Time-Saving Tips for Working Moms: Feeding a Sports-Filled Family

I don't know about other families, but in ours, the question "What are we eating today?" pops up pretty often. And during school breaks, this question can become a nightmare that follows every mom of teens.

During the pandemic, we developed the habit of ordering in, and for those times, it may have been the best solution. But lately, I've realized that the food we get from delivery is expensive, low quality, often cold, and doesn't bring any joy when eating it. Not to mention that getting it on time is a real challenge.

So, I'm struggling to put food on the table for our three teens, all involved in sports, mainly basketball, with practices every day and tournaments every other weekend, that eat like there's no tomorrow. Let me share with you some tips on how I go through this.

Tip #1 - Shop with a Planned 7-Day Menu

While shopping, I once met a friend I hadn't seen in a while, and she said to me, "I saw you from behind with two shopping carts and was thinking: what's wrong with this woman? Doesn't she know the pandemic has ended? And then approaching, I recognized you and realized that you are shopping for one week but for three teens."

So, I shop for a week with a planned menu. This way, I can alternate different types of meals to ensure their diet is diversified and has all the healthy ingredients, covering the particularities of each one's preferences. Also, with a full-time job, this helps me save time spent on shopping. When the question pops up, "What are we eating today?" I have the answer :)

Tip #2 - Why Do You Cook?

Like I said before, ordering food is not a solution for us anymore. The quality has worsened, and it's more expensive. The delivery fees have increased, and the estimated delivery time can't be a sure thing anymore.

The schedule of each family member is different, as the kids go to three different schools and play basketball at three different clubs, and my husband and I work full-time jobs. So, besides dinner, that we try to have together, the other meals we eat as we go back and forth from home. A cooked meal, ready to eat in between school and practice, is the answer for us, as with delivery, there's a high chance not to have the food on the table.

The food that is cooked by your mother is 100 times more healthier than the food you eat outside

Tip #3 - When Do I Cook?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a morning person, I'm the opposite, the type "don't talk to me until the coffee kicks in," but for me, cooking in the morning works. When I get home in the evening from the job, I'm drained out and still have plenty to do: help with the homework, dinner, and enjoy a glass of wine.

During school days, I get up at 6:15 to prepare breakfast and snacks for school. They all leave between 7 and 7:50, so I have time to prepare lunch that can be warmed up when they get back home before going to practice. It's not for everybody, but cooking in the morning works for me. This way, I can be in the office at 9:30, also having a healthy lunch for myself.

Tip #4 - What Do I Cook?

When I say I cook, I mean I prepare healthy, delicious, and in large quantities, easy and fast to prepare for my hungry teens. It's not cuisine cooking; it's not my hobby; it's a must.

I try to have an alternation in the menu. For example, for lunch on each weekday, another type of meat and one day without meat but other kinds of proteins. I alternate: chicken, beef, fish, beans/eggs, pork cooked in different ways, using my lifesaver kitchen gadgets (I'll give you details in another post). During the weekend, my husband's delicious barbecue saves me the trouble, and going to eat at a restaurant as a family helps us connect and enjoy the taste of different types of food that I don't cook at home.

Tip #5 - Is It Worth the Effort?

I don't deny it; it's an effort. I rescheduled my gym workout, as in the morning I cook, but I think it's worth it. Having home-cooked meals is essential for our health, as I pick my ingredients and create a menu that covers the needs of my family. It's not easy or fun (I need to wash my hair pretty often; otherwise, I smell of food), but seeing my kids grow healthy and happy brings fulfillment to the effort.

Planning the menu, shopping accordingly, scheduling the meals, and cooking moments make the mom job much more accessible, as the question "Mom, what do we have to eat?" is inevitable, and you don't want to create habits for your kids that, as adults, are difficult to change.