Dinner time stategies for a crazed mom

Well I have 9 children and I run a sucessfull work at home buisness lmao! I also have a hardworking husband who out of the house on double shifts so my best recommendation is to join Fly lady shes a lifesaver. Do the leslie sansone walk away the lbs WITH your kids they have a ball and WII just dance lol Im in love and my kids are always trailing out of my rear. I have to admit we do massive stirfry type foods kids get rice mama doesnt. Seafood is quick. And try to take one sat and do once a month cooking where you make at least 8 casseroles and freeze em. Easy to whip out and toss in oven whip up a salad and voila work out while its cooking !

I cant do it all, my advice, enlist daddy's help. Another option might be to spend one day cooking meals for a week, place in freezer than warm up for dinner. Good luck!

Hey I don't have much advice for you as of yet...I'm in the same boat! I have a 3 yr and a 10 yr old. My commute is less than yours but I always feel so rushed between homework, showers, and dinner. I know that planning a dinner calendar for the month definitely helps me...it's the ideas I have problems with! Pre cooking on the weekend and crock pots are great time savers, but it doesn't seem as fresh and fit as I'd like. It seems some nights I'm resorting to tv dinners (horrible I KNOW) or even contemplating fast food (healthy for me, kids meals for them...by no means healthy).

I'd love to hear what everyone else has to say! Good luck Jennplus2

I really helps me to cook a little extra on friday night and stash it in the freezer for a quick dinner. Mexican is one of my favorite dinners because it is so versitile and can be very healthy depending on how much cheese you use and if you pour boiling water over the cooked ground beef to get rid of some extra fat. You can throw an easy meal together with all the food groups, serve it over rice or a tortilla and everyone is happy!
My 2 1/2 year old "helps" me cook by watching. I used to strap him in the high chair and let him play with playdough or something while I cooked. Maybe have something special they can do only while you're making dinner (a movie, or toys they only play with during that time). What helps me the most (when I do it) is to plan all the week's meals Sunday night. It really saves time to know what I'm making before 6:00pm and to know that I have all the ingredients on hand.
My motto is to cook the same for everyone, so I can eat whatever I am serving them. Even a meat sandwich can be a great dinner for kiddies if you cut it into shapes or something.

This sounds like my schedule too. I work full time, have an hour commute, then home to cook, get homework, shower and bed by 9 (my daughter is a little older), not mention soccer practice! The quickest and easiest thing to cook usually goes the foreman grill. Chicken breasts with lemon pepper or marinated in italian seasoning, or thin beef (flap meat, I believe?) with any seasonings you like, chop it up and throw in a corn tortilla for a taco, or heat up a can of veggies for a side. On the weekends I might use my rice cooker to cook up some brown rice then just re-heat it to add as a side. (add a little water to rice before heating in the microwave to keep it moist). As for keeping the kids entertained, maybe let them snack on some baby carrots while you cook? or if you chop up the chicken for teriyaki, let them "paint" the teriyaki sauce on. My daughter still loves doing this and she's 10

Ughh I remember those days for sure....

First my kids were always starving and prone to melt downs that time of day. So I always got home and handed them some baby carrots or a yogurt or something that was healthy (I mean really if they spoil their dinner on something healthy I was ok with that).

Then I did utilize a lot of pre cut veggies and when I was cooking on the weekend I would dice up raw meat that I could use later in the week for a stir fry or casserole.

When my weekends weren't crazy or when I felt especially energetic, I would make a double batch of what I was cooking and freeze it for one of those days when I just couldn't think of cooking.

Good luck! Hang in there!

personally, I skip the bath part :blushing:. My 3 yr old doesn't need one every day. Once he looks or smells dirty I stick him in the shower and enjoy 1/2 hour to myself! It's worth the water bill! He'd stay in there for an hour if I let him, but the hot water won't last that long! His bedtime routine is putting on "night pants" (as opposed to jeans) and going and getting into bed. Takes about 10 mins tops. I know so many moms that going to bed is an hour or more long project. Seems like a huge waste of precious time to me!

Also, don't be afraid of PBJ's or grilled cheese and some fruit for dinner. There's no rule that says you have to have a big home cooked dinner each night (and no rule that it has to be 100% from scratch to be healthy)! Do that and the frozen cassaroles or bake up a bunch of quiche and freeze it (it's not quite as good as when fresh, but still good!) Eggs or quesadillas are also great, tasty, healthy, and super easy. Grill up a bunch of chicken breasts on the weekend and store them in the fridge. Grab one and serve over spaghetti (10 min meal), or with a side of canned or even fresh veggies (5 min meal), or cut up and put with a scrambled egg and some sliced peppers over rice (10 min meal)... You can also throw a bake in the oven and do homework while it cooks. A granola bar or an apple will tide the kids over for an hour for dinner.

Taste of Home has a cooking magazine, Quick and Easy ( something like that), Racheal Ray has 30-min magazines and cookbooks. Plan a menu for a month, do all the meat cooking or casserole prep in one night, then you just have to prep sides and salad, when you get home. Planning a menu and grocery list, will also cut down on the amount of time you spend grocery shopping. I have my children set the table and put ice in cups, while I cook. They also help wash vegetables, put biscuits on the cookie sheets, and "Cook" with me. I let them use some of the same ingredients that I am using in that meal, with leftovers. So, say they had ramen noodles leftover from lunch, I let them create their own recipe, and no matter what, we always try it as an appatizer with dinner. They love it, and we've had some pretty good expermental snacks. My girls are now 9 and 5, and love to create. They've been "cooking" for 2 or 3 yrs, now. They're learning and I know what they are doing while I cook.

