Can I be honest for a second? I’m still in fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants mode. Quarantine mode. Do-whatever-it-takes-to-survive mode. I mean…even though it’s been more than a month since the kids went back to school (can I get a Hallelujah?), I’m still struggling with the routine of living life with a sense of “normal.”
My kids are old enough that they’re mostly independent. My husband’s still working from home and has enough flexibility that he can can supervise the morning routine. And so I roll out of bed just in time to wrangle my daughter’s curls into a messy bun and give her a hug as she heads to the bus. Then my days are spent in a disorganized blur of working, picking up the house, and (maybe) cobbling something together for dinner.
This post is sponsored by the Washington State Beef Commission, but all opinions & experiences are my own.
It doesn’t feel good. I thought it would be easier with fewer people in the house these days. But for some reason I just can’t kick myself back into a strict routine after living for 18 months without one.
For all I’ve done wrong as a parent, the one thing I’ve always nailed is dinnertime. Back when I was working full-time outside of the home, I still got dinner on the table every night. But after a year and a half of stocking the pantry with Processed Pandemic Sympathy Snacks (TM), my standards have slid significantly downhill.
BUT NO MORE. I’m taking back control of my life, starting with dinnertime. And you know why I start there? Because that’s the area of my life I have the most control over, and will make the biggest difference. Frankly, mealtime management is low-hanging fruit and is the perfect place to start calming the chaos.
Here are my top tips to get a healthy, satisfying, and EASY meal on the table – even on weeknights.
1. Make a menu.
Sometimes the hardest part of cooking dinner is simply deciding what to serve. If you do it in advance, that part is already done! For weeknights I typically choose an easy-to-cook protein that won’t take up too much of my time. Frequently that means serving beef. Ground beef cooks up in less than ten minutes. Shaved beef cooks up in two. Roasts need almost no hands-on time because you can “set it and forget it” in the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Plus, did you know that some of the healthiest countries in the world (Mediterranean countries) eat just as much red meat as we do in the US? Easy cooking, filling protein, and research-backed health benefits make it a win-win-win option for a great family dinner.
Instant Pot Youvetsi (Greek stew with orzo)
{Pro tip: Check your weather forecast and factor that into your daily menu plan. Because, let’s face it, nobody’s going to want soup if it ends up being 80 degrees outside.}
2. Make a grocery list.
Once you’ve got your menu, create a grocery list. Nothing will throw you off your dinnertime game like starting to cook a meal and realizing you don’t have an important ingredient. You can make this task even easier by placing an online grocery order!
Harissa meatball soup with Israeli couscous
3. Meal prep.
You guys, the difference this makes is AMAZING. If I spend an hour or so in the kitchen on Sunday, it DRASTICALLY cuts the time I spend cooking (and cleaning) on weeknights. It’s like a 300% return on your investment. I’ll turn on the TV or my favorite music station and chop all my veggies, season my meat, mix my marinades, and combine spice blends. I even brown my ground beef or pre-cook some items (like meatballs) if it makes sense for the recipe. On weeknights basically all I do is assemble the dish, do the final cooking, and toss the prep storage containers in the dishwasher.
Just a little bit of time in the kitchen left me with FIVE fully prepped meals – enough to get me through the whole week serving dinners I could feel good about.
I try to cook healthy, but nobody in our family follows a strict meal or “diet” plan. I prefer to cook balanced meals that are minimally processed, satisfying, and help our kids develop a healthy relationship with food. That’s why a Mediterranean-style eating plan complements our natural eating habits so well. It’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts/seeds, and olive oil enhanced with lean meats and dairy. Nothing is off limits, and I love how beef has a research-backed role supporting heart health as part of this eating pattern!
{Pro tip: Set out a large bowl and toss ALL your garbage in it to keep things neat and clean.}
Philly Steak Style Flatbread
Ready for the easiest weeknight dinner EVER? This flavorful meal will be a hit with the whole family. It swaps whole-grain flatbread for the traditional hoagie, and a dollop of creamy burrata for the traditional cheese sauce. You won’t miss either, I promise.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. shaved steak
- 6 mini whole-grain flatbreads OR 3 whole pocket pitas, sliced in half
- 1 onion, sliced thin
- 2 peppers, sliced thin
- 1 ball burrata (approximately 8 oz)
- 2 Tb olive oil
- 1/2 tsp EACH:
- dried basil
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried thyme
- paprika
- chili powder
- salt
- pepper
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat oil over medium-high heat and sauté peppers & onions until crisp-tender. Remove them from the pan into a serving dish.
- While vegetables are cooking, combine the spices and mix them with the shaved steak.
- Return pan to medium-high heat, add the seasoned shaved steak, and sauté until cooked through. {Note: It will cook very quickly. Do not over-cook or it will dry out.}
- Warm your flatbread in the microwave for 20 seconds.
- Assemble your flatbread sandwiches: pile on meat, veggies, and top with a dollop of burrata. Season burrata lightly with salt & pepper.
- Serve & enjoy!
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