When you’re trying your best to feed a family of empty stomachs three times a day, it can be an exhausting job. If your family’s appetites seem to keep you in the kitchen at every waking moment, it’s time to consider a few different tactics. Consider implementing the following ideas to keep your family happily full and satisfied.
Prepare Healthy Carbs
Whether you’re making a meat entree or a lasagna, always serve your meal with some healthy carbs. Well-seasoned brown rice, quinoa or pasta will stretch a meal and fill up bellies. Don’t believe the hype when people say to stay away from carbs. The key is to consume healthy carbs. Plus, it’s okay to enjoy garlic bread with lasagna and salad for one night a week.
Provide Snacks
When the kids come home from school, it’s a good idea to have snacks ready for them. If you’re not home before they get home, you can put the snacks out before you leave. Pick really satiating snacks like apple slices and almond butter or chips and hummus. You’ll want to make sure your kids are consuming healthy foods so they can stay alert to get their homework done.
Plan Meals in Advance
It’s a good idea to set aside some to prepare meals in advance. Pull out the rice cooker and a high-end Brooklyn copper saucepan to make family meals at home. Once you prepare certain dishes, you can freeze them to preserve them for later on in the week. A great example is a casserole. You can prepare two casseroles on a Sunday evening, and put one of them in the freezer for the family to enjoy later on in the week. By Wednesday, you can pop the frozen casserole in the oven to defrost and enjoy with a green salad and rolls.
Serve Dessert
Dessert is always a nice way to end a meal. Have fun with different types of options. On Monday night, you can serve sherbet and sugar cookies. On Tuesday night, you can serve a lemon pound cake. On Wednesday night, serve a delicious fruit salad. Have fun with variety. This one addition can make your family feel like they’ve received a full meal.
As you work on implementing these tips, always remember that it’s okay to give yourself a night off. Take advantage of great coupons to order a few pizzas. You can also pick up a few frozen pizzas to satiate the family and get a break. Most teenagers and kids love pizza. Therefore, you’ll be able to win in both categories: rest for you and satisfaction for the family.
