How Batchcooking, Meal Prepping, and Costco Shopping Saved My Busy Mom Life
plus a free freezer meal cookbook gift for you!
Being a busy mom often feels like juggling a million things at once. Between work, kids, household chores, and countless other responsibilities, finding time to cook nutritious meals can feel like an impossible task. However, I discovered a game-changing solution that not only simplified life and saved me time and money but also helped me maintain my sanity: batchcooking, meal prepping, freezer cooking, and shopping in bulk at Costco. In this post, I'll share how these strategies transformed my kitchen routines and positively impacted my life as a busy mom.
1. Batchcooking:
Batchcooking involves preparing large quantities of food at once and storing them for later use. This method has been a game-changer for me as it allows me to cook less frequently while still ensuring my family enjoys homemade meals. On weekends or during quieter moments, I dedicate time to preparing several meals in advance. This not only saves me time during busy weekdays but also minimizes the stress of having to cook from scratch every day.
2. Meal Planning:
As a busy mom, meal planning has been an absolute game-changer for me. With a packed schedule and a household to run, having a solid meal plan in place alleviates the constant stress of deciding what to cook each day. It not only saves me time but also ensures that my family enjoys nutritious and balanced meals throughout the week. Meal planning allows me to streamline my grocery shopping trips, cutting down on unnecessary purchases and reducing food waste. By taking the time to plan out our meals in advance, I can accommodate everyone's preferences and dietary needs, making mealtimes smoother and more enjoyable for the whole family. Overall, meal planning has become an indispensable tool in my arsenal, helping me navigate the demands of motherhood with greater ease and efficiency.
3. Freezer Cooking:
Freezer cooking involves preparing meals specifically designed for freezing and reheating later. It's a fantastic way to minimize waste and ensure that no food goes unused. By utilizing ingredients from bulk purchases at Costco, I can whip up large batches of soups, stews, casseroles, and more, all of which can be stored in the freezer for future consumption. Having a well-stocked freezer means I always have options on hand, reducing the temptation to order takeout on busy nights.
4. Meal Prepping:
Meal prepping goes hand in hand with batch cooking. After preparing larger portions of meals, I divide them into individual servings and store them in containers. This way, I have ready-made meals that can be quickly reheated throughout the week. Not only does this streamline meal times, but it also helps with portion control and ensures that my family eats balanced meals even on hectic days.
5. Shopping in Bulk at Costco:
One of the key components of my meal prep and batch cooking strategy is shopping in bulk at Costco. Buying items like meat, grains, frozen fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples in bulk quantities not only saves money in the long run but also reduces the frequency of shopping trips. I've found that purchasing larger quantities of non-perishable items at Costco means fewer trips to the grocery store, which translates to more time spent with my family and less time navigating crowded aisles.
Check out our COSTCO GROCERY LIST HERE if you need some planning inspo:)
Implementing these strategies has had a profound impact on my life as a busy mom. Not only do I spend less time cooking and cleaning up afterward, but I also save money by buying in bulk and minimizing food waste. Additionally, having a well-organized meal plan reduces stress and decision fatigue, allowing me to focus more on enjoying quality time with my family rather than worrying about what to cook for dinner each night. Overall, batch cooking, meal prepping, freezer cooking, and shopping in bulk at Costco have become invaluable tools in my quest to balance motherhood with other responsibilities.
For busy moms like me, finding ways to simplify and streamline daily tasks is essential for maintaining sanity and maximizing efficiency. Through batch cooking, meal prepping, freezer cooking, and shopping in bulk at Costco, I've been able to significantly reduce the time and effort spent on meal preparation while still providing nutritious homemade meals for my family. These strategies have not only saved me money but also freed up valuable time that I can now spend on more meaningful pursuits. If you're struggling to juggle the demands of motherhood with everyday tasks, I highly recommend giving these methods a try. Your future self will thank you for it!
If you are looking to be more organized, stay focused and save time and money (and be focused when going to Costco) and get some simple family recipe ideas and meal prep inspo when preparing to shop and prep, check out our FREE COSTCO FAMILY FREEZER MEAL COOKBOOK:)
Yes it is free! No strings attached:) Thanks for being here!
Happy Prepping!
xo,
Kim
Great cookbook! Pictures on every recipe! Love it! Every recipe that I have tried of Kim's is delicious and healthy.