Time-Saving Tips for Creating Family Meals

A pinch of togetherness at dinnertime makes for a closer family.

Provided by makinglifebetter™

It's a simple fact: Cooking for your family takes time — time you don't really have. Yet sharing just one meal a day can strengthen your bonds immeasurably.

Family meals give children a sense of security and an understanding of how the family works together. Quality mealtime conversation has even been shown to improve children’s mental and verbal abilities. Here are some simple ideas that can help you spend less time in the kitchen and more quality time with your family.

Stock a More Versatile Pantry

• You'd be surprised by how many meals come from a relatively short list of ingredients. So use a pantry of staples to make even spur-of-the-moment meal planning easier. Rice, beans and different pasta shapes, for example, are must-haves for good reason: The ingredients you add to them will let you make instant one-dish meals in almost infinite variety.
• Keep beef, vegetable and chicken stock — and an array of salad dressings — on hand to use as marinades and sauces for grilled foods or to add flavor when you stir-fry.
• Stock canned or jarred tomatoes in every form: whole, stewed, paste, salsa, pasta sauce, juice, pizza sauce.
• Think of your freezer as an extension of your pantry. Stock it with boneless chicken breasts, frozen spinach, chopped broccoli, soups, and filled pastas such as tortellini and ravioli.

Use Slow- and Quick-Cooking Techniques to Make Speedy Meals

• Try stir-frying, broiling, microwaving, grilling and pressure-cooking. Or start meats in the morning in a slow-cooker so dinner’s ready when you get home.
• Think about one-pot main courses to save cooking and clean up time.

Let Someone Else Chop It, Slice It, and Dice It

• Today, many basic ingredients come already prepared. Pre-chopped frozen onions may cost more, but the time they save you may be worth it. Buy cleaned and sliced veggies, cleaned salad greens, jars of pre-chopped garlic, and shredded or grated cheese.
• Chop and slice extra portions yourself and put them in resealable bags so they'll be ready whenever you need them.
• Try some of the many boxed products that have all the ingredients and flavorings you need. Just add a source of protein and you're ready to go.

Think in Threes

• Cook once, enjoy several times. Triple a favorite main-course recipe — it's as easy as making a single batch. You'll have one meal for now and two more for later. For example, the same triple batch of spaghetti sauce can become chicken Parmesan. Or noodle casserole. Or even chili.
• Another triple tip: Make three main courses at once. Roast a cut of beef and a chicken at the same time. Cook another chicken in a pot. Cut all the vegetables that you'll need in advance, then just keep track of the cooking times.

Cooking is a wonderful way to care for your family. The benefits of sharing a meal with them make the prep time well worth the few minutes it takes. And if you can get there more quickly, even better for you!