{"id":21909,"date":"2018-06-12T12:02:12","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T17:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/?p=21909"},"modified":"2018-06-12T12:34:11","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T17:34:11","slug":"things-i-do-to-make-life-easier-part-1-food-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/things-i-do-to-make-life-easier-part-1-food-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"Things I Do to Make Life Easier Part 1:  Food &#038; Meals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/things-i-do-to-make-life-easier-part-1-food-meals\/loraleelewismakefoodeaser\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-21936\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-21936 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/LoraleeLewisMakeFoodEaser.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1091\" \/><\/a>Being an adult is legit.\u00a0 You have to be more mature than you want <em>a lot<\/em> of the time. Add kids AND summer break into the adulting game and hands down, you have to level up.\u00a0 But here&#8217;s a big secret, being an adult can be easier. Parenting <em>can<\/em> be easier. You can <em>always<\/em> make your life <em>easier<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As a company owner, a mom of four, and someone who likes things fabulous, I realized a long time ago, that life is hard, but I can make mine easier through my choices.\u00a0 When I am adding anything additional to my life, I ask myself, &#8220;<em>Does this make my life easier?\u00a0 Can I do without it?\u00a0 Is there a simpler way of achieving\u00a0what I want\/need?\u00a0 How can I do this in a simpler way?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Now there are certain things in life that are hard&#8230; and they are always going to be hard.\u00a0 Some of hard things just come to us without any invitation (i.e. cancer, Hurricane Katrina, mental illness, etc.).\u00a0 Others difficult things we choose, even though they are hard, because they are <em>worth it to us.<\/em>\u00a0 Examples of these things could be pregnancy, adoption, starting your own business, political change, eating huge hot fudge sundaes regularly\u00a0with a metabolism as crappy as mine and having to jog a lot to stay in shape, etc.\u00a0 Those things (and there are many others) are the reasons why you need to make the OTHER things in your life easier.\u00a0 We need to be able to\u00a0focus on the BIG more difficult things in life and cannot waste energy on small stuff.\u00a0 Whatever things that waste our energy and take us away from the BIG real difficult things, we should simplify and make as easy as possible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I am going to break this post into a few parts to make it easier to digest.\u00a0 Today I am listing a few things that I use and do in regards to food and meal planning that make my life easier.\u00a0 Later this week, I will continue the series.<\/p>\n<p>Part 1: Food and Meals<\/p>\n<p>Part 2: Beauty &amp; Self Care<\/p>\n<p>Part 3: Creating a Supportive Team<\/p>\n<p>Part 4: Creating A Working Schedule<\/p>\n<p>Part 4: Miscellaneous Things that Just Make Life Easier<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Here is a list of just a few things that I do\/use on a daily basis to make my life easier in regards to food and meals.\u00a0 \u00a0Please note, these are just things that work for me.\u00a0 If they don&#8217;t work for you &#8211; don&#8217;t do them!\u00a0\u00a0We are all individuals.\u00a0 Some\u00a0may seem inconsequential, but I&#8217;m sharing anyway and I want you to share as well in the comment section! Even a seemingly small thing could really help someone else live a less stressful life!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Food and Meals\n<ul>\n<li>Practical Kitchen Appliances &#8211;\u00a0 I believe in not doing things that a machine can do for me just as well or better.\u00a0 \u00a0I invest in practical quality kitchen appliances that make things for me that I regularly need.\u00a0 Think of meals that you make regularly and purchase appliances that will help you make them quicker and easier.\u00a0 Here are a few things I find helpful:\n<ul>\n<li>Crockpot &amp; Crockpot Liners\n<ul>\n<li>Despite, <em>This is Us<\/em> (possibly my favorite show), giving me nightmares about my family being engulfed in flames, I still use my slow cooker several times a week.\u00a0 If you are a person in America, I believe you should use one.\u00a0 You don&#8217;t have to learn a million Pinterest\u00a0recipes.\u00a0 Just know two that you like and are easy for you.\u00a0 On Sunday, throw in a half of a roast, a cup of water, some vegetables, salt\/pepper and click low.\u00a0 When you walk into your kitchen at four o&#8217;clock the aroma will be your utter fabulousness.<\/li>\n<li>Crockpot liners &#8211; Self-explanatory.\u00a0 No one wants to clean something they don&#8217;t have to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Egg Cooker\n<ul>\n<li>An egg-cellent investment.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.williams-sonoma.com\/products\/chefs-choice-electric-egg-cooker\/?pkey=e%7Cegg%2Bcooker%7C95%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C2&amp;cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH\">This is the one I have<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Four slice toaster\n<ul>\n<li>Double the amount of toast at the same time.