Weeknight cooking can be tough- you have every intention of unwinding and enjoying the process, only to find a sink full of work to do when you’re done. Here’s a simple list of do’s and don’t’s to make your weeknight kitchen routine less stressful.
DO
Clean as you go- put pots and pans directly in the dishwasher, skip the sink
Portion out leftovers right after you plate your meal- that way you have a delicious lunch ready to go for tomorrow
Enjoy a glass of wine while you cook- turn on some music, talk to your family...use this as an opportunity to unplug. Studies show the less you think about work at home, the happier you’ll be- this is a great time of day to start
Enlist help- it doesn’t take a chef to cut up vegetables while you’re taking care of other odds and ends
Finish your meals like a pro- plate your dinner like they would in a restaurant. It may feel silly, but taking 3 seconds to arrange your steak on the plate makes it more visually appealing and fun to eat!
DON’T
Cook meals with too many ingredients- save the dishes with 27 steps for weekends when you have more time to enjoy the process instead of just “getting dinner on the table”
Take on too much- there’s no need to make a 4 course meal on a Tuesday (unless that’s how you roll!)
Make everything from scratch- frozen vegetables are nutritious and delicious in recipes that call for fresh; canned dinner rolls taste homemade out of the oven. Shortcuts are your friends
Talk about work the whole time- focus on the process of making something to eat- you’ve been at work all day, now is the time to put it away
Be afraid to repeat things- if your family loves Taco Tuesdays, then eat tacos every Tuesday! There’s nothing wrong with liking what you like.
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