work late not enough time to get dinner on table

Valerie - posted on 10/01/2009

It it all about organization. Plan out menu weekly and shop on weekend. Prep meals on weekend. Make use of crockpot. If you plan you and your family can still have meal time together. Also, if your kids are old enough to help, you can have them do simple things like make a salad to go with the meal. Sometimes I call my 13 year old after work and have them pre-heat the oven and put the cassrole in the oven.

Kate - posted on 10/01/2009

Freezing meals works great for our family. Then just pop them into the microwave and you are done.

Debbie - posted on 09/24/2009

Seriously, I would say your family want a happy mum, not a stressed one - so I would go for a little flexibility. You should try to prepare meals finger foods for a starter which will keep the hunger pangs at bay, and go for quick meals that allow you to spend time with your family rather than slaving over a cooker. Like using an electric steamer for rice, veggies and meat or fish safely and quickly. Or take one day a week to prepare and freeze meals which can be deforosted in the morning and heated up easily. i know this all sounds too easy but try introducing wee small steps to ease the stress.Routines only work if your family benefit from them otherwise they need to change. Also engage your family in little tasks to help out, giving them a sense of responsibility and achievement if they are old enough to.I gave my son cutlery around 9 months old so that he was comfortable handling it as he got older.

PS: a pizza and popcorn night once a week goes down a treat!

Staci - posted on 09/24/2009

I cook 3-4 meals on Sunday and put 2 in the refridgerator and 2 in the freezer. I will make like lasagna, taco meat, grill hamburgers and grill chicken all at the same time and get them in containers. It works super for us, I come home the meat is done just throw the freezer steam fresh veggies in the microwave and we are done!! Try it

Marcy - posted on 09/17/2009

I make my dinners the night before. For the first night its tough becasue you have to make dinner and then dinner again for the next night but after that, it gets easy. I don't think your routine needs to change much (having dinner at 5:30 wouldn't be terrible) but your dinner selections might need to be adjusted. I'm big on the crock pot (I get it ready the night before (cut up veggies, add meat, etc) and then put the entire thing in the fridge. When I leave I just plug it in. When I BBQ I do twice as much and freeze half. We always have a pasta, meatballs and sauce night. (frozen meatballs and jared suace goes right in the crock pot) and a bagged salad.



I wish I had more time to cook because I really enjoy it but I just don't.

Iysha - posted on 09/17/2009

I make quick easy meals all the time, mostly because I hate being in the kitchen.



There is a recipe that my mom taught me where you brown ground beef add in a small can of tomato sauce, a can of any veggie and just simmer for like 10 min and its done.You can add pepper and salt to taste. Add store baught or previously made cornbread or heat up some tortillas and you got a meal.



If you boil chicken and some egg noodles the night before, you can just throw that into a cassarol dish with canned veggies and a can of cream of mushroom soup, some parmasian cheese and some of that packaged shredded cheese. Heat in the oven for 20 min or so at 350 degrees F.



Stuffed bell peppers don't take too long either. Used canned veggies, tomato sause, and browned ground beef. Stuff some bell peppers and stand on a baking dish. Bake for 10-15 min at 350 degrees F or until the bell peppers are kind of soft.



canned veggies, canned soups and sauce, and packaged salad are usually included in everything I make. lol

Ami - posted on 09/17/2009

yea i use the crock pot too. or those little bag meals. they are awesome, taste great and are ready in 12 minutes. Minute rice is also a life saver.

Lola - posted on 09/15/2009

the crock pot is a wonderful thing for me .

Kim - posted on 09/15/2009

thanks for the advices wish we could swap more ideas on time saving and cooking on a budget

Sharon - posted on 09/11/2009

Check out http://www.kraftcanada.com/Pages/welcome... . This site has lots of quick and simple recipes as well as lots of lunch ideas.

Amber - posted on 09/10/2009

The only advice I can give you is get a recipe book for crock pot meals or premake dinners in advance and freeze them then just thaw out when you need it.

Jenna - posted on 09/10/2009

A little prep can go a long way. Also simple meals are best. Save all the big meals and fancy cooking for weekends and holidays.

My best tip: ground beef.

cook it all up as soon as you buy. drain off the excess fats. let cool then put it all in re-sealable zip-lock bags and freeze. Use whenever you have a recipe that calls for ground beef. Saves time because the meat is already cooked.



Can make Hamburger Helper, Spagetti, Tacos, & Hamburger gravy

Khadijah - posted on 09/10/2009

I'm in the same boat. I have 7mth old twin girls and I work an hour and 45 minutes from home. I get to work by 7-7:30am and get off between 4-4:30pm, which mean after the commute I don't get home until close to 6pm. By then I ammissing them so much all I want to do is kiss and hug them and play with them. I'm not even out of my work clothes at this point and sometimes never get around to changing cothes before I am in the kitchen cooking. When I use to live closer to my job we ate dinner no later than 5pm, now its more like 7:30pm :-( So I totally understand what you are dealing with.

Brandie - posted on 09/08/2009

I work till 4 as well pick up 3 kids from day care and don't get home until 5. I feel your pain! Trying to do more crock pot meals but that takes planning...something I am not so good at!

Laura - posted on 09/08/2009

Can't bump it to 5:30? If not, I suggest preparing meals on the weekends and freezing them. You just put the meal you want in the refrigerator in the morning before you leave so it is thawed by the time you get home.

Also suggest some low-maintenance recipes. I use "Quick and Easy Recipes" from Family Circle (ISBN: 9780767906050). It's out of print now, but Barnes and Noble has used copies available for pretty cheap ($1.99). I really like the cookbook, and it tends to be honest about the amount of time it takes to prepare a meal.

Good luck!