Sustainable living can seem aspirational for single moms, but is it? We’re breaking it down into manageable steps you can take toward living more sustainably as a family. Got to feed the kids, right? Food is a great place to start! We made two staples you’d normally buy, bagels and applesauce, from scratch, considering time, taste, and effort. On a make-it-or-buy-it scale, here’s how it went.
The Bottom Line: Living more sustainably starts small, and even simple swaps in the kitchen can save time, spark creativity, and inspire new habits at home.
What You’ll Need
- 2 1/4 cups warm water
- 1 1/2 tbsp yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp salt
- 5 cups flour
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- Shredded Cheese
- Jalapeños
- Everything seasoning
What We Did
Mix & Knead (30 minutes active)
- Mix dough: 10 minutes
- Knead: 15-20 minutes (shorter with a mixer)
First Rise (1.5 hours hands-off)
- Cover dough, let rise in warm spot
- Should roughly double in size
Shape Bagels (15 minutes active)
- Divide into 8-12 portions
- Roll into balls, poke holes, shape into bagels
- Place on parchment-lined baking sheets
Second Rise (1.5-2 hours hands-off)
- Cover shaped bagels
- Let rise until puffy (not quite doubled)
Boil & Prep (30 minutes active)
- Bring large pot of water to boil
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Boil bagels .30-1 minutes per side
12:30-1:00 PM - Bake (30 minutes, mostly hands-off)
- Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown
- Cool 5-10 minutes
How It Went
Time: Bagels take about 5-6 hours total, but only 2 hours of that is hands-on. The rest is rise time you can spend on other things.
Taste: The real question is, do they taste as good as store-bought? Absolutely. These bagels rival your favorite bakery, and there’s extra satisfaction knowing you made them yourself. Even picky kids will approve.
Effort: Best for weekends when you have a little more room in your schedule. You can make a big batch, freeze them, and have easy breakfasts ready for the week. On the make-it-or-buy-it scale, this one landed right in the middle: worth making when you can, worth buying when you can’t.
What You’ll Need
- Apples
- Water
- Pinch of salt for water
- Mango (optional)
- Strawberries (optional)
- Cinnamon (optional)
What We Did
Prep (15-20 minutes active)
- Wash and core 8-10 apples
- Slice apples into pieces (peeling optional)
- Add to a bowl water
Quick Cook (15-20 minutes mostly hands-off)
- Medium-high heat, stir occasionally
- Apples will soften depending on slice thickness
- Cook until just tender (doesn't need to be mushy)
Blend & Finish (5 minutes active)
- Transfer hot apples to blender (work in batches if needed)
- Careful: Do not over fill, hot liquids expand
- Blend until smooth (or pulse for slightly chunky)
- Add sugar/cinnamon to taste
- Blend again briefly to mix
How It Went
Time: From prep to finish, applesauce takes about 40-45 minutes, with only 15-20 minutes of active work. Most of the time is hands-off while the apples cook until tender. You could easily make this alongside dinner to pack for lunch.
Taste: Homemade applesauce tastes fresher and lighter than what you’ll find on store shelves. You control the sweetness and add-ins, like cinnamon for warmth, strawberries or mango for fun twists. The natural flavor stands out, and you avoid your kids eating overly processed food.
Effort: This is a low-lift recipe and perfect for moms who don’t love cooking but want healthier options. Washing, chopping, and blending are simple steps, and cleanup is minimal. On the make-it-or-buy-it scale, applesauce lands firmly on the “make it” side, the payoff in taste and nutrition is worth it.
Bagels, applesauce, or whatever’s next on your list, trying it for yourself is the fun part. For single moms, the takeaway is simple: you decide which sustainable options fit your time, your taste, and your family. Tried something from scratch? Join the chat to share your favorite recipes or show us what you’ve made!
