Ask most parents what the bane of their existence is, and nine times out of 10, it will have something to do with

the stress of what to make for dinner. 

And like it or not, the job always falls to whoever is home first. And if today is your day, Dad, we want to help

you with the dinner-time hustle. Check out some of our favourite tips to help Dad get dinner on the table…

and take the stress out of the weeknight dinner game! Let's dig in!

Why is Meal Prep so great for Family life? 

Everyone is talking about meal prep these days – but do you know why it is a great thing to do? Not only does

it help you save time during the busy week, but Meal prep can also help you save money and boost healthy eating.

Recipes like spaghetti Bolognese, chilli, and stews are all great options to prep in batches. You can use inexpensive

ingredients and pack them full of veggies. Meal prep is all about tooling up. It's not a science, you don't have to be

precise, and it doesn't have to be perfect.

It's about finding your zone and getting down and dirty. Don't worry if your food isn't perfectly and neatly assembled.

It doesn't have to be insta-worthy … your green beans don't have to be lined up like soldiers, tomatoes on display

like Christmasbaubles and everything else assembled social media style.

If it appeals to the hungry, then you have prepped properly! And that is what meal prep is all about – 

eat. food. when. hungry! Because no one wants to labour over a multi-step recipe mid-week. 

To keep yourself in check, here are a few pro tips:

The right tool for the right job matters! 

Stock up on airtight containers in all shapes and sizes, with and without dividers, to make meal prep more

effortless, more convenient, and everyday meals a healthier habit. 

TOP TIP! Make sure they are microwave-safe and top-rack dishwasher-safe! Because … well, dishes!

If you build it, they will come! Meal prep will make eating better so much easier. No more stressing about

what to make or worrying about the kids reaching for one bad snack after another. Having readily available meals,

and even snacks, gives everyone better food options.

Plan ahead to get ahead! A little goes a long way when it comes to planning. This means knowing your

menu, shopping for items, and having it readily available on meal prep day. This will streamline the process and

avoid wasting time on quick trips to the supermarket. And if you are like us and prefer things in bite sizes, you'll want to

plan all your recipes one day, shop another and then on the day of prep, you're only working on one task:

assembly-line food prepping!

Let's break it down … 

There are several ways to meal prep, but all preparation methods involve organising the food in your fridge to make

for easy make-ahead meals or quick breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — whether just chopping or slicing foods or

cooking them. 

There's no right or wrong way to do it, but the most common techniques are:

Batch Cooking

Make big recipes at once (like on the weekends) and freeze or save them for use later.

Individually Portioned Meals

Divide portions into containers ahead of time so you can grab and go.

Prepped Ingredients

Do a bunch of chopping, peeling, slicing, or roasting; pack them all up in your airtight containers, pop them in the

fridge and use those prepared ingredients in recipes later.

Before you start to slice it all up, consider these 3 things:

Number 1: Choose just one mealtime you'd like to prepare— quick breakfasts, lunches or healthy dinners.

Keep it simple by starting with the mealtime you usually eat out for or skip altogether.

Number 2: Pick a day to do your meal prepping. Sunday seems the most common choice as it is often a day (or

afternoon) spent at home planning for the week's chaos!

Number 3: Consider how much you actually need to prep. Experiment with prepping for two or three days before

attempting the whole week. 

If all else fails …        

The most important aspect of family mealtime is the time together, not the food. So, falling back on take-out or

microwave meals may be the perfect solution. And guess what? Everyone will be just fine!