I’m trying really hard not to rely on expensive takeout, but there are some evenings when I’m tired enough as a single mom to be exhausted just thinking about cooking when I know I’m also going to have to clean up the resulting sink full of dishes. (Also, IRL I find that even “quick” recipes aren’t really very quick.) Got any (reasonably healthy) frugal meal hacks that minimize time in the kitchen and ease the cleanup burden?
Posted by DanoGKid
8 Comments
Sheet pan meals and paper plates?
It’s hard to beat things like soups, stews, chili, curry. One pot for cooking, easy leftovers. Slow cooker is the ultimate for ease but to me, everything kind of tastes the same compared to what you can do with just a regular pot.
When we lived on our boat we were pretty much forced to lean on paper plates and bowls. If it is a choice between a paper plate with easy cleanup and takeout…just use a paper plate. It’s always going to be better than takeout from an environmental standpoint.
One pot meals are great for this! I love the blog called Damn Delicious because they have a lot of recipes that are single pan/pot
I think the best frugal healthy meals when you’re exhausted as a mom are what your kids will eat but keep it really simple. I buy cold rotisserie chicken from Walmart, make toast or rice and warm up frozen or canned veggies. Hot dogs or chicken nuggets also sub in and don’t require much to heat.
Batch cook on weekends and freeze meals for quick weeknight dinners. I typically have diner on the table in under ten minutes on weeknights with minimal cleanup after.
Sandwiches, breakfast for dinner, and air-fried chicken strips with cut up fruit and veggies spring to mind.
Have a full sink of hot soapy water when you start cooking even if it’s something simple.
I don’t know how old your children are, but the long term answer is, the children wash the dishes.