There are a few things that cause a lot of anxiety in households once school starts not the least of which is weeknight meals. Gone are the lazy days of summer and more frantic structured days are ushered in. Here are my three tips for making your school nights easier each week. I know cooking can be stressful, but it is worth doing a little planning to see if you can make it be at least a little bit fun.
1) Write it ALL down: I like to write down not only dinner ideas, but lunch and breakfast ideas too. This ways everything is in one place and you can begin to see what you have on hand. Often dinner food can be packed for lunch the next day.
2) Like & Dislikes: It is inevitable that there is disagreement over food. When planning your menu it is OK to add in some food you know your children will love as well as some you want them to try. Don’t look at each menu as an impending battle. Who wants that?!
3) Plan a Special Night: I always think homemade pizzas on Fridays are tons of fun. They can be healthy and easy to make and the kids can get involved. It is OK to plan a special night for take-out or something incredibly easy for dinner one night a week. It gives everyone a reason to relax a little and enjoy the moment. Remember, family meals are meant to be fun and a time to reconnect!
