How Do You Prep for a Week of Dinner Meals?

keep it simple.

macaroni and cheese (freeze what you don't eat)

homemade nachos

A Sam's Roasted Chicken, favorite vegie, fruit and bread
(freeze leftover chicken for another night)

Breakfast for dinner......scrambled eggs, etc....

spaghetti (you can freeze extra sauce to make it easier next time)

Try going from fixing food for 6 to fixing it for 4 and then 2.....I'm used to fixing WAY to much food.........

How about some good recipes for the kids......like hot dogs wrapped in cresent rolls....cooked in the oven....with mac and cheese....

Think kids meals and make up a menu for that........

Spaghetti is good.....you can add cheese to it....and change it up a bit...

one night can be silly night, like peanut butter sandwiches and try new things on them....jelly, bananas, whatever

It's getting chilly here in the midwest, so how about soup, with grilled cheese sandwiches...........and you can change up the grilled cheese sandwiches with meat, (ham, bacon, cut up hot dogs) .....endless possibilities there....

Chili....if they like it.....add cheese....

Pasta....try this recipe....
My Pasta
Preheat oven at 350°
1. Ricotta cheese - one regular size container (in dairy section with cottage cheese)
2. Hamburger - at least 1 pound
3. 1 Box of Manicotti noodles
4. 1 can of tomato sauce - Italian if you can find it, if not regular and add Italian spices
(Italian spices- oregano and garlic) or (you can buy seasoning called Italian seasoning)
5. 1 (2 cup) package of shredded Mozzarella cheese
6. 1 (2 cup) package of shredded Mild Cheddar cheese
Optional:
onion
broccoli
spinach

This can be doubled.
Cook your hamburger in a skillet all broken up like you would use for pizza topping. Drain off grease.
You can add onion while cooking if you wish.
Cook the manicotti noodles until done. Drain off water.
Get a casserole dish. Coat it with non stick spray or butter. (I prefer butter.)
Mix together in the casserole dish
Ricotta cheese and tomato sauce
When the noodles are done, add them into the baking dish.
When the hamburger is done, mix it in the baking dish with all the other ingredients.
Put a little bit of butter over the top of all the mixed ingredients.
Top with both of the packages of cheese.
Bake in an oven until the cheese has completely melted and the sauce seems to be bubbling just a little bit. You want to make sure it's hot enough in the middle of the dish. It normally takes at least 30 minutes to bake.
This dish is very filling. If you have left over's, add a little butter to it and it heats up great. Can also be frozen.

Serve with garlic bread or a salad.
OR this one....

Sloppy Cheeseburgers

You will need the following ingredients.
Hamburger
Velveeta cheese
onions (optional)
Pepper - to taste
Milk

Depending on how many you are going to feed with this recipe depends on the amounts used. For 6 people I recommend at least a pound and half of hamburger and about 3 inch slice thick of Velveeta. Milk will be to smooth out the cheese. (1/8 cup or so)
Fry the hamburger up like you would to sprinkle on pizza. Add onions when cooking- putting in amount to taste. Drain away the grease that is left. Put the hamburger back into the skillet and turn it to med low. Cut the chunk of Velveeta cheese in slices, somewhat thin. Add the cheese to the skillet. Pepper to taste. Stir. Slowly add milk a little at a time until you get the thickness you would like as the cheese melts. If it starts to stick, lower heat. Once the cheese is all melted. Dish up on bread or buns.

This recipe has been used many ways since I have started giving it out from use with taco sauce, (on taco's) as a dip (more milk added for less thickness) to many other recipes I probably don't even know about.
For kids, it is great with tator tots and a veggie.

(c) D. Haverly 3/2009
http://www.greenteamdream.com
http://www.grandmasworkingfromhome.com

Good Luck and just have fun with this......it doesn't have to be so hard.....even a fun TV dinner once in a bit is ok.......

Take care.

Hi D.,
Here's what works for me (when I do it!) to save time, money and extra trips to the store for "forgotten" ingredients.
I made a note card for each main dish I make and listed EVERY ingredient on the note card (even if it's for 'hamburgers' I list meat, buns, ketchup, pickles, onions, mustard, etc.)
Before my weekly shopping trip, I choose 5 main dishes for that week.
I make a list of all needed ingredients for the week's main dishes, then add what I need for my lunches, hubby's lunches, school lunches, breakfast staples, and snacks, treats.
Go and buy JUST what's on the list!
Save more $$ by reviewing your grocery store's sale circular or website and choosing your main dishes, lunches, etc. from good sale items.
It just helps me not to throw stuff into the cart that I "might try" or will make "O. day".....etc.
Good luck!
(Spending O. day cooking is just not in the cards for me!)

