The Undeniable Benefits of Meal Planning for Busy Moms
As a working stay-at-home mom of three young children, I am always on the move. And the time goes by so fast that it feels like there’s never enough of it. But no matter how fast the time goes by, everyone has to eat. That’s the dilemma of moms, right? We have to plan meals until the day we die! LOL.
Between school drop-offs, managing my work caseload, running errands, and trying to keep up with daily life and household responsibilities, I was looking for a way to make mealtime prep less stressful. Something that would eliminate the rush and chaos that would come especially around dinner time. And I have found it, it’s meal prepping. Meal prepping has created a level of convenience that I never knew existed.
Also read: 19 Essential Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming A Parent
Why Meal Prepping is Important for Busy Moms
I was always stressed when we all got home in the late afternoon because I knew I had to cook dinner by a certain time for everyone to stay on top of their bedtime routine. So yes, this time of the day is usually pretty stressful. And the kids constantly needing something while I am cooking or wanting to catch up, can cause dinner to get done later. The later the kids go to bed, the less time mommy has for herself, which is not good for anyone, especially mom.
One random Saturday, without any forethought, I started cooking and meal planning and that was the beginning of my meal-prepping journey. I discovered that meal prep was not only a time saver and a stress reducer, but it also improved my family’s nutrition.
Also read: Why It Takes A Village To Raise A Child
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3 Helpful Benefits of Planning Meal for Busy Moms
As a busy mom of three, here are 3 reasons why I would recommend that all busy moms meal plan:
1) Stress reduction:
Trying to come up with a last-minute dinner menu can be incredibly stressful and chaotic. And sometimes that can even tempt us to say you know what? Forget it, I’ll cook tomorrow. Let’s order something out tonight.
Having your meals planned and cooked for the week has been incredibly helpful and has reduced my stress tremendously. When we get home, I don’t have to run to the kitchen to get dinner started, I can just enjoy being with my kids after being away from them all day.
For example, yesterday was one of the first really nice days we’ve had in a while. I spent hours outside playing with my kids after they got home from school instead of rushing to go inside to cook dinner. Most of the time now I just have to warm up the meals and we are all set.
Also read: 30 Encouraging Mom Quotes To Uplift Your Spirit
2) Saves time:
Meal prepping is not only a game-changer, but also a time-saver. When my kids get home from school, I don’t have to rush to cook dinner, I can just be with them and talk to them to get a better idea of how their day went. With meal prepping, I can focus on what is more important, spending more time with my children before they have to go to bed.
3) Home-cooked meals for the win:
There’s nothing better than good home-cooked meals. Meal prep really encourages my family to eat healthier. Home-cooked meals are healthier because we control the ingredients that we add to our food, compare to when we eat takeout, we have no idea what they are putting in our food. And when we buy packaged foods, it is mostly processed and filled with chemicals that are not good for us. Home-cooked meals also tend to be more nutritious setting a foundation for our children for healthy eating.
6 Tips for Getting Started with Meal Planning
1)Set realistic expectations: When first starting, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Set realistic expectations. You don’t have to prepare every meal in one day, you can start with just making dinner until you get a hang of the process, and you feel comfortable.
2) Plan your meals for the week: Decide what you’re going to make for the week. Again, you don’t have to plan for all the meals if you’re just starting out.
If you’re only meal prepping for dinner, know what you’re going to make so you can add those ingredients to your grocery list. Once you get comfortable with meal planning, you can start planning for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner.
3) Shop your grocery list: Add everything you need to cook your meals to your grocery list and shop for them. Buy in bulk if you can save money.
4) Choose a Prep Day: I’ve dedicated two days of the week for meal prepping, Saturdays and Thursdays. Maybe someday I’ll be able to do it all in one day but for now, two days is what works for my family.
5) Cook in Batches: Prepare larger portions of staple foods that your family enjoys, like pasta, rice, roasted veggies, and grilled chicken. I store it in two different ways. I make individual plates so we can grab and go but I also store certain foods in big separate containers so we can mix and match throughout the week.
6) Use proper storage containers: Use high-quality storage containers to keep your meals fresh. I feel more comfortable using glass containers with airtight lids.
Here’s a list of my favorite meal planning items:
1) Stainless Steel Baking Sheet
Final Words:
Meal prepping is not something I’ve done in the past, but ever since I started, it has been a total game-changer for me and my family. It allows me to always provide healthy home-cooked meals for my family all while reducing stress and saving time.
If you are a busy mom like me who is looking for ways to save time, I would definitely recommend you give meal prepping a shot just to see if it works for your family as it did for mine.
By dedicating one or two days a week to prepping your meals, you will have more time to focus on the things that are truly more important, spending time with your family.
Purchase my printable Meal Planner to make your life easier with planning your weekly meals.
Benefits of Planning Meal for Busy Moms
