Wanna know a secret? I have, on more than one ocassion, taken my children to a frozen yogurt shop, and called that dinner! And it’s ok. I’m ok. My kids are ok. My husband was out of town, but he’s ok too. No one from the “family rules” police came to get me.

However, I have often considered what a huge burden feeding my family can feel like. Have you? it’s huge. I’m hoping that these ideas can help to lighten your load on this motherhood journey just a little bit.  And if you are reading this in real-time, we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, with kids home from school, and most of life feels chaotic and unsettling.  All the more reason to simplify, right?

For me, preparing food for my family is one of those necessary tasks in which I realize how life-giving a positive mindset can be.  I can, most definitely, complain about it… why is everybody ALWAYS hungry?  And I get in this negative mindset at times.  However, I have realized that the more I can simplify and automate it, I enjoy it more.  It eases the burden and reduces the decision fatigue…..  So, the mindset I try to stick with is more to the tune of “This is what needs to be done.  How can I simplify, automate, and make it easy and fun?  How can I offer this meal to my family in a spirit of gratitude and creativity, instead of it feeling like a burden?”

I wanted to offer several ideas, and strategies that I have used at different times and seasons of my motherhood.

1.       Pick a set number of meals and keep a rotating menu.  Start by making a list of meals that you enjoy cooking and that your family will mostly eat.  Have an “A” week and a “B” week and eat the same meals each A week and same meals each B week.  I also created corresponding grocery lists for A week and B week.  Additionally, I have divided meals into A month and B month, so that we were not eating the same meals so frequently.

2.       Set up recurring grocery orders.  This could be based on the meals that your family will eat that week, such as an “A” week and a “B” week.  Or, simply items used each week for lunches, snacks, breakfasts and then quickly add in any additional ingredients needed for dinners.

3.       Buy in bulk.  For a time, I bought all my meat in bulk, so that when I was prepping meals, I didn’t even have to question whether or not we had meat.  I keep a running list of items we keep in bulk and quickly check it prior to going to that particular store.  I will add here that I have not ever kept a true “stockpile”, as I have felt that to be too overwhelming to keep up with. 

4.       Food prep.  This can look many, many different ways.  Here is my favorite method:  Set a day of the week depending on what your family’s schedule looks like.  Consider things that your family eats—either within meals, or for snacks—and get them ready to go.  What that might look like around here some weeks is hard-boiling eggs, chopping… all the chopping… cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, melons.  Wash fruit and have it available to grab and go.  I also like to do some make-ahead breakfasts, such as baked oatmeal, muffins, or even smoothie ingredients that can be chopped and bagged to dump into the blender for a quick breakfast.  Also, prep homemade snacks that your family eats and have them ready to grab throughout the week. 

5.       Get the kids involved!  I have been doing this for a few years now and it has been a wonderful way to connect!  Since our family has grown it has been harder to find time to spend individually with the kids, so I will grab one and have them come help in the kitchen, giving me time to check in with them emotionally in a non-threatening way while we are doing a task together.  It also gives me a chance to teach and supervise skills such as knife skills and shows them what goes into eating the healthy foods that we choose to eat.  Plus, it shows them all the work I do!  😉

6.       Give each child a job.  In our household right now, I have a “salad-maker”—any time we have a salad, she makes it.  I have a “drinks master” who is in charge of drinks for everyone in the family.  The younger kids can dole out napkins and silverware.  This way everyone chips in, feels a sense of being “needed” in the family, and takes some of the burden off of mom!

Each of our families is designed differently, made up of unique individuals, some with special dietary needs or choices.  I truly believe that for any family, meal-planning and prepping can be a time for leaning in to relationship-building with your kids, creating a more simplified week and teaching life skills. 

What are some of your favorite strategies to help simplify meal time with your family?  Would love to hear in the comments!