5 Tips and Easy Meal Ideas for Busy Families

School is back in full swing, kids are starting up with sports, clubs and of course homework, so cooking is yet another task to manage.   

Below are some time-saving tips and easy meal ideas for busy families: 

1. Plan ahead: Give some advanced thought to what you might serve and what events are on the calendar for the week. This eliminates staring into the fridge at 5:30 p.m. with hungry kids clamoring at your feet and ensuing stress. It saves time and money as you won’t be as tempted to order take-out. Roast a couple of chickens on a Sunday afternoon and keep the leftovers for soup, chicken salad, etc.
2. Stock up on staples:  Make sure to keep certain items on hand that make meals a snap. Staples in my pantry are chicken stock, canned chicken, tuna, tomatoes and beans, dry pasta, baking mix (like Bisquick), instant potatoes and jarred pasta sauce. Have frozen veggies like peas and corn on hand too and you can throw a simple meal together in no time. 
3. Learn some easy recipes: I have a few “go to” recipes in my head that I know provide a quick but nutritious dinner. I love using frozen, skinless chicken tenders which cook in a flash whether it’s in the oven or sautéed in a pan. Supplement it with frozen veggies or a salad and it’s dinner. One of our favorite winter meals is chicken and dumplings. Take chicken stock, frozen chicken (or canned if you’re really crunched ... add it at the end of cooking time), frozen veggies and any leftover veggies in the fridge and throw into a large pot. Simmer on the stove then whip up an easy drop dumpling recipe from a baking mix and voila a hot, comfort meal in well under an hour all cooked in one pot for easy clean up. 
4. Invest in an extra freezer: If you have the funds, an extra freezer is a godsend especially for larger families. Check out Craigslist for deals. I buy tons of bread for the freezer so I never run out for school lunches; three boys equal 30 slices of bread a week.  I also freeze butter, waffles, pizzas, rolls, and homemade breads. Making lasagna? Make two and pop one in the freezer for nights when you’re exhausted. Make a huge pot of soup and freeze leftovers for dinner or in individual containers for lunch. You also have something to share with a friend or neighbor in need, as it’s packaged and ready to heat. Remember to label and date your containers. 
5. Crock pot: It’s not your mother’s crock pot anymore. Many are reasonably priced and it allows you to come home to a hot, steaming and often nutritious meal with minimal effort and clean up. All you do is dump ingredients in and turn it on, what’s easier than that? There are tons of cookbooks with great crock pot recipes in them and many more recipes online. Check out the Framingham Public Library for crock pot cookbooks and more.