I have always been a minimalist when it comes to extracurricular activities for my kids. Piano was and still is a must. Non-negotiable (although my children have tried many times). But other than that, activities for my kids have been few and far between. I just really value time spent at home with my family and honestly enjoy having nowhere to be.
But, as my kids are getting older, their activities are becoming more numerous and necessary. I was recently sitting down with my good ol’ paper planner, looking over the next few months. Spring season. It’s a busy one. Recitals, sports (the ones my kids play anyway), school competitions, etc. If you’ve been following me for very long, you won’t be surprised that my first thought went to the logistics of dinner-time. How can I still make dinner-time a priority when I’m chauffeuring four kids to four different activities several nights a week?
All it takes is a little planning and preparation. It won’t always be perfect, and that’s ok. But hopefully it will be better than a night of chaos and hungry bellies. Here are 7 hacks that will help you get dinner on the table (wherever that might be) on your busiest nights.
The slow cooker is your friend (unless your name is Jack Pearson). It’s great for cooking freezer meals, heating up soup, and turning meat into tender, amazing meals. Fix it early in the day when you have time, then forget about it until it’s time to eat. You can take your hot food with you and eat right out of the car.
Make a picnic. Throwing together a picnic could be the answer to your dinner dilemma. In fact, it may be your kids’ favorite meal of the week. There are so many ways to customize your picnic to your family’s likes. Pack meat, cheese, and crackers for a lunchable style dinner. Take sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, or chips and dip. One of my favorites is chicken salad or pasta salad. You could even pack cold cereal! And, don’t forget to keep some paper products tucked away in the car.
Simplify. Consider that dinner can be a lot simpler than it used to be. You don’t have to eat meat and 3 sides for dinner anymore (although my husband may beg to differ). Teach your family that it’s ok to eat very simple meals. Try making 1-pot dishes and cold meals on your busy nights. A few examples are canned soup, oatmeal with toppings, and sandwiches.
Freezer Meals. This is definitely one that you will want to utilize. You can make freezer meals months ahead of time. Take a Saturday when you have no plans and prepare as many freezer meals as you can. Then just dump them in the slow cooker the morning of a busy day.
Cook ahead of time. When cooking something like chicken or other meat, cook a double or triple batch so you can make several simple meals from it. When chopping vegetables, chop enough to last the week and throw them in salads, dinners, or to have on the side.
Take advantage of convenience food. While making your own food is usually the most frugal, you can still find some great convenience foods at the grocery store. And on busy nights, they might just be worth it. Some of my favorites are rotisserie chicken, salad kits, pre-cut fruit or veggies, and pre-sliced meat and cheese.
Meal plan. The truth is, if you haven’t planned your meals ahead of time, you’re probably not going to have what you need on hand for dinner. I’m no pro, but I do love my meal-planning system. It’s super and easy and I’ve been using it for several years. Having a meal plan will keep you on track and make it easier in the future.
Coming up with fast and easy dinners seems like a never-ending process. I’ve been there — I’m still there, and I keep learning along the way. If you have learned any hacks I didn’t mention, please leave them in the comments and we can all learn together. Happy eating!
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