Okay, so, the weeknights are always crazy busy at my house. Between work, kids’ activities, and just trying to keep everyone alive, figuring out dinner can be a real pain. I’ve been trying to get better at meal planning, and this week I focused on “quick and easy family friendly meals.” Here’s how it went down:
The Brainstorm
First, I sat down with my trusty notepad (okay, it was my phone) and jotted down some ideas. I needed meals that:
- Used ingredients I usually have on hand.
- Took 30 minutes or less to make.
- My picky eaters would actually eat.
The Lineup
Based on my brainstorming, I decided on three meals for the week:
- Taco Tuesday (of course!): I always have ground beef, taco seasoning, and tortillas. Plus, everyone can customize their own, which is a huge win.
- One-Pan Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken and Veggies: I love one-pan meals because there’s way less cleanup.
- Pasta with Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes: Super simple, and I can usually sneak in some extra veggies.
The Execution (and the Reality)
Tuesday: Taco night was a success! I browned the ground beef, added the seasoning, and set out all the fixings. Everyone made their own tacos, and there were minimal complaints. Score!
Wednesday: The one-pan chicken was also pretty easy. I chopped up some potatoes, carrots, and broccoli, tossed them with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs, then threw the chicken on top. Baked it all together, and boom – dinner was done. The kitchen even smelled amazing.
Thursday: I should have realized it, pasta is always great. I boiled some pasta. While it was going on, I prepared the sauce by myself. Some cherry tomatoes mixed with pesto. And ready to serve!
The Verdict
Overall, I’d call this week a win. All three meals were relatively quick, easy, and (mostly) family-friendly. I definitely learned that having a plan, even a loose one, makes a huge difference in my weeknight sanity. I’ll definitely be trying more variations on these themes in the future!