For many of us, there’s a big difference between our expectations and realities when it comes to weeknight dinners. We picture a home-cooked, balanced meal eaten on the patio while we share stories from our days with family members.
But the reality usually looks more like this:
2:00 p.m.: Look through recipes and decide what you want to make for dinner.
6:00 p.m.: Run to the store to grab the ingredients (and hope you didn’t forget anything).
7:00 p.m.: Home to unpack, but there’s no time to relax. You need to get chopping – literally.
8:30 p.m.: Why am I still doing this?! We should have just eaten out.
Does this scenario sound a little too familiar? We get it.
After a full day of work, shuttling the kids to after-school activities, and narrowly making it to your gym class, the thought of making a main dish and two sides can seem like just too much. But don’t reach for the takeout menus just yet – we’re bringing you Chef Lynn Michelle’s tips for faster, healthier, and happier weeknight meals.
Leave It to the Pros
When you’re navigating a busy schedule, you might not have much time for (or interest in) cooking. That’s where Chef Lynn Michelle comes in: an award-winner personal chef who can prepare gourmet meals for your family in the comfort of your own kitchen. The East Coast Chef® and her team can also help you meal-prep, preparing a series of ready-to-eat meals for you to enjoy over the course of a week. You’ll come home to a spotless kitchen and fridge stocked with neatly labeled meals according to your family’s tastes and preferences.
Prep Big Batches
It’s just as easy to make three servings of rice, roast vegetables, or grilled chicken as it is one. Cook more than you know you’ll eat in one night, then save the leftovers for a different recipe. For example, enjoy a grilled chicken sandwich one night, then stir fry the leftover chicken breasts and eat it on noodles the next.
Make Customizable Meals
Are you constantly trying to please picky eaters? Instead of making two different dinners every night (i.e. steak salad and chicken tenders, or vegetable soup and mac and cheese), go for family-style meals that can be customized to everyone’s liking. Tacos, paninis, or Asian ingredients served over rice lets everyone assemble their own ideal meal.
Enlist Your Helpers
Cooking’s more of a chore when you factor in the prep and cleanup. Get your helpers involved by making a schedule that clearly delegates tasks, like setting the table, taking out the trash, and drying the dishes. Having everyone’s jobs in writing should alleviate some of the “I did it last night!” blues.
Your family can still enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without you having to spend hours in the kitchen at the end of the day. Chef Lynn Michelle can prepare a delicious selection of meals for you and your family to choose from in the comfort of your own kitchen. Give her a call at 843-422-5480 or click here to book your next meal.