Disclosure: In collaboration with Nestle, I have been compensated for my time and effort in creating this post with easy meal ideas for the hectic holiday season. Affiliate links used. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Right now is the busiest time of year for most families, ours included. It seems like almost every day, we receive a notice or email from one of our kids’ schools regarding a new event or request. Add to that the holidays, three birthdays in December (yes both our kids and my husband all have birthdays the week before Christmas!), plus of course the regular everyday routine of school and work, and you can imagine just how hectic this time of year is for our family! I’m tired just from typing it out!
Having family dinners together is something we relish in our household, but with a busy schedule it can be a challenge for many families. I’m a proponent of making family dinners simple and enjoying the time at the table together. What you actually eat doesn’t have to be complicated. The important thing is that you have a meal on the table for everyone to share, so you can talk and discuss your day with each other. Home-cooked meals are great, but we all know there are those days where time just doesn’t allow that to happen! That’s why I’m excited to share some easy meal ideas for those hectic weeknights during this very busy holiday season, so you can still enjoy dinner as a family at home!
3 Easy Meal Ideas for Hectic Weeknights This Holiday Season!
1. Pizza Night
A quick solution for any weeknight meal, pizza night doesn’t have to involve delivery or take-out. Pick up a DIGIORNO® pizza from your local Walmart and while it cooks in the oven, put together a fresh salad with the kids to accompany your pizza. There are plenty of DIGIORNO® pizza varieties to choose from, so your family will be happy. My kids really loved the garlic bread pepperoni pizza we had after a busy night of teacher conferences and exploring the school’s book fair. In about 20 or so minutes (be sure to follow the package instructions), you’ll have a semi-homemade meal to share with your family!
2. Leftover Night
Whether it’s leftover DIGIORNO® pizza or leftovers you saved from a home-cooked meal earlier in the week, pulling out what’s in the fridge for a “buffet style” leftover night is a great way to serve dinner! I can’t tell you how many times this has saved our family from having to order out or run through the drive-through because we remembered we have some leftovers in the fridge. Pro tip: Schedule a leftover night into your menu plan and cook a little extra each night to plan ahead for your leftover night!
3. MYOS Night
This is what we call Make Your Own Sandwich (MYOS) Night at our house. Everyone can grab their preferred sandwich ingredients and assemble their favorite sandwich for dinner. With a side salad, fruit, or maybe even soup, it makes for a complete meal that takes about 15 minutes. Even toddlers should be able to make their own sandwich (with adult supervision), encouraging independence and alleviating some of the burden from you! Plus, it makes for a fun, interactive family dinner!
Family dinners don’t have to be complicated. The important thing is to gather around your dinner table together to share a meal, talk about your day, and listen to each other. If you’re pressed for time, consider taking a shortcut in order to serve a semi-homemade meal. During this busy holiday season, be sure to enjoy the small, everyday moments in-between the big occasions!
What other easy meal ideas do you enjoy during the busy holiday season?
All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™
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