It happens more than I’d like to admit. Dinner time rolls around and I suddenly turn into an indecisive mess. 8 times out of 10, I have a meal plan. I know what food we have on hand and which meals my family will and won’t eat. However, sometimes what I planned on making doesn’t sound good. Or I’ve waited too late into the evening to get the ball rolling.
Sometimes, it’s not even dinner. I go to pack a lunch and realize an essential ingredient is missing. It happens to the best of us. We get caught in a pinch and of course the fallback plan usually involves overspending for carryout or picking up less than healthy (and expensive) choices in the drive through. We’re not helpless, though. There are steps we can all take to make that dinner hour drama decrease.
Invest in Decent Storage
Before you begin making food in advance, you need decent storage containers to access them well in your fridge and freezer. Don’t misunderstand me. I did not just give you a free pass to snap up every item on your favorite container store website. Believe it or not, you use a simple plastic bag to store soups flat in your freezer. I use gallon storage bags which cost less than their freezer counterparts. Be sure to purchase items that will seal tight. Don’t forget essentials like aluminum foil, too. For dishes that will go into the refrigerator, see through glass containers usually work best so that you can have a quick and easy visual on what’s inside.
Cook A Meal and a Half (or Two)
One of the easiest ways to have a few meals in reserve is by intentionally cooking more than you need. The next time you whip up your favorite casserole, soup, or speciality dish, multiple the recipe by two. Then freeze half of the goods. You save yourself most of the mess and come out with two night’s worth of fresh meals.
Look for Recipes that Freeze Easily
You don’t have to cook meals for the entire month. You definitely can though. A few years ago, I created a $50 ALDI Meal Plan with a freezer meal emphasis (I got 8 meals out of $50). The recipes were some that I’ve adapted over the years to feed our family. A quick Internet search will yield more recipes than you can shake a spatula at. But it’s really wise to focus on what your family will actually eat rather than swimming into deep culinary waters. Soups, pasta dishes, and some casseroles will do well in the freezer. Keep cooking basic and simple. If you’ve never eaten a particular food before, it’s probably not a good candidate.
Focus on Meal Components
Rather than filling your freezer to the brim with meal upon meal, you may be able to simply cook a component of a meal – like a main dish or meat or a side dish in advance. So perhaps you marinade grill an entire bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts one evening. You can serve your family dinner from this effort, but also chop and then freeze the remaining chicken. This protein can be tossed into tacos, pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches, and more.
Build Meals Upon Meals
Last, but certainly not least, you can take some work out of your week by being smart with your leftovers. Oftentimes, what you didn’t eat all of the night before can be featured in the next day’s meal. Leftover rice easily converts to a stir fry. A main course ham or turkey can be made into a breakfast casserole. Pulled pork can be used for tacos. When meal planning, think about creating a plan that allows you to expand one night’s cooking into the next day or two.
There may always be a hesitation to begin cooking dinner for some of us. However, a little preparation goes a long way to ease the process. I’d love to know what recipes you make ahead to keep the dinner time drama at bay. Leave your favorites in the comments.
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