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The Busy Mom’s Guide to Meal Planning:

Prep meals with a breeze through these tips.
By Expert Tips
Date: June 06 2022
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Moms are true magicians when it comes to organizing meals for the whole family, especially if their kids are picky eaters. Sometimes it takes tons of time and energy to create a meal plan and include everyone’s wishes, organize grocery shopping, and cook a healthy and nutritious daily menu. With the hectic schedule of everyone in the family, many moms like to organize dinner so the whole family can gather and spend some quality time together. If you’re scared by that famous “what’s for dinner” question as well, here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer.

Quick meals

There are many TV cooking shows that show how to prepare meals in half an hour, and even in 15 minutes. Although this may sound unbelievable, there are many nutritious meals that can be prepared in no time and still be tasty and suitable for the whole family. This only requires having all the right ingredients and being able to juggle a few things at once during preparation. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to think of new dishes and combine different ingredients to expand your menu.

Prep in advance

This is probably the most valuable tip you’ll get and you need to learn how to cook a number of different meals you can prepare in advance. This is probably best to do during the weekend when you have more time than usual. There are many healthy recipes that include lots of nutritious ingredients, and the best thing about them is that you can freeze them and then serve them during the week. Also, you can always ask your family to get involved and help you chop, cook or pack meals. Another great tip is to cook a huge amount of one dish and pack it into containers so you can just reheat them on a busy day. Always make sure to have one of these dishes because it will be a true time-saver.

Make your own

No matter how old your children are, they all like being able to create their own meals and add different ingredients and spices. This is where easy meals like tortillas, cooked pasta, and leftover food come into play. When you get back from work, boil some pasta, heat tortillas and leftover food, and place it all on the table. Allow family members to make their own meals and you won’t have to go to the stove as soon as you enter the house. This is also a great tip if you have picky eaters or family members who like different kinds of spices or tortilla fillings. Still, no matter who you’re cooking for and how many people there are in your family, you need to make sure that every meal you prepare is healthy and nutritious. If you’re unable to make that happen, don’t be afraid to add some helpful vitamins and supplements that will take your diet to a whole new level and make everyone in your family healthier, happier, and more satisfied!

Ordering in will save you

Sometimes a busy schedule during the weekend won’t allow you to cook in advance or prepare a proper meal, so the best option is to order in. However, you need to order a meal that will suit your needs and won’t affect your health, so forget about junk food. One of the options is to use pre-cooked meals that have been made by professional chefs and include healthy and nutritious ingredients. This is something that will completely change your opinion when it comes to pre-prepared meals because you’ll be able to choose one of many great dishes without going to the restaurant.

Grocery shopping

This is one of the things you'll have to master if you want to save time as well as money. Grocery shopping involves finding enough time to sit down and make an extensive list of all the things you’ll need for the upcoming week so you can prepare everything in advance. After writing down all the meals you plan on preparing, make sure to write all the ingredients you’ll need too - and try not to forget anything! Always have a master checklist and just add different things once you check your pantry and see what’s missing. 

If you’re willing to put in some work, you can always have a plan for healthy and nutritious food your family will love. Include them in the meal planning process and pay attention to their schedules and things they like and don’t like eating. Soon enough, you’ll become an expert in meal planning and your days will become less stressful!

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