As a busy mom, it sometimes feels like the laundry never ends, and the constant chorus of “What’s for breakfast? What’s for lunch? What’s for dinner?” echoes throughout the day. I get it—meal planning and prepping can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already juggling a thousand other things. While I’d love to be the mom who always has a perfectly planned menu for the week, some weeks it just doesn’t happen. On those weeks, my saving grace is doubling up. It’s a simple strategy, but doubling the meals you’re already cooking can make life so much easier. It’s less overwhelming than a full-blown meal prep session, but just as effective!
Doubling Up Dinner Favorites
When I know the week is going to be busy, I focus on making dinner meals that are easy to double. Two of my go-to meals are spaghetti sauce and taco meat.
For spaghetti sauce, I cook up the meat, toss it in the crock pot with sauce and seasonings, and let it simmer. What we don’t eat for dinner gets stored in a freezer bag and goes into the freezer for later. This is such a time-saver because when a crazy night rolls around, I just have to thaw it out, boil some noodles, and we’re ready to go. Taco meat works the same way—I cook extra, freeze half, and now I’ve got an easy taco night in my back pocket.
Another dinner idea that’s great for doubling up is soup or chili. If you make a big batch, you can freeze individual portions for easy lunches or quick dinners later in the week. Whether it’s a chicken tortilla soup or classic beef chili, doubling up means you’re future-proofing busy days.
Simplifying Breakfast with Make-Ahead Meals
Breakfast can be another area where things feel overwhelming, especially if, like us, you try to avoid cereal and pre-made breakfast foods. I used to feel like I was constantly cooking pancakes, eggs, and oatmeal every morning. That’s when I started doubling up my pancake batter. I cook all the pancakes at once and then store the leftovers in the fridge. The next morning, they heat up perfectly with a little butter, making breakfast quick and easy.
French toast is another fantastic breakfast item to double up. I’ll make a big batch, put the extras in the fridge, and reheat them for a no-stress breakfast the next day. Both pancakes and French toast heat up beautifully and make busy mornings much more manageable.
If you want to take it a step further, you can even freeze pancakes or French toast for the long term. Just pop them in the freezer, and when you need a quick breakfast, they can go straight into the toaster or microwave.
If you’re looking for a great make-ahead breakfast, egg casseroles are a lifesaver. You can make them the night before and have breakfast ready to go in the morning. I have a recipe for one on my blog here, and it’s been a staple in our house. You can add in veggies, cheese, or even leftover meat for a hearty breakfast that will keep everyone full until lunch. I love making an egg casserole on the weekend and knowing that we’ll have breakfast handled for a few days.
Quick and Easy Lunches
Lunch is often a hard meal to pull together when you’re in the middle of a busy day. One of my favorite mom hacks is to make extra portions of simple meals like buttered pasta or mac and cheese. You can add in a protein like shredded chicken to make it more filling and healthy, and then store the leftovers for the next day. When lunch rolls around, I can pop it in the microwave and have food on the table in minutes.
The Power of Doubling Up
Not only does doubling up meals help you save time, but it also cuts down on dishes. When you’re already cooking and cleaning up from one meal, why not make it count for two? Whether it’s doubling dinner to stash in the freezer or making extra pancakes for breakfast, every little bit helps when you’re a busy mom.
One of the best parts of doubling up meals is that it’s flexible. It’s not an all-or-nothing situation like meal prepping can sometimes feel like. You’re already cooking, so just make a bit more and save yourself the hassle down the line. It’s a fantastic mom hack for simplifying mealtime without getting overwhelmed.
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