We have a white board on the pantry and we plan out meals by the week (for saving money, by the month is better). We have a list of meals that we do and usually pick from that. We have simpler meals for weekdays and no fuss meals when it is only one of us home with the kids (my husband has meetings or I travel for work). The simple ones usually include things like spaghetti - the sauce was made on a weekend and frozen, so only cook the noodles; tortellini and pesto - the pesto was made ahead and frozen, and the tortellini is store bought (those fresh in the deli section ones); baked potatoes, tacos.

I would suggest making a list of what it is your kids like to eat, or at least what is easy enough to prepare when it is just the three of you, and rotate those in. Also, if you pick up a magazine of Cook's Illustrated, they have 30 minute meals on cards in there, and everything by them or America's test kitchen is pretty fool-proof.

We do "test" dinners on the weekends so that if it doesn't turn out, we can still grab something (pizza, mac&cheese, whatever). After testing, we then make make the additional and freeze some.

My husband works evenings as a police sergeant so we only eat as a family on weekends - sounds like your situation. I do make dinners and freeze 1 - 3 additional meals such as meatballs & tomato sauce, chili, stew, chicken marsala or similar meals. I will also freeze the rice or noodles. For example I make rosemary-lemon lemon chicken that my family loves. It's not hard: dredge chicken (I use boneless but you can use any kind) in flour that I've mixed salt, pepper & rosemary into. Lightly sautee chicken in frying pan (little oil in bottom) over medium heat. Remove when all the chicken has been lightly cooked (golden-ish) add a little of the left over flour in to the pan drippings to make a rouex (spelling?) . Add chicken broth and mix the rouex into the broth to thicken. Add the juice of a lemon (include pulp but no seeds). Add chicken back into the thickening "gravy" (or sauce). Simmer over very low heat at least 15 minutes. The longer you allow it to simmer the more tender the chicken will be. While it simmers I make rice or noodels depending on what the kids want that night - and I clean up the counter mess. Then I use freezer bags to save the rest.
Once you find something that everyone likes and you've comfortable making it - make a lot. Add more of less of a particular ingredient as dictated by family tastes. My kids now like more lemon in the chicken. You have more stuff in your freezer - and easy meals for crazy days. My personal rule is if a particular meal will mess up my kitchen I am going to make at least 3 dinners to make it worth the mess.

I will also buy 3 packages of chicken breasts, slice them thin, spray with Pam and sprinkle Montreal Chicken spice mix (McCormick) on them. Grill them and when they cool down put them in freezer bags and freeze. I use them for sandwiches, over salad for myself, with a pasta meal, etc. Frozen veggies are always a quick & health option to add to the meal.

You can also make mac & cheese and freeze some of that. My sister makes mac & chees with a box of pasta, a can of campbells chedder cheese soup and a package of shredded cheese. Put the leftover in separate freezer bags.

You can do this - it's just practice - and with young kids you don't get much practice! But you'll get better at it as you go!

We hate leftovers too... In the winter, my girlfriends and I get together for an entire day of crockpot cooking (then we split it up to share and freeze). I'm all about shortcuts. Look through your cookbooks or online, pick out 5 recipes with similar ingredients. Make one shopping list and pick a solid day of the week to go to the store, knock it all out in one trip. (Eventually you'll have a solid staple stash of things that go with everything, like your spices and stuff, and it will get easier). Some websites actually plan out a week's worth of meals and TELL you exactly what to buy. Picky eaters, too bad kiddos, mom is NOT a short order cook! Take your list and tape it to a cabinet, so you know exactly what you're making on which day. A little practice, and this will be second nature, I promise ;) I know I mentioned a 5 meal plan for a week, but you know what? No one is going to judge you if you have cereal, scrambled eggs, or McDonalds the other 2 nights a week ;) I hope you find something that works for you!! Best wishes!

When my hunny was gone all of the time I would cook things for me to eat for dinner on sunday and I had fun quick meals for my son ready to go.
Monday D: Steak Salad (steak from sunday dinner w/ daddy) & chicken tenders for the kids w/ veggies or fruit
TuesdayD: Homemade Chili taken down from freezer (made whenever) & mac n cheese w/ corndog and veggies (you can put a can of mixed veggies IN the mac n cheese and top with goldfish!
Wed D: Chicken Enchilada's (from freezer made earlier) chef boyardee ravioli or soup
Thur D: Home made pizza for the family
Fri D: Sandwich bar night ... put out a bunch of bread options, condiments, meats etc and let everyone choose what kid of a sandwich they want and make a fruitsalad to go with.
Sat & Sun make dinner for daddy and freeze leftovers
Plus make a few other options for you to freeze and eat, (ie: when you make roasted chicken for the family take the uneaten chicken and use for enchiladas or home made soup or other mommy favorite and do this everyweekend with your sat/sun meals cook two or three while you are inspired to cook and freeze for yourself)
good luck!

