Managing a family is a full-time job in its own right but working on top of mom duty can seem, at times, downright overwhelming. For moms on the go, priorities are constantly in flux and concerns about keeping your family healthy and happy are ever-present. Planning ahead is essential for every family and can often help significantly reduce mom-related stress.
Planning meals on a weekly or even monthly basis can really help to keep a family healthy. Planning a grocery shop, selecting the week’s recipes and recruiting kids to help in the kitchen are just a few ways that busy moms can cut down on the long list of things to worry about during the week.
Grocery shopping at the end of the week is great because it’s typically when the fridge and freezer are looking particularly bare. Better yet are grocery delivery services which deliver your order right to the door. Moms should check if such a service is available in their area. You might be surprised.
During a grocery shop try to get as many fruits, vegetables and herbs as possible. Don’t be afraid to overbuy fruit and veg as these can always be put to good use. If you’re making a batch of soup, consider doubling the recipe and freezing some. Having reserves of healthy homemade food is a great idea for moms on the go and the perfect way to avoid a quick stop at McDonald’s on nights when you just can’t face preparing another meal.
photo by christine592, on Flickr
Sunday is the perfect day to organize family meals. Consider sitting down with your kids and going through a weekly meal plan. Discuss school lunches, potential dinner options and of course breakfast, the most important meal of the day. Getting kids involved is a great way to talk about nutrition in an informal way and to allow them some input into their food options. A good guideline for a pack lunch is usually 50% fruit and vegetables, 25% grains or beans and 25% animal protein.
The internet is full of healthy, family-friendly recipes for meals and snacks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with recipes, to try new things and see what ingredients your family responds well to. The goal is to make your weekly food prep day fun and easy, to take some of the strain off the rest of the week and to take pleasure in preparing healthy home cooking for you and your family.
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