\u00a0 No brainer if you have growing kids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.williams-sonoma.com\/products\/cuisinart-stainless-steel-electric-ice-cream-maker\/?pkey=e%7Cice%2Bcream%2Bmaker%7C152%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C4&amp;cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH\">Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li>This makes gourmet ice cream quick and easy.\u00a0 I will even serve a gelato on Christmas with it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Ice Maker\n<ul>\n<li>I have to have ice all the time.\u00a0 If you are like me and need ice to survive, buy one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Pre-chopped vegetables, meal kits, and frozen meals\n<ul>\n<li>I purchase tri-color peppers, onions (red and white), chives, pico de gallo\u00a0 &#8211; all diced and prepared.\u00a0 They cost maybe a dollar or two more, but they make meals easier for me to pull together and it&#8217;s 100% better than finding a smooshy red pepper in my fridge that I swore I was going to use. You can find them in small plastic containers near the deli area. <a href=\"https:\/\/grocery.walmart.com\/search\/?query=precut%20onions\">Here&#8217;s a link for you to see<\/a>, these are also available through Amazon Fresh, etc.\u00a0 \u00a0If you have time and\/or cutting onions brings you to a meditative state, just prep them yourself and store them the same in your refrigerator.\u00a0 I also cut my own cucumbers and celery for snacks, etc. and it makes my life a million times easier.<\/li>\n<li>I always have in my freezer a few frozen meals just in case.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t judge; I check the sugar and sodium levels on all of them.\u00a0 As a woman on the go, I have to have these on those run-run days.\u00a0 I especially love the frozen soups available through Great Value.\u00a0 Here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/grocery.walmart.com\/product\/Great-Value-Chicken-Tortilla-Soup-with-Crispy-Corn-Tortilla-Strips-33-oz\/623228552\">a link to one that you will love<\/a>.\u00a0 The tortilla strips are included and are great for fall school days!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Rotating Menu\n<ul>\n<li>As many of you know, I have a purposely vague but straightforward weekly menu. This gives me the flexibility of choosing what I feel like creating, but at the same time, the structure I need so that I&#8217;m not staring at freezer chicken at 5 pm. For example,\u00a0 I always know Wednesday is Pasta Night.\u00a0 \u00a0So I always have plenty of different noodles and sauce in the pantry, but I also know that if I&#8217;m in a rush I can throw in a Stouffer&#8217;s Lasagna for the team.\u00a0 Here is the menu I follow: <em>Sunday &#8211; Roast and Potatoes,\u00a0 Monday &#8211; Slow Cooker Meal,\u00a0 Tuesday &#8211; Mexican Night,\u00a0 Wednesday &#8211; Pasta Night, Thursday &#8211; Soup &amp; Salad, Friday &#8211; Chef&#8217;s Choice, Saturday &#8211; American Barbecue.\u00a0 <\/em>I have my menu on a huge sign in my kitchen to keep me on point.\u00a0 You can find it here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Grocery Pick Up\/Delivery Service\n<ul>\n<li>Changed my world.\u00a0 These services are almost everywhere now.\u00a0 I wish I would have had them when I had four kids under 5.\u00a0 Wow! What a game-changer that would have been. I began a year ago with grocery pick up, now I use Amazon Fresh and wake up to my groceries on my doorstep.\u00a0 You may differ, but I find<em> I spend less<\/em>\u00a0using these services because I am not adding unnecessary things to my basket while in the store.\u00a0 I also can quickly find coupons online.\u00a0 Another plus,\u00a0 I can add to my virtual grocery basket in real time, as I find I am out of things, and then check out days later.\u00a0 If you do this, definitely click on &#8220;favorites&#8221; so you never have to search for your weekly grocery items and can shop quickly and efficiently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Lunch\n<ul>\n<li>Kids Lunch = School Lunch\n<ul>\n<li>I understand that there are picky eaters who will not eat school lunch.\u00a0 I also understand that there are certain children due to dietary restrictions and\/or sensory issues that school lunch is not an option.\u00a0 That being said, if you feel relatively comfortable with the healthy food choices at your child&#8217;s school, have your children eat school lunch.\u00a0 The time, the hassle, the stress will be worth it.\u00a0 Go over what are healthy choices and not healthy choices and let them choose!\u00a0 I&#8217;m not going to say they will love it every single day, my kids hate the fish sticks and I don&#8217;t follow the school menu to see when it&#8217;s fish stick day.\u00a0 But I do have a stack of premade PBJ\u00a0sandwiches in the fridge that they can grab with an apple and take to school if it IS fish stick day.\u00a0 Other than that, (for me, and you may be different and that is TOTALLY fine) making four lunches every day before school is not worth the time with them that I get in exchange for choosing school lunch.\u00a0 Note: On special holidays (Valentines, Halloween, Birthdays, etc.)\u00a0 I make super fun sack lunches that go with the theme.