:: How To Feed A Busy Family ::
This is the key to any successful week in our home. It is also the key to my sanity. THIS set of keys I keep in the refrigerator. 🙂
Life is busy for everyone. Whether you’re a soccer mom with a husband that’s an executive, or you’re a self employed entrepreneur making your way, or maybe you’re like me – trying to carve out a simple homestead with college-aged kids at home and a husband that works 2 demanding jobs. Life.Is.Busy.
The more we can make things a bit simpler for ourselves, the better, right? Similar to the idea of meal prepping or freezer meals, this idea is for the lunch-packing, grabbing on the go, times during the course of our day that we need something fast– and this sets my family up for success! We still enjoy sitting together for home-cooked meals whenever we can, but that doesn’t always happen.
You can opt for inexpensive containers similar to those at Dollar Tree, or you can always do nice Pyrex storage containers .The main thing is I try to use all the same size containers. It makes it easier for anyone opening the refrigerator, it kind of streamlines your first glance since you’re not sorting through different sizes in your head. Also, labels!
My father always used to yell “shut the frig door!” and yes, I find myself reminding my grown children of that to this day. The labels help so much! They can grab a quick snack or pack their lunch for work in a snap!
My go to items aren’t really the point. But I do have favorites. I don’t usually have stuffing in a container, but I do find my family snacks on fresh veggies far more often if I have them cut up and have hummus on hand. That really makes me feel good – I feel like I’m setting everyone up to WIN!
What tips can you share with us? Do you have any tried and true strategies in the kitchen for a busy family???
That is a neat system. We are busy as well but end up just getting take-out or eating out everyday…. not really good but it works for us right now.
Elizabeth @Being MVP recently posted…Made With Love Imprints | One-Of-A-Kind Keepsake + #Giveaway
It’s all about finding your groove, right Elizabeth!? Here’s to the family unit! 😀
Also- for things like yogurt- it saves money to buy the large container and then separate servings into smaller ones that are easier to grab on the go. It’s just as convenient as the single serve yogurts, but cheaper!
Nice! I hadn’t thought of separating yogurt into single servings! Smart!
Having things already cut up is so much easier. I made containers with fresh berries & fruit already cut up & the kids devoured them.
Ellen Christian recently posted…Nail Pampering DIY
It’s worth that bit of effort up front isn’t it Ellen? I used to make up strawberries mixed with greek yogurt and oats the night before and everyone had breakfast the next morning all ready for them… I need to start doing that again!
I am beyond envious of how organized you are. You would gasp in horror if you saw the inside of my fridge.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) recently posted…Fire Cracker Marshmallow Pops
Robin… shhhhh… this was just one of my good weeks. hahaha
That looks easy for the kids too. I’d love to be more organized like this.
kristin recently posted…More Fun This Summer With Pepperidge Farm
Any weeks I don’t do this, Kristin it just doesn’t go well so it’s mainly a survival skill. lol!
I used to do a lot of freezer meals to keep on hand to make meal planning easier. I need to get back in that habit! This is a great idea.
Amber Edwards recently posted…Berry Tartlet Recipe; Perfect Summer dessert with fresh fruit!
I have never been good about organizing time for that, Amber… but I really want to! Just have to carve out a day for it!
Look at you all organized and prepared! Great way to keep up and have good meals to serve!
Kelsey Apley recently posted…Let Freedom Ring 4th of July Inspired Sign + Deal on Silhouette Products
Darn it, I ALWAYS misspell celery! hehe… it does make me feel better about our week when I do this, but I’d love to get better about meal prep and freezer meals!
What a cool system; I really need to do something like this! Is the prep worth it?
Meagan recently posted…Peanut Butter Popcorn Munch – Christmas in July
I am a bare bones kind of person, Meagan… I don’t do a lot of fluff so I lean in that direction here as well. I stock stuff that’s easy for me to stock in those containers. Throw together dips or put it on to boil stuff- like the oatmeal and lentils. But thankfully my family will eat whatever is there. YES –so worth it. The weeks I don’t do it = things just go south real quick. hahaha
I really need to start meal planning and making larger batches and freezing them. I can barely get a decent hot meal on the table these days!
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos recently posted…A Summer of Frozen Fun at Walt Disney World
Me too Tammi – as far as meals go! I’m better with snack – grab and go stuff. But when things get busy I’m bad about not thinking ahead for meals. Last night everyone ate cucumber salsa on toasted whole wheat tortillas for dinner. :/ just bein’ real.
This is so organized. You are awesome.
April recently posted…How to Live the Beach Lifestyle with Natural Ingredients
I probably never would’ve started this little technique if my husband didn’t get up at 3:00 for work. It makes it so easy for him when I don’t have a ‘lunch’ packed. But thank you for your kind words, April!
