As a single parent, there are many challenges to face daily – the one question “What’s for dinner?” can make your skin crawl. It’s not that you do not enjoy cooking or see this as a master task. It can be one of the most common and daunting tasks.
Trying to come up with new, healthy, and exciting meal ideas while juggling work, school, and extracurricular activities for yourself and your children can be overwhelming. However, with some creativity and planning, mealtime can become a much less stressful experience.
One of the first things to consider is your family's dietary needs and preferences. Take the time to talk with your children about what foods they like and dislike. You can also involve them in meal planning by giving them a say in what meals are prepared for the week. This will help you develop meal ideas, encourage your children to try new foods and take an active role in their health and well-being.
Meal planning and grocery shopping can also be made more accessible using meal planning apps, grocery list apps, and coupon apps. These will help you stay organized and save money on groceries, making providing nutritious meals for your family easier.
Batch cooking and meal prepping on the weekends can also help reduce meal preparation stress during the week. By making large batches of meals and storing them in the freezer, you can have healthy and hearty meals ready whenever you need them without spending hours in the kitchen every night.
Finally, take advantage of local resources such as food banks, community gardens, and cooking classes. These can help you save money on groceries and provide new ideas and support for meal preparation.
Meal planning and preparation as a single parent can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. With some creativity and planning, you can provide nutritious meals for your family while reducing the stress and chaos of mealtime.
Check out this site named Two Peas and Their Pods. There is a great resource to help you with meal plans and recipes: https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/kid-friendly-recipes-free-weekly-meal-plan-printable/
Happy Cooking!
Erin
Time to Dish:
· What do you feel when your kids ask you what’s for dinner?
· You are not the only parent that feels this way – have you mastered the task? If so, please share.
· What would it be if you could have anything related to dinner creation?