10 Days of Stress Free Meals-Home Independence Challenge

When we started The Home Independence Challenge one of the ideas was meal planning.  In our everyday life this little thing can easily fall to the back of our minds and before we know it, 5pm comes and we hear....

"What's for Dinner?"

That simple little question can stop any Mom or Dad in their tracks.  Panic sets in as you realize you haven't taken anything out for dinner. You quickly rack your brain thinking....

"What can I make quickly?"

photo credits

Well with about 10 minutes worth of work once every 10 days you can avoid this.








In the winter time I love to come home to a hot meal ready to eat. No, I don't have my own cook or housekeeper. Yes both my Husband and I have full time jobs.  So I have a little secret....its my.....Crock Pot.  I can throw things in it when I get up in the morning and turn it on Low. When I get home...presto...nice hot meal.

So I made a list of crock pot meals that my family loves. Under each meal I listed the ingredients that are needed to make such meal.  After that I simply looking into the pantry checking off what I already had, leaving the needed items. I copied it over and there was my grocery list's major parts.  All I had to do after that was add in the usual extra items IE Milk, salad fixings etc.

My list looked like this:


Lasagna:

• noodles
• sauce
• shredded cheese
• meat
• ricotta 

Beef Stew:

• meat
• corn
• carrots
• beans
• potatoes
• seasoning 

Pot Roast:

• Meat
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Seasoning 

Pork Chops:

• Meat
• Cream of Mushroom Sauce
• Rice

Roasted Chicken (Will make 2 meals from this Bird)


Shepard's Pie:

• Cream Corn
• meat
• potatoes
• Cream of Mushroom

 Chicken Stir Fry: (Not a crock pot meal but a 20 min or less meal)

• chicken
• veggies
• seasoning packet
• soy sauce 

Spaghetti with Meat:

• noodles
• sauce
• meat    

Beef Stroganoff:

• beef
• noodles
• sour cream
• seasoning packet
• mushrooms

Meat Ball Grinders: (cook Meat Balls in Crock Pot)

• meat balls
• rolls
• sauce
• cheese

As you can see I just planned my meals for 10 days, with a grocery list and it truly only took me about 10 minutes to do. Even little ole me who never seems to have enough time in the day and come up with a simple, healthy meal plan and grocery list and avoid the dreaded 5pm meltdowns.