How to Simplify Mealtime Chaos for Busy Moms

 Have you had this conversation?

Me to my 8 yo: "I know you don't like bell peppers, so here are some peas to have with dinner."

My 8 yo: "Noooo Mom, I didn't like them when I was in second grade, but I like them now."

Me: "Ohhhh okay, I didn't get the memo."

Are you tired of the nightly battle at the dinner table, trying to accommodate or guess everyone's different food preferences? Cooking for a family with diverse tastes and dietary needs can feel like an endless challenge that we all struggle with.

But fear not, because I'm here to help you get back your sanity and energy in the kitchen with 3 strategies to streamline mealtime into a no-stress event:

1. Build Your Meal Around a Flexible Base: Instead of preparing entirely separate meals for each family member, focus on creating a flexible base that can be customized to suit different preferences.
   • For example, start with a neutral base like rice, pasta, quinoa, or a salad.
   • Then offer a variety of toppings, sauces, and protein options that each family member can mix and match according to their taste. This approach not only simplifies meal prep but also encourages autonomy and adventurous eating among your loved ones.
2. Embrace Batch Cooking and Meal Prep: To save time and reduce stress incorporate batch cooking and meal prep into your weekly routine.
   • By spending a few hours on the weekend or single prep ingredients during the week (that's my current style) to prepare large batches of staple ingredients such as grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and cooked grains.
   • Store these components in separate containers in the fridge or freezer, ready to be quickly assembled into a variety of meals throughout the week.
3. Foster a Spirit of Adventure with Theme Nights: Turn mealtime into a fun and interactive experience by introducing theme nights or "categories" into your weekly meal plan. This will help reduce decision fatigue too.
   • Whether it's Taco Tuesday, Slow-Cooker Monday, One-Pan Wednesday, or DIY Pizza Night, themed meals provide structure while also a framework for creativity and experimentation.
   • Encourage your family members to contribute ideas for themes and participate in meal prep. Not only does this approach make cooking more enjoyable, but it also promotes openness to trying new foods and flavors.
   • Rotate your themes or categories seasonally to change it up.

Example for what to cook this week:

​Cook up a big batch of this sheet pan roasted veggies recipe or this one is great too.

Grill, poach or roast some chicken (we make a whole chicken but you can just do breasts or thighs). I have poached chicken breasts in my instant pot for zero minutes. Check out this step by step.​

Plant-based option: grill some tofu (like one of my clients recently did)

Then cook up a batch of rice, pasta or quinoa. I use my instant pot to do this too. I make enough for that night and for leftovers.

​Pull it all together for something like this greek chicken bowl recipe (check out the notes tab for how to add more flavor).​

I suggest to be kind to yourself, be realistic in your expectations, and have patience in the process. It's more about learning, experimenting, and growing together then striving for perfection. There is no magic bullet that will make everyone love everything all the time, but there are ways to find practical solutions that work for your unique family.

Talk soon,

Stephanie

P.S.-Want more energy? Of course! Check out my free guide for women to reclaim your energy here.