How is it that the most wonderful time of year almost always coincides with the busiest? I know I’m not alone here. After getting home late afternoon on Sunday, I really didn’t get my engines revved until yesterday morning. Looking through my calendar I started feeling the pressure of the busy week ahead, but decided to take it bit by bit and start where I always start- food.
Meal planning on busy weeks is different. I take a no-frills approach.
1. No new recipes. Stick to the basics. Magazines and blogs are bursting with recipes I’d like to try, but on crazy weeks, it’s just not in the stars. I pull out simple, low maintenance meals. This week, for example, grilled cheese and tomato soup make an appearance, along with spaghetti.
2. Make it to the grocery store. I’ve tried to forgo a formal trip before, but always end up unorganized, grabbing take out or making multiple trips to the store for small things throughout the week, which ultimately ends up in more wasted time. It’s better to go and grab basics- bread, fruits, eggs, a couple veggies, etc and have food at the house.
3. Use machines. (If you happen to have them.) I have several gadgets I love, but sometimes forget to pull out. The slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker or bread machine can be so helpful during busy weeks. The set-it-and-forget-it factor makes it easy to squeeze in a little prep the night before or during nap time that results in great food later on.
Plus, bread machines make the house smell incredible!
4. Have a back-up meal on hand, just in case. I just pulled out my last frozen enchiladas dish for this week, but I also have some store-bought freezer meals ready to go at all times. If something does not go as planned (which let’s be honest, is always), it’s so nice to stick a frozen meal in the oven instead of figuring out how to load up the kids to grab take out and is generally healthier than ordering in.
5. Prioritize convenience. Sadly this can mean spending an extra buck, but maybe that extra buck at the store will save your several of them if you had to resort to a last minute meal-grab out. I like prepping my own food, but some weeks are crazy so if you can and need to, snag the pre-chopped veggies or the ready-to-go meatballs (on our menu this week).
*Bonus Points* if you can prep any items. Bananas and apples are nature’s fast food, of course, but it’s nice to have some sources of protein or fat ready to grab too. My favorite quick-prep item that I’m always grateful I took the time to do is boiled eggs. They are great with fruit for breakfast, on top of a salad at lunch, quickly mashed up into a sandwich filler and Hailey loves them too.
How do you handle healthy eating during crazy weeks?
Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey says
Simple meals definitely help me get through crazy weeks! Sometimes I’ll make a double batch of soup or spaghetti sauce on weeks when I have more time to save for the crazy weeks too.
Brittany Dixon says
Yes! I love making extras. I just run out of freezer space. Add a deep freezer to my wish list 😉
B W says
Easy/quick meals seem to be our stannard these days. With the hustle and bustle of everyday lifes it is hard to fit everything into the schedule… I agree with saving time with short cuts (premade protein options, bagged washed lettuce, fresh cut veggies ready for a stirfrye, etc).
Jennifer U says
I couldn’t agree more – I feel like we are always busy! We seem to be always running around and week nights with sports is always an extra chaotic night. I have been learning to use more store prepared items because I use to refused but then (as you said) spend more money buying food out on the run. My kids like Annie’s Mac and Cheese, Natures Best Baked Chicken Nuggets, as well as grilled cheese and tomato soup.
I am trying my first pre-marinated fish from Whole Foods tonight to save time. I also am trying to make ahead and freeze items that I know will always get eaten like pizza dough (I use your recipe :))
I also try to keep fresh boiled beans around because a quick/healthy/delicious dinner in my house can always be rice and bean done a million different ways.
Brittany Dixon says
Great point on having beans around. They do go with everything!
What fish did you get from Whole Foods? We tried their Asian Cod last week and really liked it! 🙂
Jennifer U says
I bought the frozen Asian BBQ Swordfish; I am excited it is wild caught. 🙂
Last week I cooked fish and it was not stellar so I am hoping with the help of Whole Foods we can have a tasty and easy fish dinner.
Brynn says
Yes, yes, yes! Also, if I know that my week ahead will be busy, I make some meals in advance (or make chicken, quinoa, etc) so things can be tossed together for a quick meal!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I meal plan, get my shopping done early as possible, rely on the crockpot (using it three times this week if you include homemade broth!), and ask David to make one meal a week — that really helps me the most!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
I totally needed this post! Life seems to be super busy these days, so lots of meals have been made on the whim. When I do actually have time to throw something together, I have no desire to because I’m so pooped from everything else going on. This has been resulting in take out and other somewhat unhealthy options. These are some great tips!! Having a stocked fridge and pantry are crucial for me to come up with easy and healthy meals and snacks.
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
Such great points! I like the idea of sticking to the basic, tried-and-true recipes during the holidays. After all, there’s all that eating out at parties and other celebrations that it’s nice to come home to some good, simple home cooking.
Danica @ It's Progression says
These are great tips!! And #3 reminded me of just how badly I want a good bread machine 🙂
char eats greens says
These are all great tips – especially the just making a trip so you’re not constantly running back to the store throughout the week for smaller things. This is why I need to get back into my routine of doing two different grocery store runs to make sure I get everything I need (at the price points I need from each of them to make my whole haul complete), but since moving to a new COUNTRY, the stores I go to aren’t close, so I normally end up at one and then another on another day. My tips definitely are just making sure you have things to make substantial meals. I hate having an incomplete meal, because it results in a) grocery store run (as stated above) or b) takeout! We’re still trying to get the hang of the new place and just slowly getting our new normal set!
Alex @ get big, go to work says
I find myself nodding yes to every tip:) I love these tips, especially “keep it simple.” It so easy to get overwhelmed by being behind, and I like your tip of sticking to what you know during these tips. It makes meal planning seem a lot more manageable and easier to tackle. One of my favorite ways I like to eat healthy during busy weeks and keep up with meal planning is to make a huge pot of soup. I find that the soup can easily last us 3-4 lunches and dinners, if not more, so I am able to spend less time in the kitchen while still eating healthy. Veggie lentil soup was Sunday’s soup of choice again 😀
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I want a bread machine SO badly! It is crazy the extra things you can make in those… like pizza crust!!
Sagan says
One of our favorite ways to eat (relatively) healthy is to go out for food when we have nothing in the house. We don’t live anywhere close to a grocery store, and if we haven’t had the foresight to go grocery shopping, get our groceries delivered, or made a meal in advance, we’ll go out for charcuterie at our favorite nearby restaurant. I love that the restaurants we go to make all of their food in-house and try to choose local and organic where possible… the meal might be higher in fat or calories than if we ate at home, but I love that it’s high-quality food that we’re choosing. And getting dressed up to go out when we can’t be bothered to cook is lots of fun, too!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
great tips girl!! Mine is all about meal planning and making things ahead of time. You just reminded me… I need to add eggs to my grocery list! 😉
Danica Pelzel says
Great tips! This week is a busy one for me, so this post came at the right time. Thanks!
Erin G. @ Treats and Sneaks says
I’m with you on buying pre-packaged foods on busy weeks. For me, buying a rotisserie chicken when I’m coming back after a weekend away is a complete lifesaver!
Bri says
Great tips! I always buy a bunch of staples to whip things up quickly when I need to, either for a dinner I can take for lunches or something more grab-and-go when I don’t have time to cook a big dinner.