Leftovers present the ultimate opportunity for an efficient and tasty lunch. Much of the work is already complete, meaning all you must do is spruce things up. With a little know-how on reheating and a couple of go-to dishes, you can create endless possibilities with what you have on hand.  There’s an old saying, “every food has a purpose and a re-purpose.” Working with leftovers...

This lesson is 413 words, a 1 min 39 sec reading time. It is part of the Fall Collection. Video Demonstration👇 📍 Introduction Sometimes referred to as nature’s gluten-free pasta, spaghetti squash serves as a practical & tasty base for many meals. It has a texture reminiscent of noodles yet carries the nutritional value of a hearty root vegetable (42 calories & 10% of your daily fiber requirement per cup). Beloved by kids, vegetarians, and health nuts alike, this fall favorite may...

This lesson is 600 words, a 2 min 24 sec reading time. It is the third lesson of Lunch 2.0. 📍 Introduction:  Defined as a light meal consisting of two pieces of bread and filling between them, the sandwich is the ultimate canvas for the creative home chef. Beloved in almost every country in the world, there are countless sandwich recipes out there. The easiest way to make a sandwich, however, is to use up whatever you have in the fridge. Go ahead and trust yourself. It’s pretty hard to...

This lesson is 433 words, a 1 min 43 sec reading time. It is the second lesson of Lunch 2.0. Sicilian-style Tuna Salad Sandwich 📍 Introduction:  The ultimate comfort food, a tuna salad sandwich is both practical and delicious. Packed with protein and ~$2/serving, this lightning-fast meal is exceptionally high leverage.  As tuna is shelf-stable, it’s helpful to have a few cans on hand for those lunches or dinners when you don’t have much in the fridge. Given its neutral flavors, it can...

This lesson is 466 words, a 1 min 51 sec reading time. It is the first lesson of Lunch 2.0.  📍 Introduction:  Avocado toast is a practical yet decadent open-faced sandwich. It's healthy, suitable for many meals (e.g., breakfast, lunch, snack), and lightning-fast to prepare (5-10 min). Moreover, it's economical (~$2/serving) and can repurpose leftover, over-ripe avocados.  Vegetarians, kids, and picky eaters alike love to make this toast and dress it up to their fancy. Go ahead and get...

Today’s lesson is 342 words, a 1 min 22 sec reading time. Want to learn more? Check out our Table of Contents. 📍 Introduction:  Smoothies are fast, easy to make, and highly nutritious (depending on what you put in them 😉). Filled with frozen fruit, they are seriously refreshing - and serve as a convenient vessel for delivering supplements, superfoods, or anything else you’re trying to incorporate into your diet (helllooo, kale).  Whether blended for breakfast, lunch, or a post-workout...

Today’s lesson is 458 words, a 1 min 49 sec reading time. It is lesson ten of How to Hack Your Freezer. 📍 Introduction:  Homemade ice cream is both practical & divine. It stays good for weeks, takes under 30 minutes of active work, and allows you to get your creative juices flowing. A vanilla base is like a painter's canvas - ripe for flavor experimentation. 👨‍🎨 Additionally, by making ice cream at home, you can skip the preservatives & softeners, which can taste a bit gummy....

Today’s lesson is 423 words, a 1 min 41 sec reading time. It is the ninth lesson of How to Hack Your Freezer. 📍 Introduction:  Whether you are heading out on vacation, or simply want to minimize trips to the grocery store, a little knowledge about freezing dairy & egg products can go a long way.  While virtually all milk products can freeze safely, most lose their creamy texture in the process. Eggs fare similarly. The following notes & tips will help you determine what to freeze,...

Today’s lesson is 551 words, a 2 min 12 sec reading time. It is the eighth lesson of How to Hack Your Freezer. 📍 Introduction A small stock of frozen meat, poultry & fish can come in seriously handy. Lasting a few months in the freezer (as opposed to a few days in the fridge), these items put your precious space to work. By freezing, you can capture unique purchasing opportunities (e.g., farmer’s markets, butcher shop visits, sales), and ensure you have proteins at the ready when you...

Today’s lesson is 420 words, a 1 min 40 sec reading time. It is the seventh lesson of How to Hack Your Freezer. 📍 Introduction Pesto adds a creamy, complex, nutty, cheesy, salty goodness to almost anything it touches. One of the most versatile sauces, pesto can garnish pasta, sandwiches, tomato salads, roasted vegetables, and grain bowls. It also makes an excellent marinade for chicken and fish.  Whether you buy it in the deli section or decide to make it yourself, once frozen, these cubes...

Today’s lesson is 216 words, a 51 sec reading time. It is the sixth lesson of How to Hack Your Freezer. Video demonstration of Citrus Flavor Cubes & Sparkling Soda. 👇 📍 Introduction:  Sparkling citrus soda (aka “Homemade LaCroix”) is a delicious, faintly sweet, effervescent beverage. More economical than buying from the store, this concoction is also gentler on the environment, straightforward to prepare, and will spare you from schlepping all those cans & bottles. Additionally,...