Tips and Tricks for Getting Dinner on the Table

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The modern day schedule is hectic. Now that school is back in session and the days seem shorter than ever, it is a challenge to get “all the things” done in those precious three to four hours we have with our little ones every Monday through Friday night. It really almost seems impossible to fit it all in, but we make it work because we have to. After all, the dog won’t walk itself and Lucy still has to get to gymnastics and finish her homework. And don’t forget about Johnny who won’t practice piano unless you nag him and Abby who needs your help with her science project. And if all that wasn’t enough, you still need to make sure everyone’s emotional needs are met, read to them, give baths, have clean clothes on hand for the next day, put them to bed (which can take an hour itself) and, oh yeah, make dinner and eat. And we wonder why we’re exhausted each night!

In this series, I will be sharing tips, tricks, and recipe ideas to help you get dinner on the table quickly so that you have more time for all of the important #momlife stuff. In this first post, I want to share a few mealtime tips I have learned along the way as I try to juggle motherhood and the daily grind.

Tip #1: Planning.

It really is no secret that planning ahead is the key. It really does save you from ordering pizza…again (oh the guilt and the grease)! Figure out what method of planning works best for you (a weekly/monthly menu, a weekend of chopping and labeling freezer meals or a day of cooking everything for the week) and stick with it. This is way easier said than done. But, if you want some sanity around the dinner hour, it really is a must. I like to plan a week at a time and go to the grocery store with those specific meals in mind and a detailed list. This saves me from going back to the store multiple times a week and also keeps me from impulse buying.

Tip #2: Make more than you will eat.

A great example of this is when I cook rice. I do not just cook rice for a single meal. I make a big pot of rice and freeze what we don’t eat and use it for a meal down the road. This saves me time in the future when I need rice for a recipe or need an extra side dish. I simply remove it from the freezer the night before and put it in the fridge. When I am making dinner that night, I simply put the rice in the microwave while I am cooking the rest of dinner. It is a quick “no brainer” way to get a starch on the table. And the bonus is that I don’t have a messy pot to clean up after! Another, make more than you will eat trick is to grill extra chicken when it is on the dinner menu. I use grilled chicken leftovers on top of salads during the week or as an easy weeknight meal of chicken sandwiches with toppings of your choice. It also helps to have the extra chicken if my little ones decide to be picky eaters on a night I serve something that they are not in the mood for. This never happens to you, I’m sure.

Tip #3: Rotisserie chicken for the win.

For those nights when you are rushing home from work and realize that you forgot to plan dinner, there is no shame in stopping at your local grocery store and grabbing a cooked rotisserie chicken. While you are at it, head over to the frozen foods aisle and grab a bag of steamable veggies. Serve your chicken and veggies with the rice that you made the night before and dinner will be on the table in no time. And you didn’t even turn on the oven!

Dinner can truly be a stress-free time that everyone looks forward to. I encourage you to find a system that works well for you and your lifestyle. For more tips, tricks and recipe ideas, stay tuned to Dayton Moms Blog.

2 COMMENTS

    • Suzanne, thank you for commenting. Freezing rice sure is a lifesaver on those busy nights. Just be sure to add a little liquid before reheating so that you get a better end product. I have become a true believer in freezing food. I freeze everything from uneaten dinner plates to hardy grens (kale) to lunch meats. Of course some things freeze better than others. I love being able to just reach into the freezer on a busy night and the dinner problem is solved. Stay tuned for more tips this month!!!

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