Giving the kids carrot sticks, applesauce or gram crackers in the car buys me a little time when I get home. Just take them to work with you. A croc-pot meal or soup served with a hearty bread is quick. Making our own pizzas takes about 15 minutes prep included. Most sauces for pasta or meat taste better if they sit, so make them on the weekend. Having a menu for the week helps because you can look at tomorrow's dinner and decide what prep can be done the night before or in the morning. Chopping or putting all the dry or wet ingredients together in their containers is easy prep you can do in advance. While you eat dinner you can simmer sauces for the next night. I keep homemade seasoning for fish, chicken or corn dogs in labeled oatmeal canisters so I don't have to make them often, I just add seasoning for variation. Double up on some recipe basics and freeze for quick dinners later exp. lasagna sauce can be used for spaghetti or baked ziti another week. Bread chicken breast for chicken nuggets or strips one night but make extra to freeze for chicken Parmesan next week. Make meatballs for spaghetti tomorrow but make extra for BBQ meatballs, sweet and spicy or Swedish meatballs another week. When all else fails, breakfast for dinner is quick and easy. I can churn out pancakes and turkey bacon in 10 minutes!

Hello parents!

Dinner time can often be chaotic in my house. I work full time and after working, an hour in traffic, and two school pick ups I have to make a healthy dinner. It can be a challenge to keep the kids occupied (and fight free) while I cook, and during the week I find it hard giving them a safe job to do in the kitchen (3 and 5).
I need a few strategies to engage the kids while I cook, and keep me sane. It feels like we walk in the door and they want to eat 5 minutes ago. Dinner needs to be quick, easy, healthy, something everyone can eat, and did I say quick? I get home at 6 pm, kiddos need to have the bath done and be ready for bed at 8pm. Someplace in there 20-40 minutes of Kindergarten homework, yes I did say Kindergarten homework! After all that I need to clean up from dinner, get in a shower and fall onto my own pillow. Saying hello to Daddy would be nice, but it is not a must. :devil:

HELP! Am I the only one who feels like I can't do it all? I think I have the dirty house, the messy kids, and I am running fast to chase down any time for paying bills or going to the store for food. Living healthy also is taking time to plan and fit in workouts. How do you do it all?

I'm in the same boat - my kids are 2 and 6, though. most evenings, I tend to go a little crazy and am so happy when my hubby gets home from work. on days when we seem to have it all together, what helps is usually, the night before, I've already planned out what i'm going to cook, and have remembered to move the meat to the fridge to thaw. i have a game plan in place. i give the kids a small/healthy snack and then when they're done, they must play together. the 6 yr hates this because he would rather play at his friend's house then play with his 2 yr old sister, but i try to always make it up to him later. if the kids cooperate, they will play peacefully in 2 yr old's room. or they color, or play playdough at the table.

quick dinners are best. or dinners that are quick to prep, and then throw in the oven. crockpot meals are even better!!!! or if you can prep as much as possible at night when they are in bed....

the same strategy never works 2 days in a row for my kids, though - mainly because of the 2 yr old.

I have a 2 and an almost-5 year old and I've found myself in the same boat over and over and over again! What I've been doing is meal planning for 2 weeks at a time and then I shop on Saturdays. I leave the kids with dad and just go. I set the timer on my phone and allow myself "X minutes" in each store--the time depends on what I need to get. This helps me avoid buying crap just to buy it, which in turn helps me save money. I usually hit 3 stores: Costco for all the big items; Sprouts Farmer's Market for produce, bulk grain, etc.; and King Soopers to get the stuff I couldn't get at the other stores. I can usually do all my shopping in less than 2 hours--I'm lucky though, all these places are close to each other and me.

Then, on Sunday, I usually cook a soup, chili, or stew that simmers for a while so it's ready to go when we're ready to eat. Then, while the little one goes down for her nap, I chop, saute, boil, everything I can. Basically, I pre-cook and pre-chop everything I can so when I come home from work, it's done! I label all the containers with the meal that it's for so I'm not scratching my head wondering, "Hmmmm, why do I have all of these diced carrots and onions?"

I try to make enough to freeze (great with casseroles and soup, etc.) and for my husband and I to have for lunch the next day. It's a bit of work those two days, but I don't have to do it again for 2 weeks! We usually allow for 1 night a week for going out/ordering pizza and we might have some leftovers that we need to eat some nights as well.

Oh, and I'm not above turning on the tv or letting my 5 year old play Wii to get them out of my hair! :laugh:

personally, I skip the bath part :blushing:. My 3 yr old doesn't need one every day. Once he looks or smells dirty I stick him in the shower and enjoy 1/2 hour to myself! It's worth the water bill! He'd stay in there for an hour if I let him, but the hot water won't last that long! His bedtime routine is putting on "night pants" (as opposed to jeans) and going and getting into bed. Takes about 10 mins tops. I know so many moms that going to bed is an hour or more long project. Seems like a huge waste of precious time to me!

Also, don't be afraid of PBJ's or grilled cheese and some fruit for dinner. There's no rule that says you have to have a big home cooked dinner each night (and no rule that it has to be 100% from scratch to be healthy)! Do that and the frozen cassaroles or bake up a bunch of quiche and freeze it (it's not quite as good as when fresh, but still good!) Eggs or quesadillas are also great, tasty, healthy, and super easy. Grill up a bunch of chicken breasts on the weekend and store them in the fridge. Grab one and serve over spaghetti (10 min meal), or with a side of canned or even fresh veggies (5 min meal), or cut up and put with a scrambled egg and some sliced peppers over rice (10 min meal)... You can also throw a bake in the oven and do homework while it cooks. A granola bar or an apple will tide the kids over for an hour for dinner.

this makes me feel SOOOO much better cuz this is me alllll the way.... LOL :blushing: