The Importance of Dinner at the Table.
This post gives data to show the importance of families eating dinner together as well as some practical ways to make it happen! Includes meal ideas and how to cook less often by doubling your portions...
Busy?
Yup. Who isn't?!
Life can be crazy and most women wear SO many hats... kiddos, husbands, soccer practice, laundry... it just keeps coming... and then dinner-time comes. Have you prepared?
But being busy should not be an excuse to constantly run through the drive through or eat out all the time.... we've got to do better. Having a hot meal ready for dinner is part of homemaking. I personally really prioritize dinner time - having all four of us sit at the table together without the TV or phones, just talking about our day... and usually get some good laughs in.
{ A recent survey conducted by Eckrich(R), a product of ConAgra Foods, found that 40%of American families eat dinner together only three or fewer times a week, with 10% never eating dinner together at all. }
I feel as thought this is a huge problem in the breakdown of the American home these days... we don't all just sit at the table with a good meal and talk to each other. It's not even about the food - it comes down to the time invested in one another. It comes down to the time spent in reality with each other. Developing our bond as a family. Those of us with young children know these days are going to end. PARENT! WHY ARE WE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE? We eat in the car on the run, in our separate rooms or in front of the TV.
{ According to a number of reports issued by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University(CASA), children who eat at least five times a week with their family are at lower risk of developing poor eating habits, weight problems or alcohol and substance dependencies, and tend to perform better academically than their peers who frequently eat alone or away from home. }
SOURCE: The Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/timi-gustafson/family-dinner_b_1898387.html
The evidence is there - the impact is great!
Now, This does not mean I have a gourmet meal ready every night for my family, but it does mean I have planned for a decent meal that is ready about the same time every night. Even if it's a soup and grilled cheese night - it's been planned and I have what I need.
Most of my planning for meals takes place in the car-line waiting on my kids to get released from preschool. I get there about 30 minutes ahead of time and with the use of Pinterest and some paper and a pen I get the job done.
TIP: Plan to double most of your meals so you are only actually cooking once for every two nights!
Having dinner ready every night sounds difficult, but it really isn't! I have listed a few simple meals that you can put together in one afternoon, freeze and pop in the oven or Crock-pot when you're ready.
I use meals like these to stay on budget and stay out of a restaurant. I believe that nothing beats a family sitting around the table in the evenings over a home-cooked meal.
Did you know that eating out often is a newer concept?
For the first time in recorded history Americans are spending more on restaurants and take-out than on groceries.
{ Over the past year, as Matt Phillips reports on Quartz, Americans are spending more at bars and restaurants ($54.857 billion) than they are than they are on groceries ($52.503 billion). It’s the first time it’s happened in recorded history. }
SOURCE: https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/americans-spend-more-restaurants-than-groceries.html
And, it's no mystery that eating out costs more than cooking in home.
Most of these meals I am sharing are incredibly simple and do not require much prep or ingredients. I personally recommend that you double each of these meals and make two to put away for later. This saves SO much time and money. Let's face it, we can all use a little more of each - right?!
Also, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing disposable - clean up is way easier and you won't have all of your dishware tied up in the freezer!
Keep these items in the freezer for the evenings that you have forgotten or were just too busy to get something together ahead of time... your future-self with be thanking you!!!
TIP: Plan you simplest meals for your busiest nights!
1. Baked Ziti
Ziti noodles cooked in boiling water, your favorite sauce (Alfredo first, mixed in the noodles, followed by your spaghetti sauce on top), some ricotta cheese mixed in with Parmesan on top. DONE. True Italians are cringing as this I am most sure of us, but for us common folk this meal gets the job done. Obviously you can add whatever meat and spices you like as well. This meal also freezes great! Again, make two and you are good to go! Serve with salad, garlic bread or by itself.
2. Tater Tot Casserole
There are lots of variations of this recipe online, so definitely check out Pinterest and see which one your prefer. Basically, your going to need to brown some ground beef or turkey with an onion, mix in a can of cream of chicken soup. Spread the mixture out on the bottom on your pan. Top with frozen tater tots and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes, until everything is bubbling and the tots are golden. Top with cheddar cheese and done! make two and freeze!
3. Chicken and Veggie Soup
This is a DUMP & GO meal!
Select all the veggies you want in your soup while you baked or pan sear your chicken. You can skip the meat all together if you want! Chop you veggies and place them in a gallon size bag (2 bags! Don't forget to double!!) Personally, we like to use celery, carrots, onion, peas and corn. Cube your chicken and put it in the bags as well. Dump your parsley, salt, pepper and other preferred spices into the bags. This meal is designed for you to dump all contents from the bag into the Crockpot in the morning - your meal will be waiting on you when you get back home! Add water or chicken stock when you first place your meal in the Crockpot to cook. Place it on ow for 4-6 hours. You can also add egg noodles about 20 minutes before time to eat to make it more filling.
TIP: This works for most homemade soups! So try to get all the ingredients of your favorites together in bags ready to freeze!
4. Pork BBQ
Oh yes!One of my favorites!...
So, while you are doing all this other meal prep - get out your Crock-pot, set it to LOW, place your meat selection (we like a pork butt!) into the pot and just let it go overnight. The last hour or so of cooking, smother your meat with your sauce of choice and you are done! Serve with a veggie or on buns as sandwiches. Portion the BBQ out and freeze for future meals.
5. Chili
Chili is the best. It freezes great, you can use any ingredients you have handy and it can also be used in other variations - like on nachos!
There are TONS of chili recipes online so I will spare you my own recipe - especially since I really do not have one. In my opinion, chili is made with whatever you have on hand at the time.
I once did not have any meat defrosted, so I looked up some alternatives on Pinterest. I came across a Sweet Potato based chili that used cinnamon. Let's just say I have made it several times since - it's amazing.
When you do make your next batch of Chili, make enough for 3 meals. Let everything cool and freeze the left-overs in 2 gallon size plastic bags. Don't forget to label and date them! You now have TWO dinners ready in the freezer for another day. It's such a nice feeling to be prepared and ahead - for once - am I right?!
Ladies - being a Homemaker makes you the coordinator for life within your home. You make these moments happen. You make the meal that brings that family together. You make it unacceptable that everyone eats in their own room in front of the TV. Demand better for your family!