If you used to read my blog a few years ago, I was all about the meal planning and prep. My priorities were different, and I wanted to be able to have some flexibility after work to go to yoga class, make visits to the chiropractor, or take Body Pump. So I spent a few hours on Sunday prepping lots of food so that dinners were easy to make throughout the week.
Now, I’m busy for different reasons. I’m home more but I have my hands full- literally. For a while dinner time was unpredictable as Grayson may or may not have been taking a late afternoon nap and I could get dinner on the table. But now he is on a regular 2 nap a day schedule and that last nap ends between 3 and 4 pm. So at dinner time he is wide awake, and usually wanting to be held.
Sure the Ergo is great, but not when you have a 10 month old who wants to face out and grab EVERYTHING in the kitchen. So my options are leaving him in an exersaucer while I cook, or getting dinner ready in advance. I am lucky enough that someone is home with him every day- either me or my mom. So I do some prep on the weekends, and then whoever is home with him can do some during his nap time.
Meal Ideas For When You Have Your Hands Full
The key has been finding meals that are easy to make ahead of time. Certain recipes like crock pot dishes, casseroles, or sheet pan meals have worked out well. Anything I can pop in the oven or the microwave is a win! I basically avoid the stove and knives while Grayson is around and try not to make too many extra dishes.
I thought I would compile a list of recipes that I have found that have been great to make either over the weekend or earlier in the day. Even if you don’t have a squirmy infant, these are great for anyone who has their hands full, literally or figuratively!
Chicken Meals
BBQ Chicken and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowls
Crispy Parmesan Baked Chicken Milanese and Veggies
Beef Meals
Ginger Beef, Mushroom and Kale Stir Fry
Crock Pot Dishes
Slow Cooked Bacon and Butternut Squash
Slow Cooker Beef Tips Burgundy
Crock Pot Turkey Veggie Lasagna
Bacon and Butternut Squash Risotto
Other
Orzo with Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Blue Cheese
Meal Planning Tip
One way that I try to stay organized now with my meal planning is by using Google Docs. I have an excel workbook where I keep all my meals for the week, links to the recipes, and grocery list. This way I can access them from anywhere (personal laptop, work laptop, or phone) so if I think of something throughout the week I can add it. I have a separate sheet for each week so I can go back and look at past weeks for ideas!
Hopefully you can find something that you can make ahead for a busy day! And if you have any suggestions for keeping a 10 month old entertained while doing stuff in the kitchen, I’m open to suggestions!
What’s your favorite make-ahead meal?
Do you cook dinner at home every night?
Do you have any meal planning or meal prep tips?
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Back in the day, I also meal planned and kept my list of menus in a little notebook. I still do this–so old school–but it is helpful when I run out of ideas for dinner. It is nice to have the week all planned out and everything on the grocery list! That is one less thing to thing about when it’s dinner time.
I couldn’t imagine not know what I was eating until dinner time. I’m just not that spontaneous! And there would definitely be things I needed but didn’t have in the house.
It is so much harder to meal plan and prep with a little one around. The crock pot is a huge help especially in the colder months. I do love a good chili or soup for dinner
Me too! We hadn’t used the crock pot in awhile but now is going to be put to good use this fall and winter.
I can’t believe your little guy is 10 months old already! What a cutie!!! Thanks for the meal ideas. Since it is just my hubby and me, we tend to eat simple meals. I can’t get used to cooking for 2 after cooking for 5 (including 3 hungry boys) for all those years, so we often have leftovers! 🙂
Simple meals are great! I rely alot on leftovers too, especially for lunch the next day.
FYI, I’m having some issues commenting on your blog (its not letting me log into my wordpress account there for some reason) but I’ll ty to figure it out!
Wow! You are way organized putting meals in google docs. With traveling all the time, I usually just wing things. I try to meal prep sometimes but it hard not know if hotels have refrigerators or microwaves.
Oh that is really hard! I feel like I would end up eating out all the time if I traveled that much. I feel like I need to be organized or I would never get dinner on the table!
I am impressed by your Google Docs! I am just not a spreadsheet gal (although my husband is really good at them). I try to write a few things down in my planner. If I do it, that works. If I don’t, I’m often trying to figure out where that darn recipe is.
Sheet dinners are awesome. So is the Instant Pot!
Can’t imagine cooking with infants/toddlers. You’re doing great!
The google docs is pretty simple! But I think everyone has what works for them. I don’t have an instant pot but I’ve heard great things about them!
We have all three kids out of the house now, but the hubby is traveling usually a couple nights each week…so, I do a lot of leftovers. As Laurie said, it is hard to scale down the meals for two people. I don’t mind leftovers, so it’s a win-win. I do find myself getting in a rut, though, so I need to find some new recipes to tackle…thanks for all the great suggestions!
I usually make about 4 servings of meals and then have leftovers throughout the week. Depending on the meal, sometimes I will even freeze leftovers.I think its better to have a little extra as long as you can use it at some point!
I love how organized you are, especially with the Google Docs!
I need to try more of the sheet pan meals. Those seems easy-peasy and I like that there’s minimum clean up as well.
Yes the clean up is so easy with the sheet pan meals! Thats one of the reasons I like them!