Getting Dinner on the Table

I’ve discovered that if I don’t plan my dinner meals early, I am likely to find dinner preparation to be stressful. I will either default to a convenience meal (unhealthy choices like Hamburger Helper, frozen lasagna or pizza) or I will stress about finding something good to cook.

I know I function best in the kitchen when I sketch out a general menu of foods to cook throughout the week and make one thorough trip to the grocery store. I know that it’s least stressful if I choose our meals in the morning, do prep work for the meals during the children’s naptime, and put together last-minute meal details around 5pm. That gives me a half-hour window to get dinner in the oven before my husband gets home from work at 6:30.

I also give myself the freedom to let the kids watch a PBS show, if I need extra time for dinner prep. We don’t watch much TV during the day, so I refuse to let myself feel guilty about the luxury that might be the key to my sanity!

On this week's menu:

• leftover chicken lasagna
• tequila lime chicken wings (husband's favorite treat)
• mexican halibut
• pesto chicken pizza
• spaghetti and meatballs