Keep meals simple. Foods that keep your family healthy can be quick to fix. Unless it's a special occasion, spend time together, not on making time-consuming meals.
Cook when you have more time. Make soups, stews or casseroles on weekends, then freeze them to use during the next week. Making meat sauce for spaghetti? Make extra and use it for topping a baked potato tomorrow.
Do some food-prep tasks ahead of time. Wash and trim vegetables, make fruit salad, cook noodles for pasta salad or cook lean, ground meat for tacos.
Buy partially prepared foods. Try grated cheese, cut-up chicken and bags of prewashed, mixed salad greens to save time. These foods often cost more, so check the price.
Stock your kitchen. Get foods that you can make and serve in a hurry, such as:
Canned or frozen vegetables and beans
Canned meat, poultry and fish
Canned soups or stew
Low fat yogurt
Save time in your kitchen by cooking once for everyone. Does your spouse like spicy, complicated dishes, but child likes unmixed vegetables, meat, rice or noodles? If so, set some plain foods aside before you add other ingredients. You won't need to take time to prepare different dishes for different family members.
Cook a fast way. Broil, stir-fry or microwave when you can. Roasting and baking take longer.
Make no-cook meals, such as salads with canned tuna, chicken, or beans; cold sandwiches; or raw vegetables and yogurt dip.
Involve your children. Ask your children to set the table, pour milk or do other simple tasks. In time, your children will develop kitchen skills and more confidence.
And about mental health ...
No matter how simple your meal, sit down and enjoy it with your family. Make mealtime a pleasant experience, not a time for discipline or arguing about problems at school or work.
Time spent sharing a family meal can help your children form positive attitudes about food and eating, and create fond family memories that will last a lifetime.
Lynn Little is a family and consumer sciences educator with University of Maryland Cooperative Extension in Washington County.