Can’t Keep Up? 5 Ways to Simplify What’s for Dinner

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Keep Your Pantry Well Stocked

It seems so simple, but keeping a well stocked pantry  is vital to running a healthy home kitchen. Some of my best meal inspirations come from casually throwing together pieces of veggies and other refrigerator tidbits with staples and key ingredients from my pantry. Think items like almond flour, salsa, beans, and coconut milk to get you started. Don’t forget that things like potatoes, onions and garlic should be stored in the pantry too. After all, when you purchase these items in the grocery store, they are not stored in the refrigerator.

Shop with the Seasons

I cannot emphasize this enough! Eating in season is great for your health and your wallet. It also gives you a head start on answering the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?” Figuring out what is in season is a great way to find inspiration for your next meal. If you don’t know what is in season, visit farmers’ stands in your neighborhood, or ask the produce manager at your favorite grocery store. In any case, it will easy for you to tell what those items are because the prices will be lower than produce that is not in season.

Discover Meal Planning

Whether you plan your meals one week or one month in advance, one thing is for certain, meal planning can single handily save you hundreds of dollars a month. If you are pondering about what to make for dinner more than 2 times a week, then a meal plan is in order. I typically write my meal plans 2 weeks ahead allowing for 2 days of leftovers in between and a free pass if we want to order in or go out to eat. And honestly, other times…I just throw something together. If you want to get a peak of what I’m cooking for dinner on any given night, just follow me an Instagram because I just can’t keep all the “yums” to myself.

Upgrade Your Small Appliances

Small appliances like crock pots and Insta -pots allow flexibility and freedom that any home cook would find desirable. Just allow a little advanced planning) and dinner can be waiting for you and your family with little to no tending required.

Be Inspired

To avoid meal time doldrums, seek out inspiration from your friends, magazines, on-line archives and cook books in order to keep things interesting. Recipes can be literally found almost anywhere you look. Consider having a recipe swap with your friends to get a dose of inspiration. Electronically file interesting recipes in your online favorites or keep a digital profile on websites like Pinterest. Written or printed recipes can be stored in a purchased recipe holder or be made using a simple 3 ringed binder. And of course, this blog is filled with tasty and healthy recipes that your family will love.

Some of my favorite family dinners involve:

Coconut Curried Shrimp

Lemon Herb Chicken

Carrot Ginger Soup

Kale Mashed Potatoes

Immune Boosting Tomato and Red Pepper Soup + Video

Sweet Baked BBQ Chicken

What are some of the ways that you stay motivated to cook a health and sensible dinner?

For dinner inspiration, check out this video on themed dinners.  Lots of great ideas here.

(Originally published 1/31/12. Republished 3/2018)

  • Comments ( 4 )

  • avatar
    Adrienne

    Oh, I so wish someone would make MY meal plans for me!! I have resolved to do better in this department. It’s a struggle for me. This is great advice. Thanks for sharing. Stopped by from WLWW. 🙂

  • avatar
    Lisa -The Domestic Life Stylist

    Thanks for stopping in Adrienne. I hope that this helped. Organization is key.

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