I get asked a lot how I manage to make dinner most nights of the week considering our very hectic schedule. Now, I am definitely not as amazing as many of the moms I know about getting dinner on the table but I do try really hard to cook dinner 5 out of the 7 nights of the week. Those 5 are typically during the week since I know we are more likely to visit friends or go out on the weekend.
So, how do I manager?
Planning!
It starts with the menu. I shared a long time ago some of the details of my menu planning. It’s not rocket science but it really helps me. Back then, I used to actually go into the store to do the grocery shopping but, recently, I’ve switched to the online shopping service which is awesome!
Once my menu is set, it goes on the side of the fridge. We used to have a wonderful magnetic board I wrote it on the front BUT our new fridge isn’t magnetic on the front so I’ve resorted to paper until I can get my chalkboard wall finished.
All of the recipes for the week go into sheet protectors and get put into a little binder I keep in the kitchen. From those, I make my grocery list and place my order.
Fast forward to the groceries coming home.
The same goes for bell peppers and other similar items. I cook a big batch of chicken breast and shred them with my mixer. Then, all the chicken gets bagged in the quantities needed.
Having all of my vegetables chopped and some of the meat cooked makes it so much easier to come home each weekend night and get dinner done within 30-45 minutes. Especially when my little man is busy roaming around the house seeing what kind of trouble he can get in while I am cooking.
Another thing that really helps me…meal swaps and freezer meals! About once every 3 months or so, I get together with some of my friends and we do a meal swap. Those meals all go into my freezer and I can pull from them during the week to give me a quick and easy meal option that requires little to no prep work.
I also make a few freezer meals each month to keep around for the same reason. When I am making dinner on some nights, I’ll double a recipe and freeze half for later. This makes it easy to keep my freezer full of meals so that 1-2 nights per week I can just pull from that stash versus having to make a meal from scratch.
**Edited to add: Tonia brought up a great point that I totally forgot to include. Another life saver in our house for getting dinner on the table {in case you couldn’t tell from our What to Cook Wednesday features} is this guy…
The crockpot is such a vital tool in our house. I can dump many of my freezer meals into it so they cook while I am at work. Or, I can thrown a bunch of ingredients in on my way out the door and come home to a nice, hot meal with little work. Thanks, Tonia for bringing this one up!**
So, how do you get dinner on the table each night? Have any tips on getting dinner done quickly?
© 2012 Just Us Four. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
You are Amazing. I dream of being able to do something like this. Maybe I should just stop dreaming and do.it. 🙂 Bookmarking this page to come back to!
Shannah- you are my GIRL! You are Awesome at this meal planning, cutting, dicing, freezing deal! WOW! I have so much to learn from you! I really like the Meal Swap– hummm, might have to put that on our MOMS CLub Calendar, the ladies would love that! TY!!
I would love to try swapping meals with some of the moms I know! I use my crock pot, as you know, to help get meals one the table quickly!
Thanks for sharing these great tips – they are very common sense, but it’s so nice to see them in writing since I don’t always go straight to common sense during the week!
I never even though to do the prep work days before! Awesome idea, I’m going to try this next week.
Visiting from Whimsically Homemade!
I live by my menu too.:) I don’t pre prep my food, but I love the crockpot. It’s a lifesaver for sure.
great idea! I dont prep my food, but I do set aside 4-5pm every day to cook dinner, so if it’s less than that then I get to play more.
I aspire to be as organized as you. I do pretty good at getting dinner made most nights but there is always room for improvement. Thanks for the great ideas.
I am like you- plan meals for a couple of weeks, plan the grocery list. Prep the veggies, etc. I find that it is just as easy to chop a full onion as it is a half cup for a recipe (for instance). My “extra” chopped veggies just go in the freezer if I don’t need them this week! Love your idea about shredding chicken in the mixer!
Great ideas! I’m just now starting to do prep work in the mornings–I’m in the kitchen already doing breakfast and kids lunches…
I love efficiency and organization- especially when it comes to food. Thanks for the great tips!
These are Awesome ideas!! I love that you cut everything up and separate them out! So Smart!! Thanks for sharing at Thursday’s Temptation.
Jill
You are so organized! Thanks so much for linking up to the “Spring Fling” party over at I Gotta Create! <3
You are so organized – thanks for sharing the tips! Found your link at the I Gotta Create party.
Michelle @ CrazyforCrafts
Featuring YOU tonight. You were one of the top viewed links at last week’s {wow me} wednesday party! Congrats. Thank you so much for linking up. 🙂 Oh and online grocery shopping!!! I could really go for that. 🙂
Ginger @ gingersnapcrafts.com
http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2012/03/wow-me-wednesday-43.html