Sometimes life is so crazy the last thing you want to think about is dinner.  A lot of times that is when we turn to the options that aren’t quite as healthy.  We go out for fast food or order in pizza.  I remember growing up we didn’t have a lot of money so when my mom was too busy to cook she would put the kids in charge of dinner.  We came up with some crazy things but it was always fun.  I was killing sometime on the internet and found a contest that General Mills did a while ago asking people to submit ideas on how to simplify dinnertime.  Here is what some of the winners said:

• Stretch your meals out. Make a big dinner on Sunday and get creative with leftovers all week long.
• Make dinnertime family time. Have everyone come to the kitchen 10 minutes prior to dinnertime with washed hands and a specific role.
• Organize mealtime tools. Keep utensils and pots or pans that you use for each dinner together in one place. This strategy gives you access to all the tools you need, so you can grab easily.
• Picture dinner in advance. Keep your favorite recipes in a small photo album that includes side dishes, beverage ideas and dessert ideas on the same page. Before grocery shopping, flip through the album to create your dinner menus for the entire week.

I also have a lot of tips and tricks up my sleeve. 

The first being always have some Dream Dinners in your freezer.  This isn’t just a shameless plug for my business.  I can’t tell you how many nights I have been saved by having dinners I could pull out, quickly defrost in a sink of water, cook, and serve.  You don’t have to go to Dream Dinners (although I highly recommend it) but strongly consider having several options in the freezer. 

My second tip is to have a few great Crockpot recipes you can throw together.  Growing up my favorite crock pot dish was my Grandmas Finger Lickin Good Pork Chops.  We also really like Beef Stew and Chicken Scallop Potatoes from the crock pot.  If you want any of these killer recipes make sure and leave a comment here (I know another shameless plug).

My last tip is simply stop thinking of dinner as a chore or an assignment like you are back in school.  Find a way that it is fun for you!  My daughter is only two but she always asks to “help cook” and I always say yes.  We laugh and make a mess and when I have been at work all day it is great to spend some quality time with her.  This picture is of my brothers family just having fun a dinnertime.  Figure out what it is that you enjoy about cooking (even if it is just eating) and make that your focus, simplify everything else, and just enjoy it!