Enjoying a meal together on a weeknight is a goal for many families.
But parents often find themselves pressed for time on weeknights, and that time crunch can make it difficult to enjoy a homecooked meal.
But while soccer practice, piano lessons and occasionally working late are all important, there is no underestimating the value of family meals.
Richmond's Touchstone Family Association notes that family dinners are one of the most effective ways for parents to engage in the lives of their children.
Studies have also shown that families who eat together tend to eat healthier, as parents can more effectively monitor their kids' diets, including whether or not their youngsters are getting enough fruits and vegetables, when they are dining together.
While it may not be feasible for parents and kids to scale back their busy schedules, there are steps parents can take to make weeknight meal preparation quicker. By shortening the time it takes to make meals on weeknights, families might be able to sit down to dinner together more often.
. Plan ahead. The most effective way to make more time for family meals is to plan ahead. Planning meals on the fly encourages everyone to fend for themselves, making it difficult for families to enjoy nutritious meals they can eat together.
Plan for the coming week's meals on the weekend, when you can survey your pantry and make a trip to the grocery store if need be. Planning ahead also allows you to prepare certain parts of a meal in advance, which will save you time on busy weeknights.
Make cold meals. Dinner does not have be served hot, and cold meals often take less time to prepare. Consider serving salad or sandwiches on those nights when you are especially pressed for time. When serving sandwiches, serve them on whole grain bread.
Turn breakfast into dinner. There are no laws regarding what qualifies as dinner and what does not, so families without much time on their hands on a weeknight can turn breakfast into dinner. Eggs are both quick and easy to prepare, and they can be served alongside toast and grapefruit. When making omelets for dinner, add some spinach or another vegetable.
Lean on seafood. Seafood doesn't take much time to cook, significantly less than beef, pork or poultry.
Leftovers aren't just for lunch. Leftovers are often relegated to lunch, but extras from a meal cooked over the weekend can be used as a quick go-to meal on a hectic weeknight.
