Hi friends,
If you’re a working mom, you know that the daily “What’s for dinner?” question can be the final straw on an already stressful day. A few years ago, I used to decide what to cook on the spot which meant rushing to the store after work, or worse, staring into the fridge at 7pm, exhausted and hungry.
Now, I do a simple, stress-free meal plan every week. It’s not perfect, but it’s kept us fed and my sanity intact.
Instead of hunting for new recipes each week, I have a short rotation list of family favorites. Things like:
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Ayam masak kicap
Sup ayam
Ayam masak merah
Daging masak kicap
Sardin
I just mix & match. It takes away so much decision fatigue.
On Sundays, I wash and cut veggies, and marinate chicken or pork for the next few days. I keep them in clear containers, so it’s literally grab & cook when I get home from work.
Even peeling garlic ahead saves precious minutes on busy nights.
When I make curry, stew, or bolognese, I double the recipe. Half goes straight into the freezer for a future night when I’m too tired to cook.
Future-me is always grateful.
4. Accept shortcuts
Some days I buy ready chopped onions, frozen veggies, or even pre-marinated meat. It costs a bit more, but it saves time, and it keeps me from ordering expensive last-minute delivery.
I have a cheap magnetic board on the fridge where I jot down the meals for the week. This stops the “What’s for dinner?” debate and lets everyone know what to expect.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be a huge project. Even this simple approach rotating favorite meals, prepping on Sunday, accepting shortcuts has taken a lot of stress off my shoulders.
If you have your own meal planning secrets, share them with me in the comments. I’d love to try them out!
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