Easy meals for kids can be hard to come by at the end of a hectic day. It’s no fun to get home late from T-ball practice with no idea what to feed your family. You might not have the right ingredients on hand for a perfect meal or time for a grocery trip, but feeding your family healthy, yummy meals doesn’t have to be a struggle. Making meals in bulk and freezing them for later is an ideal solution for many busy moms.
For uber-mom Rachel Tiemeyer, freezer meals are a lifesaver. “Where do I start? I can go on and on about how much freezer cooking helps me,” says Tiemeyer, whose Thriving Home blog features numerous freezer recipes and other household hacks. “It saves money. It saves time. And it ensures you have healthy meals on hand even when you’re strapped for time.” You can also leave them for a babysitter or your parents when they watch your kids so you can stop leaving unnecessary money for unhealthy take out!
Save time — and money
Freezer meals can save precious minutes, both during initial prep and at serving time. “So many of us have busy lives and don’t always have time to cook a nice meal,” says Karrie Truman, the blogger behind Happy Money Saver. “Adding a freezer meal to a slow cooker in the morning and coming home to dinner all done is fantastic. Or popping a frozen casserole when you get home from work is so easy.”
Another obvious freezer meal benefit is saving money. “By meal planning and buying in bulk, we saw our grocery bill go down significantly,” says Tiemeyer. “Plus, having ready-to-go meals within reach kept us from spending money by eating out.” Then there are the health considerations: Homemade meals cut down on the sodium, sugar, fat, preservatives and additives often found in prepackaged or fast foods, Tiemeyer says.
Be prepared for any dinner emergencies
How do you get started? First, make a plan. “You must organize yourself,” says Truman. “Make a meal plan, choose how many freezer meals you would like to make in a day and then make it happen.” She suggests setting aside a day to cook your meals for the month. If you can’t dedicate an entire day, consider making double the amount of your regular dinners and freezing half for later. “You will build up a freezer full of meals in no time this way,” she says.
Another way to launch is getting other families involved. “Swap freezer meals with just one or two other friends periodically, like I did for two years once our kids got a little older and life got a little more hectic,” says Tiemeyer, who had a full-fledged Freezer Club going with friends for seven years.
Now that you know how to start a freezer meal program, how about some easy meals for kids to get you started?
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
For a classic, crowd-pleasing dish, try Tiemeyer’s most popular freezer recipe.
- Oven-Baked Chicken Strips
Truman recommends these for the kid-friendly factor of chicken fingers without the added fat and grease from frying.
- Sunday Night Stew
It’s cold or rainy outside? Warm up with this old-fashioned beef stew from the Pioneer Woman.
- Better Vegetarian Butter “Chicken”
Have some vegetarians in your family? Check out this innovative recipe.
- Sausage Egg Rollups
These do double duty: you can serve them for dinner or breakfast.
- Mexican Casserole
Don’t eat gluten? No problem — try this dish from Sidetracked Sarah.
- Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Here’s another tasty option for gluten-free families. This one’s dairy-free, as well.
- Sweet Potato Buffalo Chicken Casserole
If Paleo’s your thing, try this protein-packed, family-friendly casserole dish. Make it as sweet or spicy as you like.
- Secret Superfood Meatballs
Sneak in a secret ingredient with this grain-free, gluten-free meatball recipe. Make them and freeze them until you need them; heat while you make pasta.
Still feeling nervous? Both Truman and Tiemeyer say the trick is to just jump in and get started. But there are a few tips that can help you avoid disaster: “The biggest piece of advice I can give is to make sure to seal your freezer meals well,” Tiemeyer says. “Exposure to air is what causes freezer burn and a change in texture and flavor of the meal.”
Along those same lines, Tiemeyer suggests being mindful of where you place the meals in the freezer. Store them in the back of your freezer or in a deep freeze, so that it doesn’t partially thaw and then refreeze.
For even more convenient meal ideas, try these easy Crock-Pot recipes for families on the go.
