A round up the easiest, quickest, weekday meals and menus

[Anonymous]

I’m going back to work for the first time in 7 years and I’m so nervous! How do I feed my family?! 3 kids: 7, 5, 1. We’ll all get home around 4:30. No nanny. Husband will be home and can do light prep. NO weekend cooking…I hate that method!

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

meal planning will be your friend.

[Anonymous]

How rushed are your mornings? In cooler weather I like to throw something in the crockpot (chili is the most frequent, but sometimes bbq chicken or pork or other things) so I can come home to a cooked dinner.

Otherwise, I also like things I can get started and don't need constant attention. I can start the water boiling for pasta or whatever, or throw a sheet pan in the oven, and then go get changed or help the kids with something, or deal with emptying lunchboxes, etc. Come back and prep veggies or whatever once the water has boiled.

My kids are inevitably starving when we get home, so I do a lot of veggie or fruit plates for them while dinner is cooking. They don't complain the whole time I'm making dinner, and they are eating something that's part of their dinner anyway.

[Anonymous]

Easy meals that are a hit with my kids:

A big batch of crockpot / instant pot chicken or pork and repurposed throughout the week: bbq sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, salads, fried rice. Having the protein cooked and ready to go makes it easy to throw something together.

Frittatas with a loaf of good bread and bagged salad can be whipped up in 15 minutes.

Frozen burgers (beef, turkey, fish, veggie), crab cakes, or grilled salmon on a bun with avocado and other veggies (sometimes I’ll make a quick slaw, or just lettuce, tomato, and/or sprouts). We’ll often make a quick sauce (yogurt, Siracusa, lime is a favorite). Served with sweet potato fries or kale chips.

Garlicky pasta with shrimp and asparagus.

Sheet pan roasted veggies, potatos, and chicken sausage. A short amount of prep chopping things up, then just throw it in the oven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:meal planning will be your friend.

That’s for sure. But what does this look like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Easy meals that are a hit with my kids:

A big batch of crockpot / instant pot chicken or pork and repurposed throughout the week: bbq sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, salads, fried rice. Having the protein cooked and ready to go makes it easy to throw something together.

Frittatas with a loaf of good bread and bagged salad can be whipped up in 15 minutes.

Frozen burgers (beef, turkey, fish, veggie), crab cakes, or grilled salmon on a bun with avocado and other veggies (sometimes I’ll make a quick slaw, or just lettuce, tomato, and/or sprouts). We’ll often make a quick sauce (yogurt, Siracusa, lime is a favorite). Served with sweet potato fries or kale chips.

Garlicky pasta with shrimp and asparagus.

Sheet pan roasted veggies, potatos, and chicken sausage. A short amount of prep chopping things up, then just throw it in the oven.

Helpful. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How rushed are your mornings? In cooler weather I like to throw something in the crockpot (chili is the most frequent, but sometimes bbq chicken or pork or other things) so I can come home to a cooked dinner.

Otherwise, I also like things I can get started and don't need constant attention. I can start the water boiling for pasta or whatever, or throw a sheet pan in the oven, and then go get changed or help the kids with something, or deal with emptying lunchboxes, etc. Come back and prep veggies or whatever once the water has boiled.

My kids are inevitably starving when we get home, so I do a lot of veggie or fruit plates for them while dinner is cooking. They don't complain the whole time I'm making dinner, and they are eating something that's part of their dinner anyway.

My husband can prep after I leave the house at 7:15am

[Anonymous]

I went back to work a few years ago after being a sahm and was also very stressed about this! As pp’s have mentioned, crockpot is great. A quick meal that my family loves is instant ramen. Everyone can personalize theirs with what veggies and meat they like. We also do salad nights with chicken tenders from the freezer or leftover grilled chicken. Rotisserie chickens from the grocery store with a tray of roasted vegetables is good, fast and easy. Pasta dishes, breakfast for dinner, soup with grilled cheese, and tacos/quesadillas are all fast and easy. And sometimes you just need to pick up something like subway on the way home.

[Anonymous]

I think sheet pan dinners are really going to be your friend here. Those, along with meat sauce and pasta, stuffed peppers, marinated chicken breast with steamed veg and frozen rice, etc.

Plan out your meals on weekends Then you'll come home and know what you're making each day. Put the 7 yr old in charge of setting the table by a certain time each day, and the 5 yr old in charge of putting toys away when 7 yr old starts to set table. 1 yr old in charge of being cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think sheet pan dinners are really going to be your friend here. Those, along with meat sauce and pasta, stuffed peppers, marinated chicken breast with steamed veg and frozen rice, etc.

Plan out your meals on weekends Then you'll come home and know what you're making each day. Put the 7 yr old in charge of setting the table by a certain time each day, and the 5 yr old in charge of putting toys away when 7 yr old starts to set table. 1 yr old in charge of being cute.

You’re helpful and nice.

Would you specifically share some meals?

[Anonymous]

Some of the fastest meals in my rotation:

Baked salmon filets (just EVOO and S&P), with rice, steamed veg and a dijon-sour cream sauce.

I make a vat of spaghetti sauce every now and then and freeze it in quart ziplocs. Melt/heat the frozen sauce while the pasta water boils. Add garlic bread and salad.

Frozen crispy butterfly shrimp with rice, chile sauce and veg.

Fish cakes (make a bunch and freeze in single-meal ziplocs) plus starch and veg

Steak, steak fries and glazed carrots

Chicken thighs roasted in EVOO, throw in some garlic, olives and grape tomatoes 10 minutes before they're done, serve with mashed potatoes and veg

Shrimp in a burst grape tomato sauce over pasta (orzo) with salad

Quesadillas with leftover chicken or beef

Stir fry with teriyaki sauce (equal parts soy sauce and brown sugar plus garlic, ginger and sriracha to taste), beef strips and whatever vegetables are in the house over rice.

[Anonymous]

Something like Hello Fresh might be good for you. Three nights per week, you don't have to plan or shop.

This is tasty and fast. Throw in some spinach if you want. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022024-crispy-gnocchi-with-burst-tomatoes-and-mozzarella

[Anonymous]

Naan pizzas are easy and good. Serve with a bagged salad if they don’t have many veggies on them.

Have your DH prep falafel or prep it the night before, and shallow pan fry at dinner time. Serve with lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and tzatziki.

Throw some veggies in the oven to roast while you boil the pasta. Reserve some of the pasta water for when you add the veggies, after tossing the pasta and veggies in olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan or feta.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I really struggle with vegetables. Like, do you cook vegetables every night? Frozen peas? What do you serve beyond frozen green beans and roasted broccoli?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. I really struggle with vegetables. Like, do you cook vegetables every night? Frozen peas? What do you serve beyond frozen green beans and roasted broccoli?

Salad, grilled vegetables, roasted vegetables.

I’d start by figuring out your favorite meals that you’re currently making, and then meal planning based on those. It’s not fun, but it’s pretty much essential. Make your meal plan for the week Friday evening or Saturday morning, buy what you need on Saturday, and do at least some of the prep on Sunday (unless you think your DH can do all the prep you’re at work). Also, I think the suggestion to get some meal kits would help ease the transition.