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Being a busy mom is no small feat, but with the right strategies, you can reclaim your time and sanity.
Let’s drive into some game-changing tips and mouthwatering recipes that will transform your daily routine and get rid of any possible guilt of feeding your family unhealthy foods for dinner.
Who knew the hardest part about being an adult would be figuring out what to cook for dinner every single night for the rest of your life.
Time Saving Strategies for Busy Women/Mothers
1. Master Your Schedule
Create a daily plan each night, prioritizing essential tasks and leaving room for flexibility. Use a planner or calendar app (I have been using the app Fantastical since 2019 and highly recommend it) to keep track of your commitments and carve out moments for self-care.
2. Implement the Two-Minute Rule
If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately! This one rule has shifted my mindset completely. This helps prevent small chores from piling up and overwhelming you. Check out more productivity hacks that will keep everyone in your life wondering how you’re doing it all.
Here are 5 Quick and Healthy Dinner Recipes:
Greek Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
- 1/2 cup chopped grape tomato
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 6 Butterhead lettuce leaves
- 2 oz Greek vinaigrette
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1 tsp olive oil
Directions
- Drizzle olive oil in large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, break meat into pieces, and season with cumin and garlic powder. Brown turkey until no longer pink. Remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, onions, and vinaigrette. Toss to coat.
- Divide lettuce between plates. Fill with turkey and greek salad. Spoon any remaining vinaigrette from bowl over top. Garnish with feta and serve.
Crunchy Italian Sheet Pan Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lb chicken breasts
- 1 lb green beans
- 1 lb potatoes
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- 1 tbsp italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- salt and pepper (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry produce. Dice potatoes into 1-inch pieces. Quarter lemon.
- In a medium bowl, combine panko, cheese blend, 1 tbsp olive oil. Set aside
- Toss potatoes on one side of a baking sheet with a large drizzle of olive oil, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast on rack for 12 minutes (you’ll add the chicken and green beans then.)
- While potatoes roast, pat chicken dry and season all over italian seasoning. Evenly spread sour cream onto tops of chicken. Mound with panko mixture, pressing firmly to adhere (no need to coat the undersides).
- Trim green beans if necessary. Toss in a large bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and season. Once potatoes have roasted 12 minutes, remove sheet from oven. Carefully add green beans and coated chicken to empty side. Return to oven and cook for another 15-18 minutes more until chicken is brown and green beans are lightly charred.
Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 lbs skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup of chicken stock
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1 tbsp of garlic powder
- 1/2 lemon
- 10 oz frozen spinach
- 12 oz marinated artichoke hearts (drained)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- optional: grated parmesan cheese for garnishing
Directions
- Add butter, onion, celery, chicken thighs, white wine, chicken stock, lemon, and garlic powder to crock pot. Mix well to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- After 4 or 8 hours, add the frozen spinach, cream cheese, and the artichoke hearts to the slow cooker. Cook on low until the frozen spinach is hot.
- Garnish with parmesan cheese (optional) and enjoy.
Low-Carb Burger Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 cups chopped lettuce
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes sliced
- 1/4 cup dill pickles chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1/2 cup burger sauce
Directions
- Drizzle olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey, break meat into pieces, and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brown beef until no longer pink. Remove from heat. Drain excess grease from the meat.
- Add worcestershire, dijon, and cheddar cheese to the cooked meat. Stir to combine and allow the cheese to melt.
- In a medium bowl or plate layer the lettuce, cooked meat, tomatoes, pickles, red onion, avocado, and shredded cheese. Drizzle with burger sauce, or ranch dressing, or sauce of your choice.
Taco Salad Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 1-oz. packet taco seasoning
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 cup tortilla chips (crushed)
- 1 avocado diced
- 1 15-oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 2 roma tomatoes
- 1/4 red onion
Directions
- Gather and prep all topping ingredients. Set aside or mix together in a large serving bowl.
- Chop iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine sour cream, juice, salt, chili powder, sugar and oil in a small mixing bowl Whisk to combine.
- Add lean ground beef and taco seasoning packet to skillet. Break apart the ground beef and cook until all of the ground beef is browned.
- Remove ground beef from heat. Layer chopped lettuce, prepped vegetables, ground beef, and shredded cheese. Garnish with tortilla chips and dressing/sauce of your choice.
Remember, the key is to always work smarter, not harder. These strategies will help you reclaim your time and enjoy more moments with your family.