dinner

jen&gene

what do you make for dinner?

how do you find the time?  i feel like i am struggling now....dont know how i am going to manage when i go back to work....we eat take out basically every night...or at least 4-5 times per week, and it is getting old.....lol

 thanks!

Monicagail1

I'm not officially 2u2 yet, but I feel your pain.  Here's what I try to do:

-I try to collect some quick and easy go-to meal recipes to rely on. 

-I also "try" to meal plan so that I buy everything I need for the week when I go grocery shopping and don't get caught having to run to the store unexpectedly.

-When I have more time to cook on the weekend I make bigger batches so that we can have left overs for a day or two and I don't have to cook every day during the week. Some day I'm going to get around to freezing meals...

-I keep a few quick frozen/boxed meals on hand (chicken nuggets/tater tots, mac and cheese, spaghetti and frozen garlic bread, etc). I know, processed food-the horror lol.

-We have breakfast for dinner about once a week.  Scrambled eggs, toast/frozen waffles, sometimes bacon or sausage are super quick and easy.

Hope this helps!

NavyPilotWife

The crockpot was my BFF, when the girls were younger.  I could prep meals in the morning, when the kids were in a good mood.  I like this blog for crockpot recipes:  https://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

I also meal plan, which I think helps.  I'd plan 4 quality meals (2 of those being crockpot meals) for the week and then 2 quick meals (frozen pizza, chicken nuggets and a salad, etc).  We usually go out to eat once per week.  Now that the kids are a bit older, I've been able to stray away from the crockpot a bit.  I really enjoying cooking though.

Mereou12

CROCKPOT.

That thing has been my best friend with 2u2. It's so much easier to throw something in the crockpot when both boys are napping in the early afternoon. Trying to cook in the evenings with a fussy baby and a hungry toddler is not something I've mastered yet. When you're back to work, just toss everything in before you head to work.

Yesterday I just threw in 3 frozen chicken breasts, a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, and a bit of onion powder & garlic powder. Cooked on high for 4 hours and served it with some microwaved Steamfresh veggies. Insant dinner that took NO time at all!

 

howleyshell

1.  DH cooked a lot when they were younger.  We menu planned together at the start of the week so I wasn't looking up at the clock at 5:30 and frantically trying to figure out something to throw together.  We often prepped stuff for the next day at night after the kids went to bed so all I needed to do was throw something in the oven.

2.  Double and triple batching so when I did cook I could put 2+ meals in the freezer for another night for every meal I did prep and make.

3.  Crock pot.  Again - takes advanced planning but sooo nice.  I also think the kids eat better when they smell the food cooking all day like that.

 

Daisy22

I started using www.e-mealz.com a couple of months ago. It's really helped b/c all the recipes are easy and if there is one or two we don't like that week I just make a go to crockpot meal instead. I also love that they use the sell ads so it's pretty cheap for 7 meals.

HelloWaldorf

I make a big lunch, and do leftovers for dinner. 

bturner13

Crockpot has been my life saver lately!! Check out www.crockpotgirls.com, plus theyre on FB. I'm no top chef, but lately I've been checking out recipes on there, and getting my ingredients and putting them together before work in the cp. Once me and dh and lil man get home, dinner is cooked and everybody is happy! It's also been a confident booster for me and making me more motivated to learn how to cook and not depend on fast food all the time or dh to cook. I already eat out everyday at lunch at work, so its nice coming home to a home cooked meal that the cp cooked for us.