Being a mom is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling job, but the busy lifestyle never stops, especially if you also have to work. Juggling the responsibilities of personal and professional life can be daunting for everyone, and if you have to take care of your kids on top of that, chances are you’ll find some areas to be very challenging. For instance, finding the time to cook may seem like a heavy burden when there’s a bunch of other chores to do. However, home-cooked meals are not only healthy but they also present an opportunity for some warm and quality time with your family. Thanks to the following tips, you too can overcome the challenge of cooking as a busy mom.
Combine Simplicity with Nutrition
A healthy and nutritious meal doesn’t have to be too complex or difficult to make. What’s more, if you stick to simple ingredients and techniques, you won’t even need to spend more than 30 minutes preparing the food. For instance, mixing the chicken with veggies and/or rice is quick and easy, yet it’s delicious and provides the right amount of nutrients. You can also prepare whole-grain pasta, soups, as well as sandwiches with chicken/avocado. Going the healthy and simple road is a lot better compared to ordering junk food.
Stock Your Fridge Once a Week
There’s no need to waste time shopping every single day. Take some time during the weekend to plan the meals featuring healthy foods for the next week and then go for a bigger shopping trip. Use this opportunity to stock your fridge and pantry so that you don’t have to challenge and burden yourself with the meals you have to prepare over the course of the next 7 days.
There’s No Need to Start from Scratch
These days, there are plenty of convenience products that are already half-prepared for you. If you don’t have the time to chop and wash the veggies, you can always buy pre-made packets. What’s more, there are tons of canned products such as sauces and beans that can save you a lot of time, too. In case you want to treat your family with something truly delicious, get your fill of  frozen pastries and surprise everyone. All you have to do is put them in the oven and wait for them to be done. Set a timer as well, so that you can go about your other business while waiting.
Prepare Larger Portions
Why cook something new every single day of the week when you can have the same meal twice, or maybe even 3 times? If you notice that your kids enjoy a particular dish a lot, don’t hesitate to prepare it in larger quantities, split up the portions, and refrigerate them. Of course, don’t wait for too long to eat the refrigerated meals as you don’t want them to get stale.
Switch Up Your Sauces
There’s no need to break the bank or your head looking for new meal ideas every single week. If you plan to prepare chicken for your family, feel free to stick to it. However, there’s always an easy way to spice things up and diversify the taste of the meat. This is where different sauces and marinades come to the rescue! Always have at least three different sauces in your pantry so that you can rotate them with your chicken dishes. And when you have the time, soak the meat in some simple marinade.
Always Have an Emergency Meal
Even with all the planning, it’s only natural that you, as a busy mom, will find yourself in the right pickle of a situation when you’re pressed for time and no meal to serve to your family. Therefore, it’s rather practical to have your emergency meal for these moments. Essentially, pick a dish that’s easy and quick to make, but that is also delicious and provides nutritional value. For instance, mixing up cooked rice and steamed broccoli with broiled chicken is bound to keep your family happy and allow you to preserve the title of a super mom.Â
Create a Helpful Schedule
In order for you to take care of everything on time and allow the kids to develop a better sense of timing as well, create a meaningful schedule around your daily activities. The schedule can state every single chore you have, from work to laundry and cleaning, kids’ school to cooking and mealtime. That way, you’ll know when to start cooking and your kids will know what to expect from their day, too. The sooner you start applying this to your family routine, the sooner will the kids adopt it, which will also make for less unforeseen incidents around the home.
If your kids are old enough, don’t hesitate to ask them to help you with the cooking. They might not be ready to handle the preparation of the meal itself, but they can definitely set the table or maybe even help with doing the dishes later on. The experience will mean a lot as it will show the youngsters you can trust them with different tasks and responsibilities. What’s more, you’ll get to save more time during the day as well.Â
Taylor Parker is an American based writer and blogger. She is very passionate about family, fashion, health and lifestyle. Taylor writes mostly lifestyle articles, but also you’ll find her in home improvement and other niches.
