Hello!

Hey Ladies! Hoping some of you can help me out with your brilliant answers. I really struggle with cooking dinner at night. I just seem to run out of time in the arvo and end up in a mad rush to get something together quickly for dinner. It is usually the simplest stuff. Any ideas on how to make sure everything is ready to go and I actually have enough time to cook?! Thanks


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  • I generally meal plan before I do my weekly groceries as it saves time and money. Knowing what we are having every night makes things much easier so if there’s any prep I can do it whenever I have a spare moment and then just pull it out of the fridge later to cook etc… I also use my slow cooker a lot – especially in winter – Everything goes in in the morning and just cooks away until dinner time :)


  • i find simply prepping a little bit of the veggies or food in the arvo helps heaps


  • Have you tried writing out a menu for the week at the beginning of the week? It never worked for me, but it helps other sports be organised, it might help you.


  • Dinerly hellofresh marleyspoon are great time savers but meal planning is the key plan the weeks meals when you shop so you have everything on hand and know what your cooking so much easier


  • On the weekend you can make a large batch of food and freeze it for other nights when time is short.


  • I meal plan, it has saved us time and money. I prepare Monday night meal Sunday (slow cooker in winter) in Tuesday we have Mexican – so Tacos, nachos, Etc, Wednesday is crazy bus night so I pic, up a hot chicken and have it with chips or salad, Thursday nights are meat and veg, Friday is pasta night – or in winter soup night.


  • I have a weekly menu plan and find this is the greatest stress saver. Knowing what to cook makes it so much easier than deciding each day.


  • Plan ahead. Use a meal planner. Cook some meal on the weekend and freeze ready to reheat. Find some quick and easy recipes which require minimal prep etc.


  • I do the same. Cooking isn’t something I enjoy and I dread having to come up with meals every night!


  • I agree with a lot of the other mums here, I find I have alot more energy in the morning a d started, years ago getting up an hour earlier. If I want to do dishes, prep food, I usually make a hot brekky, I even get to have a coffe and sit for a bit before the 3 kids start to stir. Also at least once a week I make enough for two nights. A giant pasta bake or double batch bolognese. So many things we make regularly can be doubled, saves time, money and stops the take out nights cause it’s so easy.


  • I prepare veg or casserole in morning while doing other chores. I am like you not so hot about cooking and preparing meal at night


  • I start getting a few things together in the morning and even if at home at lunch time whilst making kids lunch and then mid to late arvo I give the kids an activity at the table near me so we can talk whilst I start to cook, I will have it either fully cooked early or mostly cooked ready to just finish it off before we eat. If you have a day where there is more time, prepare foods days in advance, cut veggies and have ready in container in fridge, make a quiche that will do a couple of days and just serve with a quick tossed salad


  • I cook in the morning after breakfast. If my children are at home, they seem to be able to play for a short time on their own.


  • I like to plan for a least 3 days every time. I’ve got all the ingredients at home this way. Sometimes I also cook more than needed, so I can freeze something to use when I want to have one “day off” from cooking.


  • plan meals

    a slow cooker- just chuck in your food

    have a big cook session and make freezer meals or just set aside a container , every meal that you can spare it, when you cook and then you will have heaps of freezer meals

    do toasted sandwiches


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