The school year is just around the corner and with that comes the dreaded “what’s for dinner?” question. When planning, cooking and eating dinner is coupled with homework, after school activities and a busy workday, that question can be one of the most stressful ones of the day. These tips can help you take the stress out of dinner each night and allow you time to breathe at the end of the day.
Consider making “dinner bases” that you prepare once but can use twice. Shredded chicken can be used for tacos, sandwiches or stirred into pasta. Cook a double batch of ground beef or ground turkey and season half for tacos and the other half to serve with gravy or another sauce over noodles or rice.
Keep steam-in bag frozen vegetables in the freezer for a quick side dish. You can also purchase diced onions, peppers and other veggies for quicker prep work. Prefer your veggies crisper than steamed? Toss them frozen in a pan with olive oil, garlic and other seasonings and cook just until warm.
Plan menus a week in advance or set each night with a theme. Monday could be pasta night, plan on Taco Tuesday, crockpot meals on Wednesday, stir fry or casseroles on Thursday, pizza on Friday.
There is also nothing wrong with using pre-made fresh items and keeping them on hand. A rotisserie chicken paired with a baked potato and salad is a quick easy meal. Pasta or zoodles – spiraled zucchini noodles – with storebought marinara cooked with your choice of protein or even fresh-from-the deli meals are a great way to save time on a busy night.
Do as much prep work as you can ahead of time like chopping vegetables or cooking the rice. If you have free time on weekends, cook larger quantities of food that can be frozen for a quick meal later, like lasagna, soups or stews.
Invest in a good crockpot and put meals together before you leave for work and dinner is ready when you get home. An instant pot is another option as it cooks food quickly. There is also nothing wrong with assigning dinner tasks to make the process go faster. Even young children can help measure, wash vegetables and set the table. Use it as a learning experience by teaching fractions when measuring or how to follow a recipe.
Although these tips may not answer the “what’s for dinner” question, they can help take the stress out of mealtime on those busy nights.
