Hectic Holidays – Surviving Meals

This past week has been full of evening rehearsals that started at 6 p.m. Next week will be almost the same. Thankfully Mr. T adjusted his schedule to leave work a wee bit before 5 p.m. to make it all work. I wanted my kids to have a decent dinner, and to retain as much of the “family table” as possible even with this temporarily crazy schedule.

Since I anticipated this crazy week, I adjusted my grocery shopping. I’ve never been fabulous at this sort of thing, so I started by grocery shopping late at night. The store is less crowded, kids were at home asleep, and I had more quiet time to think and search the store for things that would work. Of course, you can always do the casserole or slow cooker thing, but these are my tips that don’t fall into those categories, for those of you who may not have an intimate relationship with your Crock-Pot.

First stop was the produce aisle. I looked for quick cooking vegetables to be easy side dishes. One of my favorites for fall & winter is squash, our family loves acorn squash. Prepare it easily by slicing it in half, scooping out the seeds (think carving your jack-o-lantern) and topping it with your favorite spices. My husband and I prefer a more savory squash, topped with a bit of butter and dry spices. Make it extra easy by using a spice blend like Mrs. Dash, it comes in a variety of flavors! My kids prefer their squash with a light dusting of brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and for extra appeal, I like to toss a small handful of dried cranberries in the cavity of the squash. Our 6 yr old always asks for a second helping when I do this. If your house is divided, make each half of the squash a different flavor. Microwave it in 7-13 minutes (depending on size), until flesh is soft (much like a baked potato) and you are done!

My other go to produce items include the variety of bagged salads that any hubby can toss together and pre-washed bagged vegetables like baby carrots, carrot chips, sugar or snap peas, or veggie mixes of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. These are great because they can all be served raw, or quickly microwaved or steamed.

December is a great time to pick up a box of clementines or tangerines. They are usually easy enough for kids to peel and eat on their own. We also try to keep a bag of small apples available at all times. My kids know where to find them, how to wash them and eat a whole apple since they are just the right serving size for them. Both fruits are great for dessert or even as an appetizer if something goes wrong and dinner isn’t served quite on time.

My next stop was the meat department. It’s unbelievable the variety of ready-made meat products now. If you want something that’s a step above just a plain sandwich, check out the ready-to-heat barbecued meat products next time you are at the store. We’ve tried a few, and although they aren’t as tasty as our homemade, slow roasted version, they certainly fit the bill and are cheaper than take out. Don’t forget to grab hamburger buns to serve it on!

I also discovered some great main dishes in the frozen foods department. I’m sure every mom knows about Stouffer’s lasagna, but did you know they have a whole line of main dishes? My husband loves meatloaf, so I picked one up for him to try. They even have several meat-less options for your family. Dishes have both conventional oven and microwave directions. Add a side or two and you are ready to go.

Then it was time to think about lunches and snacks for my sons. Late nights for me mean strained mornings. I’m not a morning person by nature, so routine changes don’t help me at all. My son likes the Smucker’s Uncrustables. Sure, not the healthiest thing ever seen, especially with that white bread, but if it doesn’t suit your needs, take the idea and use it. During the day or on a weekend, make several sandwiches in the flavors your child loves, flash freeze them on a cookie sheet and package appropriately. Pull them out in the morning to save yourself some trouble. I also splurge on the pre-portioned individual servings of fruit for my child’s lunch when I know things will be busy. Fruit cups, applesauce, etc. can all be found on the shelves, but don’t forget about the newer products like pre-sliced apple wedges in the produce department.

Not only did I change my shopping, I also changed my routine. I had lunches for the three children at home that were more involved, so I could save the quick cook meals for dinner time. I had a full dinner plan for each night. I had the fall-back microwave chicken nuggets for those days when nothing went as planned, and that’s okay. I started cooking earlier than normal and had things ready to serve when my husband walked in the door. Whenever possible, I also had the kids’ snacks and lunches already designated, labeled and either in the backpack or on the designated shelf of the refrigerator. I aimed to give Mr. T the dinner instructions in 60 seconds or less. Any more than that and we were distracted or interrupted. Mr. T also knew it was okay to text message me with questions or clarifications. Please, just don’t text a reply to your hubby while driving!

My other time saving secret: cold-press coffee. I started it in the afternoon or evening as I helped the kids with the next day’s lunches and snacks and started dinner. It saved me a ton of time in the morning. I get my coffee much sooner, and that makes everyone much happier. Feel free to do your own search to find other recipes, tips, tools and options. There is a lot of info on cold press coffee out there.

Just remember, a little planning goes a long way in busy times. Sure, it may not be as healthy as you normally would cook, or as green if you are using pre-portioned, plastic-packaged products, it’s still okay. These tips are great for busy times when a spouse may be traveling, holidays or even just the occasional girls’ night out. If it is an extended time, several days or weeks, don’t forget the time at home needs to be meaningful to your children. Spend time loving, playing, reading with them instead of prepping & cooking. It really pays off, they never really remember what was served, but the do recall the time spent together.