It’s the start of another school year and with it brings a new level of chaos to most families. New schedules, activities and homework on top of all the regular stuff tends to leave minimal time to prepare and enjoy a family dinner together. Before you hop in the car to grab another $5 Little Caesars Hot and Ready Pizza or stop at the grocery store and wind up making a box of Hamburger Helper. Let me give you some insight on one of my favorite hobbies: grocery shopping! Yes, you heard me right; I do enjoy the grocery store! In fact, if I am fortunate to find some free time throughout the day you may find me cruising the aisles, kid-free if I am lucky!
There are ways to make grocery shopping more enjoyable, more productive and more efficient; so when you get home, you are able to prepare healthy, wholesome meals for your family and have them ready when you need them! It just takes a little planning, preparing and thought. Let me share with you some of my treasured tips!
1. Go With a Plan AND a List – Sit down prior to your shopping experience and look at your coming week(s). Think about your schedule, what do you have going on? Pay particular attention to” busy evenings” versus what your family would consider a “non-busy evening."
2. Organize Your Grocery List by Department – You likely shop at the same place every week and you are very familiar with the layout of the grocery store. So…make your grocery list match the flow that you would normally travel. It makes for efficient time management and an easy non-stress shopping experience, especially with kiddos along. Isn’t it frustrating when you get all the way on the other side of the store and you realize you forgot one item in the beginning? Believe me its totally worth your time!
3. Try One New Recipe per Week – Experiment with a new recipe on one of your “slower” days or over the weekend. Decide whether it’s a “keeper." This can be a fun game for your family too! It is a great way to build your recipe box at a slow pace, add variety to your meals and try out new foods.
4. Include Items for Quick Back-Up Meals – Things come up and schedules change. These are the situations when dinner gets on the table way late or you break down and run through the nearest drive thru in a starving state. So when making your list, have food in the house that is quick to make (10-15 minutes tops). This extra stuff may not have been part of your initial weekly plans but is great to have on hand. It keeps you from a night of eating out resulting in saved money and calories. Some examples of my favorites include: Frozen Steam Bagged Veggies, Individually Wrapped Fish Fillets, Black Bean Burgers, Turkey Burgers, Frozen Shrimp, Quick Microwavable Whole Grains (Brown Rice, Quinoa)
5. Categorize Your Meals – When planning your list, start with meals. There are 5 types of meals that I aim for:
1. New Recipes (requires extra time) - Great for "non-busy" evening or weekend meal
2. Large Meal - (2 meals) - The leftovers work great for a "busy" night
3. Crock Pot (ready when you get home) - For an evening with the smallest time frame, also great for cold, rainy/snowy days
4. Family Regulars (ready in about 30-45 minutes) - Meals you know how to prepare and are welcomed regularly.
5. “Friday Night Supper” (a family favorite) - A meal you will look forward to having, enjoyed by everyone and eaten together!
Simply put, based on your family schedule, make sure you have the correct meals to accommodate it. Busy night? Plan a crock pot meal (#3) or leftovers from the weekend (#2). On the evening you are home with some time to spare, make the new recipe (#1). My husband's favorite is “Friday Night Meal,” instead of going out to a restaurant, I make a favorite at home (works for any night, not just Fridays). It is not only a calorie saver but also works well into our budget.
6. Prepare foods after you unpack and before you put them away – When you get home before you put away the food; clean, cut and prepare them to use, grab and go. This is a sure way that they will find themselves in lunches, around the dinner table and during your next craving for a snack. Plus they are more likely not to end up spoiled in your garbage can. (Not only do I do this with fresh fruits and veggies but snack items like crackers and chips too) It helps with portion control and it makes it really easy to make up lunches quickly in the morning.