Let's face it, after about 20 years or so, meal planning and preparation for your family is pretty boring. OK. How about after 20 days!
In my childhood home family dinner wasn't a term-it was an expectation. To this day I haven't figured out how my mother fixed delicious and nutritious meals for us every night often including friends and relatives. Because of those memories of good food and family togetherness, I spent a lot of years wearing myself out trying to live up to the standard my mom set.
Along the way I've discovered some ways to save money, time, and sanity. Most young children only eat a few select foods anyway, so why knock yourself out thinking up new menu ideas? Write down what you have for dinner each night for the next two weeks. You'll probably notice a pattern. Use your new discovery to prepare a master grocery shopping list.
Use your new master list time you shop. You won't forget any ingredients or get home only to find out you needed something you didn't buy. You also won't need to go to the store every day to pick up something for dinner. You can stock up on items from your list when they're on sale and take advantage of coupons, because you already know what you plan to buy. Convenience is the key, so save time by using an on-line source for coupons you can print off on your computer printer. Coolsavings
offers coupons for groceries and also retail merchandise. Save your creativity and energy for entertaining or special occasions!
For a wonderful list of easy recipes for families, visit Time Trimmers. You'll find fast, easy-to-prepare meals using foods from your children's “approved list” plus yummy breakfast and lunch box ideas, too! To read up on the importance of family meals, including how to entice your children and even your teens into helping with meal preparation Kids' Health has great suggestions.
You'll save time because you already have your grocery list and know what you'll prepare each night. Save money by only preparing meals your family enjoys, so nothing will be thrown out. Best of all you'll save your sanity, because you'll have time and money and a few extra minutes every day to do something you actually enjoy!
