Feeding a busy family on the go is the challenge of any mom, whether there are two kids or six! A homeschool mom has the same challenges as working mom does, and it takes planning for everyone to be successful!
Meal planning is important to keep a family on schedule and under budget each month. It is critical in our household as we eat 95% of our meals at home. I always start each week with a meal planner like the one found here at https://i1.wp.com/www.neathousesweethome.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Neat-Weekly-Meal-Planner-e1438021842844.jpg?ssl=1
Planning a meal doesn’t have to be a daunting task, but it does take time to get into the routine. I love to plan my meals out for the week, shop online for the supplies I need for the meals, and I simply visit my grocer to pickup everything without ever turning my car off! I prefer to shop at my local Walmart Marketplace or Publix, but you may have the same convenient options at your local store! Shopping for the week with store pick-up means I don’t have to drag tired and hungry kiddos or husbands through the store, tempted by every sweet and savory treat from the entrance to the exit.
My other plan for meal planning is to utilize the time saving tools available such as my Crock Pot or Instant Pot. Both companies have recipes on their websites as well as a multitude of recipes online or on Pinterest. I nearly retired my Crock Pot after 25 years as a faithful follower when my Instant Pot came along, but I have found that I still have a few favorites that can’t be beat from my Crock Pot. They are the opposite ends of the spectrum of meal preparation, and they both have their place in a busy household.
I love roast and slow cooked meats that need time to tenderize, most often beef recipes with less expensive cuts. The slow cooker simmers these dishes under medium temperatures and infuse flavors that can’t be acquired in a quicker cooking method. The original method of 3-4 hours in a dutch oven will require 8 hours, but less supervision. While a pressure cooker can accomplish a similar dish in less time, the flavor profile sometimes simply needs low and slow!
On the other hand, the time that is saved with a pressure cooker is game changing for a busy family, especially when plans change at the last minute! My favorite last minute meals often include chicken dishes that can be cooked in less than 30 minutes from frozen to ribs or low country boil! I love both tools for chili and soup recipes, but the pressure cooker does a better job with dry beans than the slow cooker.
Instant Pot’s Steamed Salmon Fillets are fast and easy with FROZEN fillets! This meal can be prepared in under 20 minutes with a handful of simple ingredients.
Crock Pot’s Beef Stew is a flavorful dish with simple ingredients and tons of flavor. This slow cooker meal takes 8-10 hours, but you simply set it in the morning and return home to a delicious hot meal! With Crock Pot’s warm setting, you can leave this to rest warm until after ball practices are finished without fear of the dish burning or turning to mush.
Both of these tools are budget and time savers for busy families. We don’t have to rush through Drive-thru fast food restaurants to spend $30 for a meal that will give us all headaches before bed. We come home to sit down as a family to warm and delicious savory meals, and my family thinks I am the best mom ever!
How do you save time and money feeding your busy gang?