I’m afraid I’m a terrible cook.

To save me time because I have to work, my to go menu was to prepare a stew with ground meat, mostly chicken, and potatoes, ‘cause they’re cheap and fill you up fast. Add water and pepper, cook, done. I try to cook big batches to save time.

A friend gave me a leek, so I added it to my usual mix: now I feel I’m fuller for longer and don’t have to eat that much meat (I usually mix the same amount of meat and potatoes).

Have I been coking wrong the whole time?

What else can I add to my stews to feel full for longer, to not gain weight but to have enough energy to do my job?

Any downsides to eating less meat?