With children going back to school and everyone trying to get back into their routines {or develop routines} I thought it might be a good idea to share how my family stays sane while trying to get children to school {with real food lunches} and appointments, going to work {or making deadlines for work online}, and still having a good, wholesome meal for dinner.
The biggest problem that moms have once they are trying to kick the processed foods and cook more foods from scratch is time. Take this {totally hypothetical} scenario for instance: Mom comes home from work, mom looks in pantry and fridge trying to decide what to make for dinner, and exclaims,”There is no food in here, only ingredients!!” Again, totally hypothetical. This has NEVER happened at my house *ahem.*
Actually, this used to happen quite often when I was just starting out. And then I decided I needed a better system. So, the “Sunday Work Day” was then established. Now, your “work day” doesn’t have to be Sunday, it can be Saturday, Thursday, or Wednesday night. You can totally decide that all by yourself. My family has a pretty regular schedule in that my husband works Monday through Friday and sometimes Saturday. So, we’re usually home and can decide what to do with our weekends. My family also honors the Lord’s day of rest – the Sabbath, or Shabbat, on Saturday, so that is why Sunday is my work day. If Sunday doesn’t work for you…change it. I give you the authority to do so. 
What does a Sunday work day look like?
I get out some paper and pencil and write down anything that is going to go bad – leftovers in my fridge or fresh fruits or veggies that need to be cooked and eaten {1 piece of chicken, a bowl of rice, 2 bananas, etc}.
I get out the running list of items that are in my freezer that I can use
I take a quick glance at my pantry to remind myself what is in there
I plan some meals for dinner with lunch in mind
I make a shopping list of any odds and ends that I don’t already have that I’m going to need
And, if I’ve got some extra time, I browse ideas I’ve pinned on Pinterest, print a couple of interesting recipes I want to try, and look for “general inspiration.” Then, I pick up the items I need from the store. Depending on what I need, I either visit Walmart or Whole Foods.
What do I mean by “I plan some meals for dinner with lunch in mind?”
Have you ever tried to pack a lunchbox without having a plan in the morning before you’ve had coffee and you woke up late and there is nothing in this fridge or pantry..only ingredients */.?! *@! Yeah….me neither. Okay, maybe just once, *ahem.* That is why I now plan dinner with lunch in mind.
Here’s what that looks like:
On Sunday I make chocolate syrup {this happens about once a month or every six weeks}, bake a loaf of raisin bread, and make homemade fruit snacks for fun with the kids. Before I go to bed, I thaw the roast out in the fridge. That’s not too much, right?
Monday’s Dinner:
Roast with Carrots and Potatoes in the Crockpot
Parmesan Squash
Green Beans
{My son doesn’t have school on Mondays}
Tuesday’s Lunchbox:
Roast beef sandwich with homemade pickles {using leftover roast from last night’s dinner}
Late July chips
Cut up whole orange
Milk
Tuesday’s Dinner:
Homemade Ramen {Using antibiotic free, humanely raised rotisserie chicken}
*If you haven’t tried this soup…do it now!}
**This meal is simple so while the soup simmers I bone the rest of the chicken and throw the rest of the chicken skin & bones in the crockpot to make stock over night
Wednesday’s Lunchbox:
Leftover Ramen soup
Crackers
Grapes
Milk
Homemade Fruit Snacks
Wednesday’s Dinner:
Nitrate Free Hotdogs
Baked Beans
Homemade Coleslaw
Chips
Thursday’s Lunchbox:
Nitrate Free Hotdog
Baked Beans in a thermos
Grapes
Milk
Thursday’s Dinner:
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole {using remainder of rotisserie chicken from Tuesday}
Fried Zucchini
Friday’s Lunchbox:
Homemade Raisin Bread
Whole orange, sliced into wedges
Yogurt
Milk
Friday’s Dinner:
Pasta Alfredo with veggies {corn, asparagus, peas}
Garlic Bread
Tossed Salad
Saturday’s Dinner:
Pizza Night!
{Make double batch of dough to use for lunches next week}.
Occasionally, life happens {everything always goes exactly as you planned it, you say. Well, not here}. We are away from home on Sunday from time to time. So, then everything falls apart and we eat McDonald’s for every meal for the entire week, except on Friday when we have pizza delivered. Just kidding! If life happens and you don’t get your work day, this is what I really do: I try to get through Monday with a quick go to meal that I don’t have to “plan” – like chicken croquettes or tuna casserole for a couple of examples. Then, I try to plan the rest of the meals on Monday evening – or at least a couple of days – what ever I can do to make the rest of the week a bit easier without stressing myself out. Then, I just try to get through the week.
Eating wholesome meals doesn’t have to be all time consuming. With a little planning on the front end {30 minutes to an hour max} and little prep work you can have simple, nutritious meals every night of the week without compromise. You can do it!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I’m a participant in the Walmart Moms Program. Walmart has provided me with a product sample and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. Participation in this program is voluntary and the opinions stated above are entirely my own.