Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. As tempting as it may be, serving dessert for dinner to reduce our stress level at the end of the day might mean our children nominate us for mom of the year. However, we know it is not the best option. I did not give into my temptation to serve dessert after a rough day. I am embarrassed to admit times of wearily serving oatmeal or cold cereal for dinner until I learned a few tricks to make this meal more manageable. I hope these tips will help you enjoy the dinner hour.
For many families, meal planning one week (or month) ahead creates smoother dinner hours. In my family, we liked to have general ideas but not specific plans. The beauty of meal planning is the same beauty found in homeschooling: there is no right or wrong. Try different things to find the best for your family during this season of life!
Dinner Rescue #1 One tried and true way to reduce meal stress is to set aside one day each month to prepare freezer meals for the month. If you would like to learn more, the Beginner’s Guide to Freezer Meals or the Once a Month Cooking sampler provide helpful information. There are benefits as well as drawbacks monthly cooking. Benefits include ready to heat and eat eat meals that are healthier than store bought, that are budget friendly. Buying in bulk is a great way to save money, especially if you have access to a wholesale club like Sam’s Club or Costco® Wholesale. The drawbacks are often based on personal preference. Freezer cooking often relies on one prepared meat served several ways (like precooked ground beef with onions and peppers) or casseroles. Delicious as they are, it is possible for your family to tire of similar meals. Freezer cooking allowed for peaceful dinners many years in my home.
Dinner Rescue #2 Involving children in the evening meal routine adds fun and lessens stress. Surprised? At times, involving children in meal preparation seems counterproductive, but the life skills and family bonds created last a lifetime. Depending on your children’s ages, recruit them to set the table, wash fruits and vegetables or measure ingredients to prepare the main course. Younger children will need a little more support in the process but preparing a meal together may help restrain the free-time chaos that occurs while mom or dad singlehandedly prepare dinner!
Dinner Rescue #3 Slow Cookers have a proven track record for generations of busy families. What can be easier than grabbing your ingredients, dumping them into a crock and turning it on low to cook all day? Benefits abound, including ease of use, hands-off cooking, and healthier meals. Drawbacks include setting aside time in the morning to prepare the recipe for all day cooking and the mush factor that can occur when some recipes cook too long (a reality if the meal comes after a long co-op or school day). Planning is also beneficial for slow cooker meals. While some meats can be prepared from frozen state, this is often time consuming and cumbersome. But maybe I am the only one who has attempted to stuff a frozen 5# roast into a 4-quart slow cooker? Slow cookers can be a dinner saver in many situations, and for many years was my best friend in the kitchen. Beginner or veteran, there are some yummy slow cooker ideas at Homeschool Christian’s Recipe page.
Dinner Rescue #4 The newest kitchen helpmeet is the electric pressure cooker. Oh my lands! Where was this handy dandy device during my hectic homeschooling days! Although I have only had mine a few months, I have quickly fallen in love with the diversity of meals that can be prepared. Unlike the slow cooker, electric pressure cookers come in a variety of models from those with basic functions to more high-tech cookers that make yogurt, steam vegetables, sauté meat, and much more. As part of the journey to get the most from my electric pressure cooker, I joined a Facebook group that has over 1 million members! Apparently, I am only one in the sea of faces benefiting from this latest kitchen miracle. There are numerous benefits: nutrient preservation, energy efficiency, and time saving. As with the other options, there are drawbacks as well. First, there is a definite learning curve. Foods cook differently and there are some unique requirements for time and amount of time, for example. I would also add that, contrary to the brand of one popular electric pressure cooker, instantaneous is not completely descriptive for most users. When reviewing a recipe, allow 10-15 minutes for pressurization and if using the manual release an additional 10 minutes before your meal is ready. If you are new to this phenomenon, Corrie Cooks provides great graphics instruction for new electric pressure cooker users and 365 Days of Crockpot provides 10 recipes for beginners. I would also recommend the Instant Pot® Community on Facebook. The recipes and helpful how to information is highly valuable. I personally love the support, tips and tricks shown when someone shares a pressure cooking disappointment.
There are other tricks to ease dinner stress including prepackaged foods and the always helpful pizza delivery. Honestly, there are some nights that this is the best option for afternoon and evening survival. But it is my hope that the tips above have provided additional strategies for enjoying a peaceful evening meal in your household.
~Bon Appétit,
Deanne