My hubby used to be an OTR truck driver, so he was gone for 3 weeks and home for 3 days and repeat. So what I did was after I went shopping I would come home and chop all ingredients for the meals I was going to make so this way it was just a throw together thing. Yes my kids did not like half of it so I cut the recipy's in half so it made just 1, and then made them something they would eat(plan chicken vs very doctored up chicken) It was not like I made 3 different meals to appease my kids just left ingredients out if they hated it.

Good luck.

Ditto - my husband travels alot too - not all week, but anywhere from one to three nights he'll be gone. On those nights I don't cook for him, I cook for the kids (6 and 8) and myself. We keep it simple to foods that I know the kids will eat. My kids are NOT picky eaters, but there are things that are not their favorite. We like nachos, spaghetti, Quesodillas and Pizzadillas, baked chicken or fish with mac and cheese and steamed veggie etc. So the question should not be "to cook or not to cook". The answer is to cook healthy simple to make, simple to clean up good food that your girls will eat!

I don't plan meals here. I love to cook and Ido that on weekends or on days when we are all home at the same time.

My hubby also travels a lot, daughter is often at school until 9pm with cheer or something going on.

One favorite at my house is pasta and my home made mariniara sauce. I keep noodles cooked and in the fridge and I keep a jar of my homemade marinara in the fridge. It is always gone by Friday. I also cook hot Italian sausages from the butcher shop and have them ready to heat and eat.

Other things we have are soups and stews, salads (pasta and veggie), and we do eat out a LOT. We don't frequent the fast food places... We have Market Street grocery with fantastic fresh salads, soups, hot foods and we will often grab something there.

What are some favorites of your family? I have a homemade chicken pot pie to die for and daughter LOVES it, I also do chicken tetrazinni, a broccoli chicken casserole as favorites.

Last week I tried a pork butt roast recipe from Ladies Home Journal for pulled pork and it was awesome!

Good luck finding what fits for you and your family.

I would buy the meat, season it, and put in the freezer in small portions. Then take out only what you need and cook it. Then for the entrees, I would cook just enough for who is eating it during the week and save the big portions for when your husband is around to eat too!

Hi,

My husband does not travel but he does work very long hours and most of the time is not home for dinners. I know all the foods my son loves which is just about anything but I make a list of the dinners that I will cook for him at the beginning of each week and shop according to that list. I usually make a small separate dinner for my husband and myself. I find when I go to the store and shop, if I have a list of exactly what I want I stick to it.

For the girls, if they are picky eaters make the foods you know they will like and leave at that. It might not be useful to get them to eat other foods if they are not willing to. My mother gives my 10 year old little brother shakes to make up for the lack of nutrients he gets because he will only eat bread, chicken fingers, and pizza due to his ADHD and lack of appetite.

Hope this helps,

Good luck

As the name suggests we are Army and hubby is gone a lot. My daughter and I do not eat meat but son and his dad do so there is a whole lot of cooking going on in this house. First off I would say get the girls cooking with you. It's more fun if everyone helps and the kids tend to eat what they make. My kids started cooking at 2 by just helping measure stuff out as they get older they can graduate to bigger jobs. When dad is gone my son eats a lot less meat (poor guy) because he doesn't like to do the stove cooking and I prefer not to cook the dead stuff. So, unless his sister is willing to cook it for him (most of the time she isn't) he doesn't get it if he doesn't cook it. When dad is gone it is usually pretty stressful around here, my husband is special forces so he is most often gone for not great reasons, so I try to make things as stress free as possible for all of us. Sat is meal planning day and we all sit down together and decide what we want to eat for the week. We do a lot of lo mein, home made pizza, pasta, tacos and garden burgers and fries. The kids get to plan the meals with me that way they are excited to eat them too. As my kids have gotten older I allow them to help scale down recipes it's good math practice and then we don't have to worry about left overs (we don't like them either). I go through the meal plan and figure out what I have at home and what I need at the grocery store. We shop for the food, everyone helps with that too and putting the food away. When it is time to cook we all go to the kitchen and the clean up is the same. I never get bored because I have fun doing something good for my kids with my kids. When dad is home he helps too. Eating is supposed to nourish your body but Italians believe food also nourishes your soul. It should never be a chore and should always be enjoyed. I have great memories of cooking with my (Italian) parents and I hope one day my children will as well. If you change your cooking experience I think it will be less of a pain for you. Good luck!

Hi!
I hope this is helpful to you--although I am not in your particular situation. I tried using e-mealz.com I read about it online. You must subscribe for 3 months at a time--but it's only $5 per month. It's not only menus for each week--but the grocery list to go with it (they call it mental maids). You can choose if you want vegetarian, low fat, low-carbs, regular for 2-3 or 4-6. Very flexible! I did the regular menu for a while---but found it too heavy (the women who plan it are from the south--so they used a lot of heavy/fatty foods). I switched to the low-fat version and my family and I love it! It's so nice to go to the store and KNOW exactly how much I need to buy of what. Maybe this will help. Out of 3 months there was only 1 meal I didn't care for--my husband and kids liked it though! Good luck.