It is SO easy to hit the drive-through or place an uber eats order when the week gets busy and schedules are packed. Summer is predictable in its unpredictability with kid camps, family trips and vacations, day trips and the normal, daily things like housework and doctor appointments. Choose to set yourself up for success and minimize eating out this summer with a little pre-intention!

The Surprising Benefits of Eating at Home

A quick google search will bring up a host of studies outlining the benefits of eating at home:

• The meals we make ourselves are going to be lower in calories, unhealthy fats and sodium than restaurant food. 
• We have control over ingredients and portion sizes at home
• You won’t get shorted on protein at home like you do at restaurants!
• Eating at home will save you SO much money! Grocery prices are through the roof (and only seem to increase), but a drop in the bucket compared to home cooked meals!
• We consume less calories overall

Why Family Meals Matter More Than You Think

When it comes to our families, the benefits of family meals together are HUGE- one Harvard study showed that 80% of teenagers claim family dinner is the time they are most likely to converse with their parents! 

Nearly 7 in 10 employed adults (69%) say they would feel less stressed at work if they had more time to share a meal with someone.

How Cooking at Home Shapes Smarter Choices Out and About

Eating at home affects our choices when we DON’T eat at home too- those who cook at home are less likely to choose fast food when eating out, and instead opt for a sit-down meal at a restaurant where you have more control and potentially better options for balanced meals. 

Make It Easy: Keep Dinner Simple, Not Stressful

So how do we make it easy and doable? It can feel overwhelming, but keep it simple! 

My personal experience in our family is that everything hinges on the dinner plan. If I have a solid dinner plan in place, the whole week gets easier. Breakfast isn’t a big deal, and we often eat leftovers for lunches- they’re so easy to pack into portions after dinner so my husband can grab them on the way out the door the next day! 

Bulk Prep Basics: The Secret Weapon for Busy Weeks

Bulk prep can be a really good option if you like to mix and match and get bored easily! Rice, potatoes, veggies, rotisserie chicken (Costco has great bulk packages!), lean ground beef can all be prepped ahead and combined as needed for balanced plates or bowls.

Family Favorites You Can Rotate All Season Long

Make a standby list of family favorites that you know you can throw into rotation for an easy week. Current favorites in our home are things like:

• Spaghetti, meatballs, bagged salad
• tacos/nachos/burritos
• Broiled white fish, mashed potatoes, green beans
• lean beef burgers, fresh fruit, broccoli slaw

Plan Realistically, Not Perfectly

The biggest thing to think about with eating at home is to know what’s realistic for your family and your lifestyle. Will you eat freezer meals? Do you hate the crockpot or love it? Will you enjoy individual meal prep? Do you need all three meals or just dinners?

A Few Days at a Time Beats Burning Out

Don’t feel like you have to prep the whole week or month at a time. Veggies and fruits usually need to be shopped for more than once a week. Sometimes simply planning out the next 3-4 days is plenty without feeling overwhelming. This helps you not shop for more than you need and potentially waste food, and also gives you some wiggle room in case plans change and you wind up not cooking for all of the meals you had planned. Staying flexible is key to staying consistent!!! 

Consistency Over Perfection: Just Keep Cooking

Remember that regardless of what you’re cooking at home, just the simple act of eating at home means you’re going to get a better-for-you, more well-balanced meal, you’ll be saving money and your family will benefit immensely from the table time together!