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I received the following email and wanted to share it, and my response, with you...
During the summer, I've been working on two business plans intermittently while dealing with the kids or whatever "domestic goddess" project I'm working on, and by 6 or 6:30 I start wondering what to make. I query everybody and end up searching for a "regular favorite" last minute. I chop veggies for munching (why the kids won't eat cooked veggies, I have no idea, but even fresh veggies (baby carrots, cucumber and bell pepper slices) with ranch dressing dip is a healthy snack while I get my act together meal-wise.
Everything I make is homemade or "mostly" homemade. (There's a good reason I have a reputation of being Martha Stewart or a complete Domestic Goddess.) All of my sauces and soups are homemade. I can marinara sauce, salsa, buffalo sauce, spaghetti sauces two to three times a year so I have plenty of homemade tomato-_base_d sauces with little sodium and fewer calories. Most of my meals are "balanced" (or at least veggie/protein/"right" whole grain carbs).
What I need to do is create a menu options sheet so the kids can choose something and start it ahead of time or at least pull out the ingredients without waiting for me.
What other ideas do you have?
Your cooking _style_ sounds a lot like mine - everything fresh and from scratch. It can be more work, but definitely much healthier than packaged meals.
Have you tried sitting down with you children and reading a cookbook? I've found that it's a great way to get them involved with both the planning and the cooking. Let them take turns picking out "their special meal". Have them help you plan the ingredient, including those for the side dishes, and then on cook-day let them assist you in the kitchen.
To save time in the morning, many recommend to pre-pack lunches the night before. The same concept can be applied here. After homework is completed and dinner is done, have the children help you gather the ingredients for the next day's meal. Set up your work area, place non-perishable ingredients next to the recipe and keep the refrigerated items together in a large bowl. Then when it's time to cook everything is ready to go!
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