Mastering Mealtime
As you rush home from an exhausting 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—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, sports, activities 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 five steps.
Step 1 - Create a go-to list. Start by making a list of meals your family already loves. Be realistic and keep it simple by including 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 again in the future. This list is your secret weapon to mastering mealtime.
Step 2 - Plan the week. With your go-to list of meals in hand, begin by consulting 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 sub sandwiches with fruit. Pull ideas from your go-to list of meals to fill in the rest of the week. Meal planning will reduce the stress of the evening rush and solve your “What’s for dinner?” conundrum.
Step 3 - Go shopping. Look over your meal plan and make a grocery list. Don’t forget to check the freezer and pantry for items you already may have on hand. When your list is complete, head to your favorite store to pick up your items.
Step 4 - Prep ahead. Prepare as much food as possible in advance. Wash and chop vegetables and fruit, brown meat and put into 1-pound batches, 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 prepare now, the less you have to do on those busy nights after work.
Step 5 - Stick to it. The hard work is done, and it’s time to stick to your plan. Because 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.
With these five easy steps, you will be able to throw together a fast, healthy and budget-friendly meal, while reducing stress and gaining quality family time.
Sarah Lyons lives in Olathe with her brood that needs to eat several times a day.
Quick Tips to Master Mealtime
- 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 another night’s dinner.
- Stock the freezer. Fill your freezer with both premade and homemade items to have on hand for a busy week.
- Use the slow cooker. Toss some things together in the morning and come home to a hot meal after a long day.
- Buy pre-prepped ingredients. Pre-cut vegetables, cooked rotisserie chicken and ready-to-grill marinated meat are perfect for the busy family.
- Leftover night. Designate one night a week to eat whatever is in the fridge and save time and money.
- Stock the pantry. Have ingredients on hand you can turn into a meal in a bind, such as spaghetti, bean burritos or quesadillas
- Double duty. Use extra ingredients to make two meals. For example, leftover taco meat can become enchiladas, nachos or chili. Grilled chicken breasts can be used for a salad, soup or a casserole.
- Theme nights. Schedule a pasta Monday, taco Tuesday, stir fry Wednesday, etc. To make things even easier, repeat the menu every week to streamline your grocery list, steady your food budget and simplify meal planning.
- Love eating out? Add a night out to your meal plan once in a while to treat yourself and your family.
- Make it fun. Get the kids involved in meal planning and food prep and, most importantly, enjoy mealtime together.