Time-Saving Meal Tips for Busy Families

Let's face it. In today's world, who couldn't use a shortcut or two when it comes to putting healthy and satisfying meals on the table for you and your family? Between work and school schedules, not to mention social and community activities, cooking often falls by the wayside, especially when so many take-out and fast food options abound.

All is not lost, however! Try these tips from the Little Potato Company for making healthy meals a regular part of your family's week:

Make menu planning a priority. 

You've probably heard it before, but eating healthy, homemade meals during the week is all about planning in advance. Pick a day—such as Sunday—to map out meals for the next week or two. Try to involve the whole family—even little ones—to select meals that will be enjoyed by everyone. Be sure to choose at least a couple of meals that can be put together in 30 minutes or less, and take advantage of no-fuss methods like a slow cooker.

Incorporate ready-to-cook ingredients. 

Make sure your meals include food items that require little to no prep work, such as pre-washed and bagged greens, small, no-peel potatoes, pre-sliced meats—such as chicken cutlets or cubed beef—and frozen or jarred vegetables. This will save loads of time on prep work.

Shop online. 

Perhaps the biggest stumbling block to whipping up home-cooked meals is not having ingredients on hand. An unscheduled trip to the grocery store is enough to make you pick up the phone and order a pizza. Once you've come up with your meal plan for the week, consider online grocery shopping to save yourself multiple trips to the store. Keep in mind that many grocery outlets offer delivery as well.

Utilize quick cooking methods. 

Putting a roast in the oven for an hour is usually a non-starter for weeknight family meals, so look for recipes that cook quickly, either by sauteeing or boiling on the stove-top or quickly heating up in the microwave.

Ask for help. 

The best way to tackle meal prep is with help, so enlist your family's help in the kitchen. Give children small but helpful tasks, like setting the table or washing vegetables. Ask your partner or teenagers to wash dishes or pack away leftovers. Not only will this save you time, it will enrich your family meal-time experience and teach your children valuable lessons. 

 

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2025. All rights reserved.

 

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