6 Tips For Stress-Free Dinners This Fall

What’s for dinner? Between work, school, extracurricular activities, and everything else that comes with the back-to-school season, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to make stress-free dinners. But with a little bit of planning and preparation, it is possible to make dinner time a breeze.

Here are six tips for stress-free dinners this fall.

1. Meal Planning

The first step to stress-free dinners is to plan out your meals for the week. Take some time on the weekend to sit down and plan what you will make for dinner each night.

Make a grocery list and do your shopping in one trip. This will save you time and money in the long run and help ensure that you have everything you need to make your meals throughout the week.

If planning meals is not your favorite thing to do, then pair it up with something you enjoy. A little motivation goes a long way! You can listen to a playlist on Spotify as you brainstorm easy dinner recipes.

2. Prep Ahead of Time

Another way to make dinner time stress-free is to do some meal prep ahead of time.

This can include chopping vegetables, marinating meat, or making a big batch of rice.

Doing some of the prep work ahead of time can save time and stress during the week when you’re trying to get dinner on the table.

3. Use a Slow Cooker or an Instant Pot

If you don’t already have a slow cooker or Instant Pot, now is the time to invest in one. These appliances are perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen.

You can throw all your ingredients into the slow cooker or instant pot in the morning, and by the time you get home from work or school, dinner is ready and waiting for you.

4. Keep It Simple Sweetheart (KISS)

During the back-to-school season, keeping your dinners simple is important.

You don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen every night, especially when you have homework to help with or extracurricular activities to attend.

Stick to simple recipes that don’t require much prep work or ingredients, and save the more complex recipes for the weekends when you have more time.

5. Get the Whole Family Involved

Involving the whole family in meal prep and cooking can make dinner time more enjoyable and less stressful. Assign tasks to each family member, such as setting the table or chopping vegetables.

Not only will this help you get dinner on the table faster, but it will also give everyone a sense of ownership over the meal and make it more enjoyable for everyone.

• Involve them in brainstorming fun ideas like theme nights- You can make your favorite meatloaf only on Mondays!
• Who doesn’t love Taco Tuesday?
• Wednesday- Perfect day of the week to make a chicken crowd-pleaser dinner!
• Thursdays- Teens take over dinner night! (They get really creative when you let them be in charge from start to finish.)
• Friday- Pizza Night!

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Take Shortcuts

Finally, don’t be afraid to take shortcuts when it comes to dinner time. There’s nothing wrong with using pre-cut vegetables, frozen meatballs, or canned beans to save yourself time and stress.

You can also take advantage of pre-made sauces, marinades, and dressings to add flavor to your meals without spending much time in the kitchen.

In conclusion, the back-to-school season can be stressful, but with a little planning and preparation, it is possible to make dinner time stress-free.

You can make dinner time a breeze by meal planning, prepping ahead of time, using a slow cooker or instant pot, keeping it simple, getting the whole family involved, and taking shortcuts when necessary.

So take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy stress-free dinners this fall.

Now it’s your turn! What is your fool-proof way to bring more joy and less stress to a weekday evening? Comment below! 🙂