Family Cooking Hacks Made Simple
Food cooking hacks for the family
First off if you don’t have a menu on your fridge for the week of what you’re making, how do you make anything?
I can’t go to the store to buy food for dinners if I don’t know what I’m making for the week.
If I happen to buy things for dinners without a menu on the fridge then I will forget what I bought and what I’m cooking for the week.
Making the menu
#1. Create a grocery store list in notes with the bubble checklist. You only need to write the list one time for everything you get at that store. Then check the items you already have and voila you know what you need to buy.
#2. Always have pizza, chicken nuggets, noodles, frozen burritos, frozen tamales, and tofu on hand or whatever easy meal you have for your family. You will get tired. You won’t want to cook. Some days it will feel impossible. Those are the days to eat what’s easy. I’d love to hear your easy meal go-to options in the comments.
#3. Buy groceries for the week on Sunday if possible or whatever day you have a bit of free time. If you have your kids all day and they dislike shopping try going to a park before to ware them out then feed them snacks as you shop. My kids love this and are so well behaved when grocery shopping and it helps me feel calm knowing they have played and are being fed. I’ve seen moms use screen time for shopping and if your kid is the type who won’t sit still and needs to use a device to get through a stressful situation no judgement here. My son likes to build castles with the groceries in the back. That’s also an option. My daughter likes to ride on the outside and throw her body back to watch me panic. We all do the best we can.
#4. If you’re not sure when you’ll make foods you can freeze some of the meat so it doesn’t go bad and take it out the night before. This is an extra step but if your week looks nutty it’s a necessary one to not waste food.
#5. If there is any meal prep you can get done in the morning or afternoon before the hungry hours hit, do it! If I have done even one thing, for example chopped up garlic and onion for the week, I am more likely to make dinner.
#6. If you have the patience for it, cook with your kids. When you get them involved it becomes a fun activity—for them—and probably more mess and chaos for you, but you can prep early and teach them how to use knives safely, and show them how to make dinner. My hope is this will pay off when they are older. If I can get them excited about making food now maybe I’ll have a little chef around who enjoys cooking🤞
I dislike cooking. I prefer to be a sue chef. I can prep all day. The cooking and creation of meals, no thanks.
That’s why we have been eating off of the same menu on our fridge for 2 months now.
Notice I didn’t say to change the menu.
You can of course, but if you’re pinched for time and don’t feel inspired to do something new—stick to what you know and what works for your family.
Love always,
Danielle Mallett
