The Poopsie Collective

What’s For Dinner?

Written by BROOKE 

Stephanie’s “Simplify Series” this week inspired me to write a post about how I do dinners. I haven’t figured out everything in the world of homemaking but I would dare say that dinner time is something I have greatly improved on in the past few years. Gone are the three nights a week of takeout or frantically unthawing meat under hot water ten minutes before my husband gets home. 

Here are my secrets…

Plan a Menu

Usually on Saturdays, but always by Sunday we (meaning I involve the hubby for the most part) plan a menu. We look over the weekly grocery ads to check the sales, take inventory of our freezer and pantry and plan five meals. I’m a realist. We’ll eat out, go over to friends or eat leftovers at least twice. Sunday-Thursday usually does it for us. Having a menu plan makes everything easier; shopping, making sure whatever meat I need is out of the freezer, and it helps that I post it on the fridge so I don’t have a husband who comes home and says “Tacos? I had those for lunch.” It’s on the menu! My menu is flexible. Although some meals are slated for certain nights because of work schedules, I have no problem switching things around too. Nothing is set in stone at our house. 

My cute menu planner that I keep on the fridge. You can get one at Anthropologie.

Make Your List

I’ve learned this the hard way. Now, I painstakingly go through my meals and figure out what I need, even if it means getting out the recipe. Too many times I’ve gone to make something and been missing a key ingredient (ask my neighbors, they’re always the ones I call in a panic) and, well you’ve seen what happens when I try to drag my kids to the store for “just one thing.” I also make sure my list includes items for breakfasts and lunches (those are pretty simple around here, lots of sandwiches, fruits, veggies, yogurt). 

Shop

I usually have to hit up some combo of Trader Joe’s, grocery and Costco but if I can, I try to cut one of those out each week (Costco can usually be every other week or every three weeks and if I’m getting something at Trader Joe’s, I sometimes plan my whole week around items I can get there). 

I try to shop sans kids. Saturday night is my preferred time, but sometimes the hubs and I split it up on Saturday during naps. 

My goal is to only shop once a week. I find it saves tons of money when you are not running to the store three times a week and it saves sanity! 

Know Your Schedule

Be realistic. What is your week like? Is your husband working late every night? Don’t make a huge meal for just you and a toddler. What about work, lessons, etc.? I work out of the home on Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoon. I don’t get home those days until 6:30, which is way after my kids normal time for dinner. On those days I try to plan something that I can totally make ahead that my husband can heat up for the kids when he gets home, or something in the crock pot that will require minimal effort. It’s not that my husband can’t cook (he’s a great cook) but by the time he gets home and I’m still gone the kids are starving and they need something quick. Plus I like to have something as soon as I walk in the door.  

Prep and Freeze if Possible

I actually don’t mind making somewhat elaborate meals. I try to keep it pretty simple but once or twice a week I make something more involved or try something new. The secret for me, in this stage, is that I have a napper. I can usually get my four year old to have quiet time while the little one naps and during that time, I prep dinner. Anything that can be done ahead of time, I do. I cut up veggies, cook chicken to shred, anything I can get done before that dinner rush. The ideal meal for me is something I can almost completely prep ahead of time. Also, when I can, I’ll cook double of a meal or part of a meal and freeze it. I haven’t really perfected this yet but taco filling, stuffed pepper filling and some soups freeze really well and it’s great to have a few meals stashed away in the freezer for a crazy week. 

Go Easy on Yourself

We have PLENTY of nights when it just doesn’t come together. A few weeks ago we had family in town, life was crazy and I realized on Friday I had fed my kids quesadillas three times that week. It happens. But it’s nice on those weeks when you have it all under control. And having a plan assures that happens more often than not. 

The response I hope to get from dinners…

I Only Needed One Thing…

Written by BROOKE

This is what I should have done…

I try at all costs to avoid the grocery store with my kids. I frequent the grocery store late at night, when only the limpest broccoli is left and the 2/1 oatmeal boxes are all gone. I usually find myself parked next to another minivan and often run into other friends trying to get their kidless shopping done.  

I love it. I love walking those dimly lit aisles all by myself. The 80’s musak playing in the background. Just me and my cart and all the time in the world, I even sing along some nights. I’ve actually had my husband text me to ask if I was ok after spending over an hour at the store.    

But the other day when I ran through my mental dinner checklist I realized something. I had forgotten to buy the peppers to make stuffed peppers. Turns out, it’s pretty hard to make stuffed peppers without them. So, I thought, no big deal, I can just stop in at the grocery store after we meet our friends for lunch. No biggie.  

We met our friends for lunch which led us dangerously close to nap time. “It’s ok,” I thought, “I only need one thing!”  

So we ran into the store. Instead of my usual bring kids on an errand arsenal (iphone, snacks, sippy cups, board books). I just grabbed the kids and my wallet. No cart, after all, I only needed one thing!  

We ran in. Tantrum #1— we didn’t get a TV cart. Have you seen these things, a shopping cart with a car on the front and a TV inside? They are great. If you get one. We did not. “WE ONLY NEED ONE THING!!” I screamed (I mean calmly explained). We don’t need a cart!  

I grabbed the peppers. But since we were there… just a few more things. Keep in mind I’m carrying the baby. Some grapes (they were on sale!). And maybe one or five other things. I mean, we were going to be fast.  

Zach is screaming. Still not over the TV cart. We’re going to be fast, I promise. We’re almost done! We run/drag/scream our way to the checkout. A line. GREAT. Just what I need. A line!  

Then I spot it. Self check out. Do I dare? But there they are all inviting and open and FAST looking. “Come on Zach, mommy needs your help.” I coax in my sweetest I’m-a-good-mom voice. At this point he gets excited. This thing looks fun. I let him hold something. He tries to climb up in the bagging area. The machine starts yelling at me “Unexpected item in bagging area. Please remove.”  

“GET DOWN!” I screamed. I was losing it.  We were deteriorating. Brady is doing that boneless flop to get out of my arms. I’m dropping grapes. My pits are starting to sweat. The machine is still yelling at me. WHY DIDN’T I GET A CART!?  

Zach is hysterical. He wants to be up on the machine. He won’t get down. I’m dragging him down. I’m dropping Brady. People are literally stopping in their tracks and staring. I’m trying to act nice. I’m nice, I swear. But we just need to get this ONE THING!  

Zach is now LAYING on the grocery store floor. I have scanned my club card and I’m trying desperately to scan my other items. Brady is running out the door. I run after him leaving screaming Zach and my purse behind. Finally the self checkout helper comes over. She scans all of my items for me, takes my cash from me and feeds it into the machine, bags my groceries and gives me that sympathetic look that only another mother could give.  

I put my bag over my arm, pick up Brady around the waist, grab Zach by the hand while he continues to scream bloody murder and get the heck out of there.   And, as I see it, lessons learned. Always get a cart. Even if you only need ONE THING!