Mastering Mealtime

At the end of a long and busy day, the last thing on your mind is cooking a healthy dinner for your family. The kids are hungry, the baby is crying, it’s already 5:30 pm, and you have nothing planned for dinner. Desperate for a quick solution, you use the drive-through for a less than delicious and not so nutritious meal. Sound familiar?

Many parents find themselves so busy with work, school, homework, and errands that cooking weeknight meals may seem impossible. In reality, eating at home can be faster, easier, and more affordable, even on those busy school nights, with these easy steps to mastering mealtime.

Create a “quick and easy” list

List the meals your family already loves (no take-out allowed!) Be realistic and keep it simple by adding only those quick and easy recipes that can be put together on a busy evening. Once you have your list, place it where you can refer to it often.

Plan the week

With your meal list in hand, consult the family calendar. For the busiest and most stressful days, plan a crock pot meal. On days when everyone is coming and going at different times, try healthy sandwiches with fruit. Meal planning will reduce the stress of the evening rush and solve the “What’s for dinner?” question.

Shop just once

Check your week’s meal plan and make a grocery list. Check the freezer and pantry for items you may already have on hand, then head to your favorite store and pick up your items. Shopping for the week just once also cuts down on stress.

Do the prep work

On a slow day – perhaps the weekend – do some prep. Wash and chop vegetables and fruit, brown meat and put it into one pound batches in the freezer, put together casseroles in advance, and thaw any items you will need in the next few days. Chicken breasts can be cooked in large batches in the crock pot for later use in salads, casseroles, soups, or skillet meals. The more you prep now, the less you have to do on those busy nights after work.

Stick to the plan

The hard work is done, and it’s time to stick to your plan. Since everything is prepped and ready, you just have to finish your meals and enjoy. Unexpected challenges may come up, but with an organized plan, you will be able to handle most surprises with ease without getting stuck in the fast food rut once again. And, make sure to add a “night out” to your meal plan once in a while to treat yourself and your family.

Quick Tips for Family Dinner:

Make two. If you are making one casserole, why not make two? One can be eaten now, and the other can be frozen and saved for dinner another night.

Stock the freezer. Fill your freezer with pre-made and homemade items to have on hand for a busy week.

Stock the Pantry. Make sure you have the basics for quick meals, such as pasta and pasta sauce, canned tuna and beans, tortillas, tomato sauce. etc.

Use the slow cooker. Toss some things together in the morning and come home to a hot meal after a long day.

Buy ready-to-use ingredients. Pre-cut vegetables, cooked rotisserie chicken and ready to grill marinated meat are perfect for the busy family.

Have a leftover night. Designate one night a week to eat whatever is in the fridge and save time and money. Leftover taco meat could become enchiladas, nachos, or chili. Grilled chicken breast could be used for a salad, soup, or a casserole.