I was talking with my husband a few weeks ago about how I was feeling burned out of meal planning, prepping, etc. While I do like to go to the grocery store, it started to feel like a daunting task to come up with a new recipes and execute them on a weekly basis especially now very mobile 9 month old.
He shared how when he was growing up his mom made dinner every night, but she made very simple meals. For example, a protein, veg, carb, and side salad. Probably like how most of us grew up before Pinterest and IG. He said his mom cooked healthy, but rarely used a recipe. We talked about how I put too much pressure on myself needing to make new recipes every night and discussed ways we could simplify week night meals.
While I do love trying new recipes, I realize I don’t need to do a new recipe every night. People assume since I’m an RD I cook healthy meals on the fly and love every second of it. To be honest, I prefer following a recipe and don’t always love cooking. Therefore, I need to reset my expectations for our weekly meal plan and be OK with making simple meals more often and saving new recipes for days I have more time.
TIPS TO SIMPLIFY MEALS
Accept or ask for help in the kitchen
I typically make my husband prep the protein if we are doing seafood or red meat. He’s just better at it and sometimes can easily throw it on the BBQ and I don’t have to worry about it. He primarily works from home now, so I can get him to help a lot more often during the week.
Buy things already prepped at the store
if a recipe calls for you to make a sauce, salsa, marinade, etc. I will typically just buy these pre-made at the store. Primal Kitchen has so many options that have zero sugar in them! I will also often get onions pre-diced (I absolutely hate dicing onions), pre-cut veggies, quick cook rice/grains, etc. If you only need small amounts of an item for a recipe I will also sometimes just get them ready to go from the salad bar area if I’m at a store like Whole Foods.
Theme meals of the week
For example, every Monday is a crockpot or casserole recipe, Tuesday is Mexican theme, Wednesday pasta theme, Friday pizza night, and Sunday BBQ. You can switch up recipes within those themes, but it helps narrow it down.
Read the recipe before going to the store
I’m soooo guilty of seeing a recipe that looks good, taking a quick screen shot of it without really looking at the recipe and ingredients, and heading to the store. By the time I get to the store either the ingredients are too many/hard to find or the recipe is too complicated for an easy meal weeknight meal.
Choose a recipe with 10 or less ingredients
This plays off of my above tip. Try and find recipes with limited ingredients…less to buy at the store and less prep. A good meal doesn’t need 35 ingredients. This also likely means less clean up and that my kitchen won’t look like a tornado ripped thru it after dinner.
Make a list of your family’s favorite recipes
Keep a running list of recipes in your phone that are hits with the family. Every week does not need to be full of new foods and recipes (I’m guilty of believing this). Add in 1-2 tried and true recipes every week. It can also be helpful to repeat recipes because you get to know the recipe better and can make it faster and find your own hacks to simplify it.
MY TOP 5 EASY GO-TO RECIPES:
Egg Roll in a Bowl (so easy and a husband favorite)
Turkey Meatloaf + bag salad (I’m a big bag salad fan, but typically toss the added dried fruit, crutons, and dressing and add my own)
Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole (perfect for leftovers the next day too)
20 Minute Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp (simplify by buying pre-made mango salsa)
Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps (light and easy meal)
Follow our Pinterest board for more dinner recipe inspo.
Drop you meal plan hacks in the comments section!
xx, A
