I will be the first to admit that cooking is NOT on my top ten list of fun things to do. However, because taking care of the health of my family and myself AND showing my family that I love them ARE on the list, I cook. I learned early on that meal preparation is much more pleasant when it is planned. For me, the 4:30 “what’s for dinner” syndrome is stressful and annoying! So, by learning from others and my own trial and error, I chose to come up with a system that works for me.

A few of the tips that increase my success and decrease my stress over meal time are:

• Plan menus weekly and re-use the menus (Try yourmeals.simplified)
• Bulk shop for items used regularly
• Use my crock pot
• Take freezer items out before leaving the house for the day
• Have items on hand for quick meals for unexpected guests (happens a lot at my house!)
• Make double portions and freeze the extra to use on a busy day
• Tidy up the kitchen before beginning a meal, leave soapy water in the sink ready for used dishes
• Use the web for menus incorporating items on hand (one of my favorite sites)
• Organize the food shopping by keeping a ready-made shopping list close by (My Grocery Shopping List)

For more great ideas, you can listen in to Simplifying Meal Time on The Organized Woman Show. And leave your tips and ideas to help us all make meal time more fun!