MSU Extension Extension Recipes

When family members are busy, cooking dinner might feel like a big challenge. However, family mealtime creates better eating habits for children, leads to more academic success, and can lead to stronger relationship bonds. If you struggle with having enough time to cook for everyone or in deciding what to make, there are steps you can take to make mealtime smoother. Try the following tips to make meal preparation healthy, budget-friendly and easy for your family.

Plan ahead

Simple measures, such as writing your grocery list items and outlining menu plans may contribute to long-term savings on groceries and save you time during the week.

• Determine your grocery budget and when you’ll go, keep in mind your family’s schedule to know how many people will be at the table. Note when you’ll need to eat on the road or away from home.
• Create menu plans for the week, this will save you time when preparing a meal and can reduce last-minute take-out runs. Try to incorporate some of your family’s favorite go-to meals and quick, easy options like breakfast for dinner or pasta. Consider recipes that children can help with.
• Consider making each day of the week a theme dish (meatless Monday, taco Tuesday, pizza Friday) and repeating this weekly for your meal plan. Or, try to “cook once, eat twice” to stretch your groceries, or spend less time in the kitchen, which includes a strategy to make a larger portion dish and repurpose that into multiple meals.  
• Look for recipes you can prepare ahead of time, like slow cooker dishes, or one-pot meals that are quick to get prepped and lead to fewer dishes. This means less waiting and more time with your family.
• Write a grocery list with the ingredients from the meal plan. Look to make sure you’re choosing items from the food group gallery. Don’t forget to check for what you already have at home and in the pantry or storage. Make sure to include snacks and other family staples into the meal plan.
• Remember to shop for meals or ingredients your family enjoys to minimize wasted food.

Make the meal prep a family affair

Children can help with meal planning, writing grocery lists, and preparing meals.

• Make meal preparation educational. While shopping, children can read off the grocery list or help find items. At home, they can read recipes and learn to follow steps.
• Set healthy ground rules for mealtimes, such as shutting off the television, putting away electronics, and eating together at the table.
• Delegate tasks to family members of all ages. Young children can help with washing produce, measuring ingredients, or setting the table. Older children can follow recipes and help cook with adult supervision.
• Use shortcuts when needed. Whether that is purchasing precut vegetables (fresh or frozen) or rotisserie chicken, it will give you more time with family around meal times. You can also try serving no-cook meals like sandwiches or salads. Let the family customize their own dish so everyone enjoys the meal and reduces food waste.
• Plan some time over the weekend to meal prep for the upcoming week. Whether you wash and cut fruits and vegetables for the week, cook a large batch of grains or proteins, or freeze easy-to-thaw meals, you’ll set yourself up for success. Have the family help with age-appropriate tasks to enjoy quality time together.

There are many ways to make meal planning and preparation work for family meals. It may take time to create a system that works for you, but benefits like saving money, eating nutritious meals, and having more family time are often worth the planning effort. Want more details on meal planning? Check out MSU Extension’s how to master meal planning resource! To learn more about budgeting, menu plans and other nutrition education information, visit MSU Extension’s website.