\u00a0 I feel they make a bigger impact due to school lunch during the regular school week. Again, I am just saying these are things that work for me.\u00a0 If they don&#8217;t work for you, do something else! No judgment here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Your Lunch\n<ul>\n<li>Prep your lunch beforehand.\u00a0 If necessary just buy the premade salads\/sandwiches from the store.\u00a0 They begin around 3.95 and then you won&#8217;t find yourself in the Chick-Fil-A line.\u00a0 I have found that if I don&#8217;t premake my lunch or have a premade lunch waiting for me in the fridge then I either a) don&#8217;t eat or b) don&#8217;t eat things that are as healthy.\u00a0 When I do either of these things, by the time 4 pm rolls around I am depleted, ornery, and unable to be as productive as I want to be. By making my lunch a priority like I do my children&#8217;s lunch, I ensure that I eat and have the energy to keep going all day.\n<ul>\n<li>One rule: if you have a child with you at lunchtime, they don&#8217;t get to eat your lunch.\u00a0 Your lunch is for you to eat.\u00a0 Their lunch is for them to eat.\u00a0 In my opinion, moms shouldn&#8217;t eat off of kids plates.\u00a0 Kids shouldn&#8217;t eat off of parents plates.\u00a0 You can think differently, I&#8217;m okay with it.\u00a0 This is just what I think.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Snacks\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Kids Snacks.\u00a0 Kids just need a lot of snacks. They just do.\u00a0 I have found two ways that make snacks easy for me. 1) A limited snack jar 2) An unlimited snack plate\n<ul>\n<li>Limited Snack Jar &#8211; I have a snack jar in my pantry that does not have a lid on it and the kids have complete access to.\u00a0 In the snack jar is substantial snacks.\u00a0 Depending on your child, you will know what he or she needs as a substantial snack.\u00a0 For my children, these are peanut butter and cracker packs, granola, rice-on-the-go, etc.\u00a0 My children know they can have two of these a day anytime &#8211; no need to ask at all.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited Snack Plate &#8211; On my kitchen counter, during the summer, I have an unlimited snack plate that I make in the morning and leave out all day.\u00a0 \u00a0I throw baby carrots, apple slices, orange slices, grapes, cucumbers, celery sticks, etc. on the plate for my children to graze on all day.\u00a0 What isn&#8217;t eaten, I save for the next day or put in water to make &#8220;fun infused water&#8221; they think is cool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Adult Snacks.\u00a0 Have snacks just for YOU on hand.\u00a0 Sometimes as a parent, I find that I just think about everything my kids will eat and I do not purchase things for me to eat.\u00a0 Obviously, I try to streamline the two so we are all eating the same thing.\u00a0 BUT I often find that all the snacks are GONE if I don&#8217;t set mine apart! \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u00a0By stocking my pantry full of snacks in a special place that works for me (packed almonds, Vitaminwater, etc.), I find that I am happier and I am less likely to stuff my face with fruit snacks at 3 pm which tastes good, but maybe won&#8217;t help my energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Disposable Dishware\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0I believe in paper plates, cups, and utensils.\u00a0 Depending on your phase of life, disposable plates and cups may be a must, a good fit, or unnecessary.\u00a0 \u00a0I used them a lot when my kids were younger.\u00a0 Now that my children do the bulk of the dishes, I do not need them as much.\u00a0 Of<strong><em> course<\/em><\/strong>, when using paper products we should all have a recycling bin and be buying recyclable (we all need to take care of our planet) &#8211; but also don&#8217;t be afraid to use disposable dinnerware if it makes your life easier and creates more time with your family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are just a few things I do, to make meals and food easier in my home.\u00a0 I don&#8217;t do them perfectly at all, but I find when I do do them &#8211; my life is much easier.\u00a0 Please share what you do.\u00a0 We will continue the series with the next blog posts!\u00a0 Let&#8217;s make our lives easier together!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being an adult is legit.\u00a0 You have to be more mature than you want a lot of the time. Add kids AND summer break into the adulting game and hands down, you have to level up.\u00a0 But here&#8217;s a big secret, being an adult can be easier. Parenting can be easier. You can always make [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":21936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1052],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lewis-family-2","category-tutorialsrecipes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21909","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21909"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21909\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21909"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21909"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loraleelewis.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21909"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}