Creating a meal plan and prepping meals ahead of time can make dinner time less stressful for busy families. Meal planning helps avoid unhealthy convenience meals and saves time and money. To create a meal plan, take stock of pantry and fridge ingredients and plan for leftovers. Try mixing up proteins to avoid monotony. Meal prep can involve prepping basic ingredients, using a slow cooker, and cooking on weekends. These tips can make cooking meals less overwhelming, enjoyable for the entire family, and save time and money.

Dinner Time Solutions: Meal Planning & Prep Tips for Busy Weeknights

Introduction

Dinner time can be a stressful and hurried time of day for many families, especially those with busy schedules. Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and other obligations, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to plan and prepare meals. However, with a little bit of planning and preparation, dinner time can be a more enjoyable and stress-free experience.

Meal Planning

One of the most effective ways to reduce stress during dinner time is to create a meal plan for the week. Meal planning allows you to be more intentional about what you eat and helps you avoid the temptation of ordering takeout or eating unhealthy convenience meals. Here are some tips for creating a meal plan:

1. Take inventory of your pantry and refrigerator

Before you start planning your meals, take a look at what ingredients you already have on hand. This will not only save you money, but it will also give you some ideas for meals you can make with what you already have.

2. Plan for leftovers

Leftovers are a great way to save time and money during the week. When planning your meals, think about dishes that you can make in larger quantities and reheat throughout the week.

3. Mix up your proteins

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with the same chicken or beef dishes every week. Try to mix up your proteins by incorporating fish, vegetarian meals, or alternative proteins like tofu or tempeh.

Meal Prep

Meal prep is another key component to making dinner time less stressful. By prepping parts of your meals ahead of time, you can save time and make the actual cooking process less overwhelming. Here are some tips for meal prepping:

1. Start with the basics

Begin by prepping basic ingredients like vegetables, grains, and proteins that can be used in a variety of dishes throughout the week. For example, if you plan to make stir fry one night, chop up all your veggies ahead of time so they are ready to go.

2. Use your slow cooker

A slow cooker is a great tool for meal prep because you can prep all your ingredients in the morning and come home to a fully cooked meal.

3. Prep on the weekends

If you have more time on the weekends, use that time to do some meal prep for the week. Roast a chicken, cook a big pot of soup or chili, or chop up all your veggies for the week.

Conclusion

Dinner time doesn’t have to be a stressful time of day. By creating a meal plan and prepping meals ahead of time, you can save time and reduce stress. These tips may take some time and effort to implement, but in the long run, they will save you time, money, and make dinner time a more enjoyable experience for the whole family.