It’s possible to use a little organization to turn dinnertime into a manageable routine without falling into the same ‘
1. Create or find a Meal Plan. Use a Meal Plan to build a grocery list. A Meal Plan doesn’t have to be strict. You can write it based on your family’s schedule, include quick meals or planned leftover nights for those busier days. If you need to deviate because something unexpected comes up, have one simple meal you can pull together available such as a rotisserie chicken and frozen veg that can be heated up quickly.
2. Avoid short-order cooking. Take family members’ tastes and needs into consideration while Meal Planning, but avoid catering to whims. If you have picky eaters, create a base like chicken, and then have a couple of options for vegetables.
3. Theme nights are fun! Perhaps it’s Taco Tuesday or sandwich Saturday. Whatever you choose, make it fun and include family members in the shopping, prep, cooking AND clean up!
4. Cook once, eat twice. Make planned leftovers a thing! Or cook more than needed to use for other nights. For example, tonight’s roasted chicken can be shredded, then mixed with cheese and beans to create quesadillas. Yesterday’s lentil stew can be tomorrow’s taco filling. A little creativity with minimal effort.
5. Have a backup plan. Sometimes activities run late or someone is not feeling well. For those nights it’s nice to always have a “go to” meal. For example, keep a jar of your favorite pasta sauce and noodles in the cabinet and garlic bread in the freezer. Whenever these items are used, add them back into your grocery list.
What’s your favorite go-to family meal that you always have available?