Meal planning has changed my life. It has changed the way I shop, when I shop and what I shop for. As a working woman, having a family dinner plan in place helps me save money EVERY TIME I go to the grocery store and stops me from overspending on food items that go to waste in the back of my refrigerator. When the work week gets crazy, I feel at ease knowing what we will have for dinner (it’s just one less thing to think about!) and can plan for how much time it will take to make.
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I really enjoy cooking now but I never used to. My mom and my brother were always really good at cooking and putting meals together, I just prefered to bake— I can make cakes and cookies any day but you can’t really live off dessert! But as my career took off, I realized that it was 1) not healthy for me to eat the way I was 2) I enjoy eating too much to be ok with crappy dinners 3) I enjoyed the rush of making a good meal and serving it to my family (and they eat every bite!). So I learned how to improve my cooking skills, one pinterest recipe at a time, and learned how to efficiently meal plan.
Now, I enjoy cooking a variety of different things from burgers to casseroles to fish or shrimp options. I take no prisoners when it comes to type and country of origin, but it has to be easy. During the work week, I simply don’t have enough time for an hours prep plus cook time, so I make sure that I choose recipes that are family friendly, healthy on the hips and have an easy prep time. Pinterest has really helped me find new recipes that work within these rules. Once in a while, I will pick a recipe that is a little bit more complex to try on the weekend when I have plenty of time to prep, cook and get all those dishes cleaned!
So how do I make a weekly family dinner plan? Typically on the weekend, I will start to pin some of my favorite recipes on pinterest noting down the ingredients needed. I complete a simple “Week” list noting what meal for what day depending on our families work/activity schedule. Then, I cross-reference the ingredients that I need with what I have on hand…then I am ready to hit the store!
7 Day Family Dinner Plan for Working Women
Here is an example of my favorite options for a 7 Day Family Dinner Plan. Easy for any working woman to plan and put together. Check out these recipes with links to make!
1. Crock pot Zuppa Toscana
2. 15 Minute Vegetable Lo Main
3. BBq Chicken Tostadas
4. Sweet Chili Garlic Glazed Salmon
5. Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
6. Slow cooker Salisbury Steak & Mashed Potatoes
7. Cajun Shrimp & Sausage Vegetable Skillet
Now you have some ideas of what to make this week, start pinning (first follow me on Pinterest!) and of course, let me know what you think in the comments!
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