Also, I think a lot of people expect to be able to cook a 30 minute meal while simultaneously talking on the phone, helping their kids with their homework, feeding the baby, paying bills, watching TV and washing last night's dishes. They claim they're "multitasking", then complain that they can't make a meal in 30 minutes. The secret to cooking in 30 minutes (or less) is that you have to focus on it and just get it done. If you're in a situation where you have to be interrupted by your kids every 2 minutes, then you're not going to be able to prep and cook as quickly.

I haven't read Ramsey's book, but I've made a lot of meals in 30 minutes, and without depending on a lot of convenience foods. But if I'm chopping an onion, I'm chopping an onion. Not simultaneously trying to do three other things. Once you focus, you will find that tasks like chopping and prepping go a lot faster.

Karen