Question - make food ahead of time?

I'm sure you moms understand the hectic week with school. homework and after school activities.

Usually I cook a couple of big dinners that are healthy (sometimes somewhat healthy) and then on the crazy days will heat up leftover or just do veggies and pasta, bring in pizza or do something frozen.

I don't always want to bring in or do something frozen when our weeks get too hectic.

Do you cook earlier in the day and then heat up later?
For instance I was going to make turkey meatballs tonight, but then my son's class was moved to today from 5 - 6. By the time they get home and start cooking they won't eat till late.
If I make meatballs ahead of time do I put them in fridge and then just warm them up on the stove after.
What do you do during the week when it comes to sports and other stuff. We have basketball some nights, soccer, Hebrew school, doc appointments some nights or run to library for report. Ugh!

Re: Question - make food ahead of time?

Yes you can make them now and just stick them in the fridge. They will reheat nicely later.
You can even heat in the microwave

Message edited 2/24/2020 11:13:59 AM.

Question - make food ahead of time?

Sometimes I do cook earlier in the day. Things like chili or soup are perfect for that.

I usually marinate a big pack of chicken breasts Monday morning and grill that for dinner so the bulk of the prep is done ahead. I'll make salads with the leftover chicken for another busy night so I make that ahead. Another night we may do quesadillas or something else quick with more leftover chicken. I'll do some of the chicken with just Italian dressing if the marinade that week isn't conducive to ther other meals.

Re: Question - make food ahead of time?

Thank you! Definitely will make the meatballs before we leave. I don't want anything cooking while I'm out.

We should share easy go to recipes when we have crazy weeks.
I do the make your own tacos a lot too where I get the already grilled chicken from SAMS or Costco and just get the shredded lettuce, cheese and tomatoes and tacos or burritos. I will make a side of rice and black beans too.

Re: Question - make food ahead of time?

I usually make one big meal on Sunday and that gives us a few days of leftovers. When that runs out I'll do something quick like pasta. We typically get take out on Fridays.

Re: Question - make food ahead of time?

Sometimes I do the crock pot. Other times it's just quick stuff...hot dogs, kielbasa and pierogies, grilled chicken, etc. But mostly my kids just end up eating late, like around 7:30. Usually DH runs around for the sports, etc. after school just because I don't get home until 6-7. Then I cook dinner. Tonight I"m making a salmon sheet pan dinner. I'll pre-heat the oven while I'm chopping the veggies and then it bakes for 20 minutes and is done. Dh is a carb junkie so I will make rice or something to go with it while that is baking. Lots of times I look on skinny taste for under 30 minute meal ideas.

Re: Question - make food ahead of time?

we eat a ton of chicken- so I will grill up like 4 pounds of chicken on Sunday and make different things with that during the week, toss it in pasta, salad, taco etc.
I also have put chicken breasts in the crockpot with a jar of salsa for like 6 hours and use that to make basically the same things- tacos, chicken salad, you can do chicken nachos.
It's hard with the kids activities and work - but at least if I have grilled chicken I know I can eat healthy - sometimes I will just make a vegetable quick or a baked potato.

Question - make food ahead of time?

Nights are also crazy in my house after work and school. I make everything fresh but I make really simple things. Last night we had chicken souvlaki- saute cubed chicken and throw on pitas with premade tzatziki and then I made a chickpea salad with a can of chickpeas, a diced cucumber and chopped roasted red peppers. Tonight is shrimp fried rice- Trader Joe’s frozen rice and shrimp with peas, carrots and eggs.

I’ll also make meatballs in the instant pot, crumbled sausage with veggies over pasta, tacos, chili, wonton soup with frozen wontons, stir frys, chicken burgers with frozen sweet potato fries.