10 ways to stress less about unplanned dinners
“Everyone is winging it. Some just do it more confidently.”
-Pamela Druckerman
Let’s be honest. Unplanned dinners happen.
For some, they happen every once in a while when life gets incredibly crazy, and the carefully crafted meal plan goes out the window.
For others, unplanned dinners are a way of life because weeknights are busy, and rigid meal planning doesn’t work for everyone. If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.
We get it.
Just because your meals are more unplanned than not doesn’t mean that you have to spend time every day stressing about what to make for dinner.
With some fresh ideas and the right tools and ingredients on hand, you can wing it and create an easy, healthy dinner fast.
Keep your kitchen stocked - always keep the essential ingredients that you and your family enjoy on hand. They don’t have to be fancy. In general, a variety of fresh and frozen veggies, proteins like beans, lentils, fish and chicken, whole grains and sauces, herbs and spices are all great to mix and match at a moment’s notice. If you haven’t already, take our quiz to get a personalized list of recommendations.
Create a recipe playlist - keep a simple list of your favorite recipes and meal ideas that you can quickly turn to when 5 pm rolls around.
Get a head start on the week - find some time to shop, then prep some ingredients to have on hand during the week. Pre-cook some chicken or fish, chop some veggies, or make a batch of quinoa. No time this week? Opt for frozen pre-cooked proteins and whole grains or pre-chopped veggies from the grocery store.
Organize your fridge for grab-and-go meal prep - dedicate a shelf for prepped items you can quickly grab and add to your weeknight dinner.
Keep ready-made choices on hand - Jarred sauces, spice blends and simmer sauces ready to pull from your pantry save time and take the guesswork out of a last-minute meal.
Reinvent leftovers - mix and match leftover meals the way you do ingredients or add a whole new element to create fresh, new meals and minimize food waste.
Never run out of ideas - pick a theme for one or two days a week like Mediterranean Monday, Taco Tuesday or Pizza Friday, and change up your meal ideas with new flavors and ingredients each week.
Skip the recipe - make no-recipe recipes using pantry/staple ingredients that effortlessly combine into a complete meal. Our 3-step formula makes it a no-brainer.
Try a snack board dinner - pull a fun dinner together quickly with various staples from the fridge and pantry for a family-friendly snack charcuterie board.
Give yourself grace - It doesn’t have to be labor-intensive or gourmet or worthy of Instagram to be a great dinner for you and your family.
Ready to jump into unplanned weeknight dinners without the stress? These mini recipes follow our mix-and-match formula and can be pulled together in minutes with the right ingredients on hand.