How It’s Going
Topic Summary
I decided to make the topic of my podcast about meal prepping. Meal prepping is an important way of life for me, and has saved me both time and money. I think trying to convince my peers (and others) to meal prep at home by their own plans– rather than rely on fast food, delivery services, or even expensive meal prep services like HelloFresh– is a worthy cause that can benefit everyone.
The Recording Process
To save time and effort, I chose to use my smartphone as my recording device through the Voice Memos app. I have recorded “podcasts” in the past in my car, so I was already aware of its efficiency as a recording studio. Initially I recorded one take of my script reading in my bed to figure out how long it would take me to read each part. I then moved to my car (at night so the parking lot was quiet) and recorded in the driver’s seat. There were some issues with sounding overly-muffled, which I realize had to do with my voice bouncing off the windshield. I then moved into the rear seat and put my phone on the floor behind the passenger seat– essentially enclosing it with seats/the car door on all sides. I leaned over my phone and spoke into it. This produced the best audio takes yet, with no echo or trace of muffling.
There were some trials and errors with recording the sound effects, too. I waited until my roommates weren’t hope and recorded the sound effects in the kitchen. I took a leftover omelet, doused a frying pan and oil and fried it. Due to the flat surface area of the omelet, I realized it didn’t produce the crisp crackling/frying sound I was looking for. I then put a single chicken nugget in the super-hot pan and produced an adequate crispier crackling sound effect. I also boiled a pot of water, but realized a rolling boil sounded more like a hiss than a bubble. I decided to mix old alfredo sauce with the water to thicken it, and it produced the pronounced bubbling sound effect I was looking for.
Click here for the link to the OneDrive folder housing my script and sound effect recordings. Included in this file is a folder containing audio bloopers/mess-ups for the sake of authenticity.
My Script/Outline
[This educational monologue will be recorded using my smartphone in my car. I have chosen my car as it is an enclosed space with minimal echo and decent soundproofing. I have used my car as a recording studio in the past with excellent results.]
*** Time markers are estimated. Exact time markers will be determined after editing.
0-7 seconds: [introduction music]
8-17 seconds: My name is Frankie Wulf and today I’ll be sharing tips about meal prepping for beginners. Meal prepping is a useful way to save time, money, and improve your overall nutrition.
18-35 seconds: I grew up in a household where leftovers were a staple. Having two parents who both worked full-time meant there wasn’t time to cook fresh dinners. As a full-time college student working two jobs, I’ve found myself with similar time constraints. On top of a lack of time, I’ve also got a limited budget. Enter meal prepping.
36-41 seconds: [Sound of chicken being fried in a pan, recorded by myself with my smartphone in my kitchen.]
41-68 seconds: So, where to start? In my experience, meal prepping is best done at night. The goal is to cook a big dinner that can be packed away and reheated for lunch and dinner the rest of the week. Almost any food can be meal prepped, as long as it’s got a shelf life (when cooked) of at least 3 days. Foods that spoil quickly, like leafy greens and raw fish, should generally be avoided. When in doubt, I’d recommend referencing the refrigeration guidelines set by the FDA to play it safe.
74-96 seconds: other than shelf life, recipe yields are something to take note of. you’ll want to find recipes producing four portions at minimum. I usually search for budget-friendly recipes designed to feed families. You can find meal prep recipe ideas in books (I like The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook by Toby Amidor) or online (my favorite recipe-sourcing websites include BudgetBytes and The Pioneer Woman). They’re easy to follow and make delicious results.
104-109 seconds: [Sound of water being boiled in a pot, recorded by myself with my smartphone my kitchen.]
109-116 seconds: The cost-effective and time-saving nature of meal prepping makes it a suitable way of preparing food for anyone, regardless of what point of their life they’re at. Meal prepping has benefits for everyone. And if you’re still not convinced, try meal-prepping for yourself and experience the results in real time.
116-120 Seconds: [outro music]
Leave a Reply