Because we are running with gazelle intensity to pay off debt (thanks to Dave), we try to limit the number of times that we eat out each month. It, however, never fails that there are several extremely busy days a month that I find myself fighting back the urge to load the family into the car, head for the closest restaurant, and give myself the night off. The problems and solutions discussed below have helped me to win that fight.
The Problem: I don't know what to prepare.
The Solution: Plan a Weekly Meal Menu - Having a meal plan is a huge help after a busy, stressful day. Let's face it, sometimes we return from work, or school, or just from carting kids around and we are almost too tired to even think. Having that menu on the side of the fridge will almost allow you to complete meal prep on autopilot...almost. If you have never used a meal plan or weekly menu, it's very easy to get started. Begin with dinner. Keep your weekly schedule in mind as you select your meals. If Tuesday is long and the family walks in the door at 6pm, make that a crock pot night. Have the kids set the table and prepare a salad the evening before while you get the crock pot ready. Perhaps one night a week your family attends church or some other event. Plan to have sandwiches or some other meal that involves easy clean up. You plan your week...why not plan your meals? After you have designated your dinners, then move on to lunch, breakfast, and snacks. Once you have your entire menu, create a grocery list based on your menu.
The Problem: We don't have anything to eat in the house.
The Solution: Grocery Shop at Regular Intervals -When your life is hyper-scheduled, it can be difficult to find time to shop for groceries. Grocery shopping once a week, or even one big shopping trip a month, will guarantee that you have something to prepare. One other plug for the meal plan...if you rotate menus, your grocery list is almost always 90% complete. This reduces the time needed to plan for a shopping trip.
The Problem: My kitchen is a mess
The Solution: Empty Your Dishwasher Before You Go to Bed - When my kitchen is a mess, the last thing I want to do is cook. Not only is there too little space for meal prep, but the thought of having to wash even more dishes is an exhausting one. An empty dishwasher allows me to clean as I go...and...the kids can more easily fulfill their task of cleaning off the table. Having an empty dishwasher (and an empty sink) is the beginning of a clean kitchen. When the kitchen is clean, the task of cooking is much less overwhelming.
The Solution: Keep One Convenience Meal in Your Freezer at All Times - Whether it's a frozen pizza or leftover chili, it is a good idea to always have something in your freezer (or pantry) that can be prepared on a whim. We all have those unexpected calamities...car trouble, a sick child, traffic, a meeting that runs too long. I don't know about you, but those are the nights that I am most likely to give in to the urge to make an unplanned restaurant run. To avoid the extra expense, I like to keep a quick and easy to prepare meal (in a disposable container) in the freezer. If it's been a tough day, paper plates and plastic cutlery are also a must to keep clean up at a minimum.
The Problem: I don't have time to cook tonight
The Solution: Allow Your Family Members to Help Out - When you have a meal plan, it is very easy for someone else to step in and prepare the meal. On several occasions, I have come home from an activity that lasted longer than expected to find that my husband had prepared our meal. If the menu didn't help, the freezer convenience meal generally did.
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