Amanda here. I have a confession to make, mamas… I haven’t really cooked a decent dinner all week. We’ve had friends over and a kindergarten (!) meeting, and just not much time for grocery shopping, meal planning, or cooking. It’s been eggs, pizza, Taco John’s, and sandwiches for us this week. And I have no idea what to make tonight.

Is it just me, or is dinner preparation one of the most stressful parts of a working mom’s day? You’ve just finished a long day at work, picked up the kids, unpacked the bags, changed into your yoga pants, and now everyone expects dinner? Every single day? Now, I’m obviously not the expert… but here are a few things that have made dinnertime easier (when I remember to follow my own advice):

1. Keep weeknight meals simple and quick. Have a list of go-to meals and stock up on ingredients for them. For example:

• Eggs, toast, and fruit (or smoothie)
• Tacos and salad
• Tuna or salmon melts and green beans
• BBQ chicken (easy in the crockpot), cornbread, and salad

2. Cook once, eat twice! Double your recipe, or even part of it, and freeze the leftovers, use them for lunch, or repurpose them for another meal. I usually try to cook a big meal on Sunday night so I can use leftovers early in the week for lunches and dinners. Even sauteeing a large pack of chicken breasts gives me an easy start to multiple meals.

3. Keep your kids entertained — or invite them to join in. For some reason, kids seem to need five times the attention during the hours of 4-6 p.m. They’ve missed you after a long day, they’re hungry and getting tired — it’s a recipe for a mommy meltdown. So, how does one avoid the meltdown and actually cook dinner?

• Snacks. Give them something healthy to nibble on, or let them taste-test the food you’re making. It tides them over until dinner and gives you a few minutes of peace.
• Ask for their “help”. Of course, the amount that they can actually help will grow over time — but even little ones can set the table, get ingredients from the pantry or fridge, or wash vegetables.
• Show them quiet, independent activities. My five-year-old loves to do “homework” in his reading workbook. My two-year-old… well, he’s a little more challenging to entertain. He’s more likely to bang on pots and pans than to play quietly.
• Play music. When all else fails, I turn on some happy music. It helps my mood, and usually, the kids end up having a dance party!

Here are some helpful resources to make dinnertime simpler:

• Our EWM Quick & Easy Meals Pinterest board
• Crockpot 365
• Pioneer Woman’s guide to Freezer Cooking
• Cooking with Children guide (p. 3 has a good guide for age-appropriate tasks)

What are your favorite weeknight meals? How do you keep your kids entertained or involved while you cook?