I don’t have any tricks to share, but the OCD in me has to point out that you’re spelling celery wrong!!!
Scott recently posted…Major-league Anti-perspirant
Thanks Scott- celery is one of those few words I have always spelled wrong- there aren’t many- but for whatever reason I have a brain block with it! Maybe now after you pointing it out I’ll overcome;)
I like how organized you are. The inside of my fridge is chaos…I really need to implement your system. Thanks for sharing.
Oh Ann – just one of my good weeks here. So much room for improvement! Thanks for stopping by!
Great idea. My refrigerator frequently looks like a bomb went off.
Jennifer recently posted…My Dreams Come True at Discovery Cove
Been there Jennifer… many times! 🙂
I SO need to do this,we are a super busy family of 7. Somedays I have no clue what to make and I fly by the seat of my pants.
Mama to 5 BLessings recently posted…How To Prevent & Treat Sunburns
pant seat flying i know well!!!! I see you are a home school family! We are (were) as well – all the way through to graduation for my last one in March. It keeps a mom soooo busy! – Congratulations! – and this is what learning from each other is all about – I love to learn new things that make my life easier!
This is a great idea. I’ve found that my kids snack on veggies more often if they’re pre-prepared, too. I also keep fruit and nut mix around for a quick snack when my sweet tooth hits.
Great idea with nut mix Pam! Thank you – I’m safe with them as long as there are no cashews! 🙂 My downfall!
Yes! We’ve been buying our meals on the weekend and cooking them all up on Sunday to eat throughout the week! It only takes about 2 hours to cook everything for the week, plus, I don’t have to deal with messes during the week!
Brittany C. @ Mom. Wife. Busy Life. recently posted…Gym Bag Essentials: Top 10 Gym Bag Must-Haves #FreshNaturally with Tom’s of Maine
I sooo wanna get there Brittany — that’s awesome!!!! I keep saying I will as soon as we have some time. Something else will have to wait… I just need to get it done!
Since I’m constantly picking containers up and trying to identify them from looking at the bottom, I totally see how this is a benefit. I need to do the labeling now!
Liz Mays recently posted…Transformers: Age of Extinction In Theaters July 26th
Me too Liz!!! and of course my family opens the refrigerator and sometimes acts like they don’t even know what they’re looking for!
Oh my goodness, I wish I was that organized. I tried doing the crock pot meals for a bit but my family is so picky, no one liked any of them 🙁 I try new things, but they like the usual things, HA! I need to get more organized, though
I mean, crock-pot freezer meals… Ha
I’ve never prepped crock pot meals, Shauna, but one of my friends told me any that she tried with chicken (freezing the ingredients for crock pot meal) the chicken came out really dry and not much flavor. And I’m indecisive so I’m not the best freezer meal prepper… This technique works good for my family just for quick bites.
Love your organization. I love the Dollar Tree for organization for the kitchen! They make a ton of different containers.
tammileetips recently posted…Visiting Juneau on a Alaska Cruise
Me too Tammilee! My favorite find there is a pack of 12 TINY containers with lids… Perfect for condiments or seeds…etc.
I’d sooo love to trade you fridges right now! Great job!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom recently posted…Have Fun With Colors! Fun Ways To Teach Kids About Colors
You might take that back Sarah… hahaha. I have good weeks and bad weeks. 🙂
Great system! I love menu planning for my family so we keep it fresh and can still prep!
Chelley @ A is For Adelaide recently posted…Reliving those moments…
I’m not the greatest about organizing whole meals ahead, Chelley… definitely an area with lots of room for improvement for me!
Great tip on having all the containers the same size! That is genius! I never thought of it, but I can see how it would be helpful and I am going to give it a try. Fyi, you are featured on Foodie Fridays today! 🙂
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…6 Must-Try Desserts and #FoodieFridays no. 2
Thank you so much Michelle! I TOLD my husband I was genius! hahaha… just kidding. He sees me more as a bit of an OCD but hey, whatever works, right? Awesome that you featured that recipe! What an honor!!! I’m so excited! You made my day!:)
I need all the help I can to stay organized. I love these tips.
Thank you very much Tess.
You’re right; having veggies cut up and ready makes me more likely to eat them… now if I could just get someone to cut them up for me 🙂
Stacey – Seattle Mom Blog recently posted…Shark Tank Tuesdays on CNBC – Win Shark Tank Swag! #sharktankswag #CNBCPrimeTV
YOU are smart Stacey… i like your style! 🙂
Can I have your refrigerator because mine needs to look like instead of a hot mess like it does now.