Working Moms – Enlist Help to Destress Dinner

Dinnertime is stressful for working moms who want their children to eat right. In our household, the conversation about dinner usually starts around 4:15 pm with the question “what are we going to eat?” Eating out is convenient. Pick it up, take it home, and eat. The downside is that it can be expensive for a family. It is also not always healthy.

Our family made changes years ago when we realized that we were eating out every day. Our daughters loved it, but carryout was burning holes in our pockets. We also knew that we could make healthier choices if we cooked at home. My husband and I made a commitment to cook more. Delegating responsibilities is a great tool for working moms. Try one of the following ideas or add your own to the list.

• Allow everyone to have a role in preparing the meal. Older children can cook a dish. Younger children can set the table or put ice in the glasses. Clean up goes quickly when everyone pitches in.
• Take sharing recipes a step further. Spend the day with a friend preparing meals to freeze for use later. Choose a friend you absolutely love and who loves to cook.
• Share the load. Allow your spouse or partner opportunities to show off their culinary skills.
  Designate a meal in which each family member contributes a dish.
• Hire a meal planner if your budget allows. Our family enjoyed this service for several months. Every week, our meal planner emailed a week’s worth of recipes with the corresponding grocery list. The recipes often used similar ingredients or leftovers.
• Hire a personal chef to prepare weekly meals for the family. This is a splurge, but may be less expensive than eating out every night.

Take a moment to try the following R.E.S.T. Resources:
Happy People Sleep Well 7 Day Challenge This free challenge shares super easy techniques to help you to fall asleep in 30 minutes or less. You will receive one audio a day directly to your inbox.

Anna and the Camping Trip – Complete Series with Bonuses is a collection of bedtime stories designed to help you to fall asleep in 30 minutes or less. Each story shares Anna’s “adventures” as she relaxes in the mountains on a camping trip with her husband and her dog. These stories use mindfulness and relaxation techniques to calm your mind and relax your body.

Download your free copy of Stress is Personal: Your Personal Starter Guide to Stress Relief. This 36 page guide contains easy to use tips to lower your stress level. Read real life scenarios to learn how people similar to you got through it. The print version is also available through MagCloud Publishing.

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