Meal Planning: Time Saving Tips for Therapist Moms
Why Meal Planning
In the midst of chaos, meal planning becomes a beacon of sanity for the busy Therapist Mom. It's not just about what's on the plate; it's about saving time and effort, being quick and delicious and being able to bring the family to the table to eat together.
Contributions to a Therapist Mom’s Emotional and Physical Self-Care
Meal planning goes beyond the kitchen; it extends its benefits to a Therapist Mom’s body and mind. By incorporating nutritious and balanced meals, busy Therapist Moms can experience sustained energy levels, improved focus, and enhanced mood. The ripple effect of a well-fed body contributes significantly to the resilience required to navigate the demanding nature of both professional and family life.
Alignment with a Therapist Mom’s Busy Lifestyle
Tailored to fit the Therapist Mom lifestyle, meal planning becomes a lifeline. It acknowledges the challenges and time constraints, offering practical solutions that resonate with the need for efficiency and effectiveness. It may seem daunting at first, but meal planning is not an additional stressor rather a tool that allows a busy Therapist Mom to get some time back throughout the week. By embracing meal planning, Therapist Moms empower themselves to prioritize self-care without compromising on the quality of care provided to others.
PracticalTips for Therapist Moms
Quick and Healthy Recipes
In the race against time, simplicity is key. Explore a supply of quick and wholesome recipes designed for Therapist Moms. From hearty salads to one-pan wonders, these dishes require minimal prep time without compromising on nutritional value and taste.
Keep in mind the significance of balanced meals for sustained energy when choosing your recipes. Use this as a teaching moment for kids, sharing that a well-rounded plate not only fuels the body but also supports mental clarity—essential for navigating the challenges of both professional and family life.
Meal Strategies For Success
Meal Prep. One of the easiest ways to set yourself up for success throughout the week is to make meal prep your time-saving Bestie. All hands on deck for Sunday batch cooking sessions! Give younger kids small jobs as well.
Maximize Your Efforts. Consider strategically planning leftovers for lunches or dual purpose meals. Need ground beef for two meals? Brown it all at once and separate for each recipe.
The Freezer is Your Friend. Use your time and resources wisely, Mama. Making a casserole? Make TWO! Pop one in the freezer for another week. Or double or triple your batch of taco meat or chicken, meatloaf, etc. Make your resources work for you, not the other way around.
Mom’s Night Off. Let your older kids or partner take on a meal once or twice a week. This can be a big step for moms, but put yourself in another room (maybe another floor) of the house while they’re cooking and just enjoy your extra time. That will do so much for your mind and body that every dish in the house being dirty won’t even bother you.
Delivery or DiGiorno? It’s okay to let DoorDash or GrubHub bring your dinner. Even a run through the drive thru is acceptable on those impossibly busy nights. And thank goodness for frozen pizza! It’s not a failure to feed yourself or your family fast food. Convenience foods/restaurants exist because we are a busy culture. Embrace the reality.
Pinterest is Priceless. A recipe lover’s BFF. If you aren’t following TheraMamaHaven23 on Pinterest, do so now. I’ll share my fave recipes for crockpot, Instapot, one pan wonders and more.
Meal Prep Extravaganza: There are fabulous resources out there for Meal Prep-alooza. Go to your local superstore and get all the ingredients and spend a few hours putting together some tasty meals perfect for the freezer. Grab a friend and do it together!
Meal Prep Services: Open your trusty browser and Google “meal prep services” for meal boxes and/or local places where you can go in to prep meals or have them do it for you. There are so many great options!
Let these strategies empower you to conquer the week ahead with ease. Let go of what you think you “should” be putting on the table and recognize that life is busy and there are only so many hours in the day.
Smart Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping is one of the most rewarding (I use this term loosely) time sucks ever. For me, there’s just something about crossing off all of the things on my list that is very satisfying. And yet I despise going to the grocery store.
Thank goodness for Instacart, Shipt, Walmart+ and other delivery services. Most of them have a monthly membership, but it can be worth every penny if you’re looking to save some time and mental energy. And most grocery stores have grocery pickup as well.
When I do brave grocery shopping, a list is the best way to make sure I stick to the plan for the week. If you want to get fancy, outline the departments of your local stores so you can group all of your items according to department.
One way I maximize my time is to use AnyList and share the grocery list so we can both add to it. This takes some of the responsibility off me to be the only person keeping track of what the household needs. If you get the paid version, AnyList helps you “organize your personal recipes and allows you to easily add recipes from other sources, like email messages and popular websites and blogs.”
Incorporating Family Time
Ideas for Family-Friendly Meals
As suggested above, getting everyone as involved in meal prep and cleanup can make the whole process run more smoothly. Depending on the ages of kiddos, yes, this could erupt in massive chaos, but with some coaching and repetition, it may just turn out okay. Teach your littles to set the table. Even in the most crude of ways, it’s still one less step for you to have to manage. Pair them with an older sibling for coaching. Consider paper plates to aid in cleanup and less broken dishes. (Not great for the environment, but that’s another convo.)
Setting a Positive Mealtime Environment
Create a pleasant atmosphere during dinner—a few moments of calm amidst the daily whirlwind. From soft background music to dim lighting, explore ways to transform mealtime into a serene and enjoyable experience. Recap everyone’s day.
Play “would you rather” or have everyone offer up a gratitude statement. Open communication, laughter and conversation during dinner fosters connection and understanding among family members from the oldest to the youngest. By turning mealtime into a space for sharing stories and thoughts, family bonds will be strengthened and create a positive, nurturing environment for all. That’s what I call a win-win!
Time Management Strategies
Efficient Time Allocation
It feels to me like I’m always having to meal plan. The days go so fast, it feels like I just made a list and it’s time for another one. When I have involved my husband in meal planning and plan for 2 weeks of recipes, it has helped immensely. In the middle we usually only have to get the necessities like milk and fruit.
Try setting aside time to gather your recipes and write them down, along with the ingredients you’ll need. You can end there and save the actual shopping for another day or plow through and get it all done, whatever works best for you. The goal is to find what works best for you and your busy schedule.
Outsourcing Options
As discussed above, it’s okay to outsource as much or as little of this process as you need to. There is no shame in this game, TheraMama! These options not only save time but also offer a practical solution for those days when the demands of work and family leave little room for culinary creativity. By exploring outsourcing, busy Therapist Moms like you can find a balance that suits your lifestyle without compromising on nutrition or flavor.
Dinner’s Ready!
Embrace the journey of meal planning as a means to a healthier and happier family life. The recipes, strategies and tips shared here are not additional tasks, but tools designed to streamline your days, allowing you to savor the moments that truly matter. So, Therapist Moms, join the club of meal planning with the knowledge that each intentional choice contributes not only to the well-being of your family but to your own fulfillment and resilience. Here's to nourishing both heart and home with every bite.
Follow me on Pinterest for shared recipe ideas.
Download two free time-saving resources from TheraMama Haven. Included are a fillable grocery list and menu planner.
