Meal planning for SAHMs

This is one of those things that I can never seem to get right as a working mom. I can plan for dinner every night but I nevre have enough time to make it and so the kids end up eating something else while I finish cooking for me and my DH.

Do you find that meal planning for dinner is easier as a SAHM? Any tips? I'll be home for a decent part of the day while one DC is in school, and my other DC still naps, so I have some free time.

Re: Meal planning for SAHMs

It took me a while to really get a good system going.

What works for me is planning out my dinners in advance. I make a menu and post it on the fridge. The day before I look to see what I am making to make sure that I rememeber to defrost chicken, etc. And then I just plan my day around whatever I am making. Depending on how long it takes to cook, I make sure I am home in time to have dinner ready at a decent time.

Re: Meal planning for SAHMs

Sometimes. Before DS I loved cooking. I would search for new things to make and be up cooking til 9pm some nights. Now, I still love to cook, but things have gotten very simple around here.

I cut back hours at work and am now only working PT, but it isn't that much easier. DS is a full time job, and DH works nights so he is usually sleeping during the dinner prep.

Right now, I will do whatever prep I can when/if DS is napping. Get everything out and ready to go. During the summer I will usually only cook on the grill, so if its not grill-able we don't eat it. (DS plays in the yard with his water table and ball while I can watch him and cook) Ok, well, I also use the crock pot.

I try to plan a week in advance, only for food shopping convienence. It never really ends up working though!

If you need any ideas I am always willing to share! Just send me a FM.
HTH

Re: Meal planning for SAHMs

We try to plan out the whole week on Sat. I have a 7 day notepad and we figure it out. So this way, I don't to worry. And we try and do easy stuff. Even though I am a sahm, I can't always cook b/c of dd. Yesterday I prepared as much as I could, chopped veggies, sat a lot out on the counter and my dh cooked after work when I put her to bed. I boiled the pot of water to make it as easy as I could.

DD eats different than us most nights. She's hungry at 5:30 and dh doesn't get home sometimes til after 7.

It's not easy. We also plan on leftovers 2 nights a week.

Crock pot cooking is always easy. Just set it up and let it cook. Or try 30 minute meals.

Re: Meal planning for SAHMs

Thanks everyone! We are moving to Toronto so I don't know if grilling is always going to be feasible LOL. I have a crock pot, so that's a great idea too. Luckily my DH doesn't work late so he can come home and watch our DC while I cook. I am terrible with meal planning for the week so I am really going to have to start. It might be mean but I am looking forward to only having to go food shopping with one kid.