Going back to work full time ideas please to get organised.

[megjoe1]

Hi
I'm going back to work full time in September after being a SAHM for the last few years. I really need to get organised food wise and would appreciate any ideas / tips.
Thanks

I'm always relieved on Monday when I've taken the time to cook ahead on Sunday so there's something ready to shove in the oven. Cooking extra & freezing meals helps a lot & also meal planning (tho I hate doing it!) & doing an online shop all help. Making lunch to take always seems to take more time than I allow in the morning so it's great when I've prepared ahead. If cooking pasta for an evening meal, I'll do extra & make pasta salad. I'll also get snacks ready the night before (I confess to grazing a lot...).

We have a 3-week rotating menu which I worked out with a pre-made shopping list for each week. It works for us as it's tailored around work finish times, leftovers and evening activity times. Most importantly whoever gets in first cooks, and no one has to spend ages meal planning. We do swap some things-e.g. salad instead of stew in the summer. Also we have a breadmaker with a 2-hr quick program so we can buy flour for the week and make a fresh sandwich loaf every evening. Saves extra shop visits.

Meal plan but allow for some flexibility, I only plan 6 days out of 7 because something always crops up, we go out for dinner, have loads of leftovers from a previous night, don't feel like anything more than beans on toast etc. Although this does depend a bit on having a decent store cupboard or bits in the fridge or freezer to whip up an impromptu meal if required.
For example eggs, pasta, chopped tomatoes etc
Plan your meals to your schedule i.e. Manic night where you don't have loads of time plan fish or stirfry/ something quick to cook.
Make packed lunches and fill water bottles whilst doing dinner.
Double up and freeze when you can, things like bolognaise, chilli etc
Keep a loaf and pita breads in the freezer.

I meal plan on a Saturday night and get food shopping delivered for just after I get home Monday.

Monday is always a quick/ pre made tea like stir fry/fresh pasta/something from the freezer like chilli

Also Monday night I cook jacket potatoes in the microwave while I'm doing lunches. Leave them to cool and put in the fridge for another busy night.

The night we have the jacket potatoes I'll put them in the oven on 200 ish for 20 minutes and they come out lovely and crispy. Breaded chicken steaks take the same amount of time and with cheese and beans it's a really yummy quick tea. Or we have with cheese and coleslaw and soup

One night we will usually have fajitas or tacos with varied meat/veg. While the hot stuff is cooking I'll make a batter to use later in the week for fish and chips or toad in the hole (brown sausages too for this)

Sunday whatever roast we have I'll put another joint in whilst we are eating so if we have chicken I'll do a ham and vice versa, we'll usually have this on Tuesday and depending how many of you there are it should do at least 1 meal if not some lunches too. Sainsburies ham and gnocchi recipe is lovely!

Whenever you make something that's fine to freeze like chilli make at least double and put some in the freezer for the nights you are tired and don't want to cook!

Once you get in to the swing of it you'll be fine

I work part time but have a couple of health conditions so feel very tired come tea time DH not in until 6.30pm and also have one extremely fussy eater.
I would love to be organised 4 nights out of 7 never mind 3 weeks worth I am impressed.
Slightlyperturbedowlagain - Are you able to share your three week menu and shopping list with us for ideas and inspiration.

I struggled with this when I went back to work and we found we were going to the supermarket every night or eating out/getting takeaways.
I spent a weekend batch cooking or preparing freezer dump bags - enough for 30+ days. I keep a list on the inside of a cupboard and mark off as we use stuff. Every week, we add another batch to the freezer.

Cooked stuff includes: bolognese, chilli, tomato and coconut chilli, beef and red wine casserole, meatballs in tomato sauce, beef stifado.

Dump bags include: fajitas (diced chicken and chopped peppers/onions), honey and soy chicken stirfry, lemon chicken with new potatoes. I've also made burgers.

Some of the dump bags go in the slow cooker and some defrost in the fridge and get quickly cooked when we get home. Whoever gets home first cooks or reheats whatever we are having and makes pasta/rice/Veg. Never takes more than 15 mins.

Also use lots of frozen veg. Saves a huge amount of time. I can do fresh stuff at the weekends when we have more time.

Following with interest, we love cooking but end up cooking every night from scratch which is so draining now I'm 6 months pregnant, and we already have a 2 year old - I need this inspiration

Thank you I really appreciate all your replies, lots of great ideas. I've spent the last few days making lists lists and more lists - September seemed so far away when I accepted the job in June. But I think being organised and stop stressing is definitely the way to go.

brighteyes yes of course, will take photos and upload tomorrow

I go food shopping on Sunday morning or late say night. I usually cook two roast chickens - enough for that day with meat left for next day (say for a stir fry)

With the rest of the meat I make portions of curry for the freezer

Another weekend I might cook something quick like steak and use the extra time to make cottage pie - so one prepared for Monday, others in tin foil trays for freezer. I cook double potions of stew and freeze. Same for mash.

One night a week is pasta pesto.