April 4, 2013
The last few months have been a struggle when it came to family dinners. Do you share my pain of the rut and stress of feeding your family every night? I felt like I was cooking the same four dishes over and over again. Or, if I did branch out and try something new it was like I was serving the judging panel of Top Chef.
Enter my smarty friend, Stephanie. When I was over at her house I noticed she had her son write out their meals for the week on a chalkboard in the kitchen. Genius. I came home and immediately implemented the same plan in our home. It’s working.
Here are some of the pay-offs:
It helps me (ok, forces me) meal plan for the week. Thus, it illuminates last minute dashes to the grocery store.
My kids are selecting what they want for dinner. Eliminating whining, finicky children at the dinner table? Huge bonus.
It takes the stress out of the mid-afternoon what-the-hell-am-I-making-for dinner debate.
It forces us (ok, me) to look ahead and think through the week. When are we having a date night? What night would work to have friends over?
The biggest surprise? My girls actually selected things I wasn’t making in my usual rotation. And they weren’t selecting crap – not a nugget or fries on the menu. Amazing.
Who would have guessed that a few of their selections came straight from Eat Drink Garden Land: Lentil Tacos, Farro Salad, Guacamole and Roasted Broccoli.
