Quick, Hearty Family Meals for Busy Moms

Easy (Chaotic) Toddler-tested Recipes to Try Out

Easy, you order in. Thanks for coming, everyone 👏

Being a working or stay-at-home mom comes with a bunch of challenges that I did not foresee when I was pregnant. Especially now that I’m back to work, my schedule is incredibly hectic. This is currently my schedule:

6:30am: Adults wake up
6:35am: Kids wake up (brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, shoes & socks)
7:20am: Bus arrives to pick up kids
7:30am: Start work (on work from home days)
12:00pm (occasionally): Meal preparations commence
3:30pm: Wrap up work day
3:35pm: Meal prep
4:15-4:30pm: Bus arrives home
4:45pm: Dinner time
5:30pm: Baths and bedtime routine commence
6:00-6:30pm: Bedtimes
7pm: Clean up kitchen (husband’s chore)
7:30pm: Plan content/ relax
9:30-10:00pm: Adults’ bed time

So when I say I’m busy, I’m really busy. To add on top of that, I decided to join a Latin dancing team this winter, so I get to brave the miserable Canadian winter every Thursday to go dance for 1.5 hours. I wouldn’t be able to do this without my husband’s emotional support and him holding the fort when I’m gone. This is something I’m immensely grateful for.

Anyway, I digress.

After fiddling around with different recipes for the last 1-2 years, I’ve finally found five recipes that really make my life so much easier. They are ranked in order of my kids’ top favourites:

Salt & White Pepper Chicken with Ginger/ Scallion oil (estimated time : 40 mins)
For ginger/ scallion oil, I don’t have a recipe. I cut up half of a bunch of scallion and about 1-2inches of grated ginger then add 1/8 cup of vegetable oil (that I heat up in a pan). It should sizzle when you pour it into the ginger/scallion mix. Add salt to taste and boom! You’re done.

This meal with jasmine rice is my kids’ favourite meal.

Spaghetti Bolognese (estimated time: 3 hours)
This recipe is hands down the best bolognese I’ve ever had. I never order bolognese when I go out now because I know I can do it so much better at home.

The 3-hours sounds intimidating, but bear in mind, it has to simmer for over 2 hours. It’s a very easy recipe that just takes some patience. But the result is so worth it.

HK-Style Beef fried rice (estimated time: 2 days OR 30 mins)
A staple in my family’s recipe rotation back since I was 5 -years-old. Now, I’ve brought it to my kids and they adore this. I made modified versions of this when they were younger with no soy sauce or sugar, but now that they are older, I definitely add more seasoning.

The two-day estimate I have is for the rice to rest in the fridge overnight, so that the texture is drier and less gummy. It’s not a necessary step, but it does taste better that way.

Garlic-Lemon Salmon with Greens & Baked Potato (estimated time: 1 hour)

This is absolutely not their favourite dinner, but one they do like and is easy to make, because if you have an oven, you can cook the potatoes and greens at the same time (an hour cook time for the potato and 15mins for broccoli at the same temperature (about 400 degrees).

Disclaimer: My kids are great eaters who hate trying new foods, so I think that these recipes are pretty safe (and tasty!) Every time I make one of these dishes, it’s guaranteed they sleep extra well that night. I make an effort to make them something fresh for them every day – even if it’s really simple (I understand that there could be more vegetables in their dinners. We are still figuring that out). I understand that it is definitely a luxury to have time to make full meals, but it’s what works for my family (for now).

Try these recipes; if your kids eat everything, you’re welcome! 😉

If you like these suggestions, I might do a part two! Before then, please share your favourite recipes down below so that I can try to make it in my own kitchen and report back.