What's for DINNER?

Spaghetti with giant lamb meat ball

Now that school has resumed, getting organized is a necessity for most of us who maintain a hectic schedule. Having meals planned helps me to maintain my sanity. Especially since its my son's top concern when I get him from school. The status of my day always comes after the "Hey mom, what's for dinner?"

Dinner is about the only thing that I'm on top of for the first half of the school year. The following will help you with your dinner execution.

• Plan meals and create menu 
• Create a shopping list
• Go shopping 
• Get kids involved with menu planning
• Keep most meals simple
• Don't be afraid to experiment with dishes
• Use Pinterest  for recipes or dinner ideas 
• Prep meals for the week
• Have fun

Once I create the weekly menu, I post it on the refrigerator for all to see. Sometimes the kid will ask to swap Tuesday's meal with Thursday's meal and that's okay. I have all the ingredients prepped so swapping days is not a problem. Most meals take less than 30 minutes to prepare, so it's a hassle free experience and very convenient for days with extracurricular activities.

If you're like me and feel a bit frazzled with all that the new school year brings, incorporate this planning strategy into your weekly obligations and enjoy stress free family dinners. Also, don't hesitate to include take out in your meal planning if it's convenient for you....just don't make it a daily habit. You want to balance meals to ensure that your family's diet includes healthy choices. Besides, there's nothing quite like homemade.....with love.

There are numerous food websites with quick dinner ideas to suit your family's dietary needs.  Be creative, be stress free, be organized and embrace your journey.