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MENU PLANNING
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1. Do your grocery shopping when the stores are empty.
Stores tend to be less crowded shortly before closing. If the store is open 24 hours, the later the hours the less crowded the store will be. I also find the same to be true on Sunday mornings and I've been told by those in the grocery business that Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are also less busy.
2. Write a grocery list (after planning your menus) and stick to it.
Shopping from a list and not deviating from it will not only save you money, but time spent "window shopping" other items. Also, since you should be reading the nutrition labels for everything you buy, it would also save a great deal of time not spent reading labels.
3. Whenever you cook, cook double.
Freeze the extra portions and thaw them out on nights when time is an issue. Use leftover chicken and turkey for salads, soups and stews. Do the same with vegetables. Left over fish can be added to a salad.
4. When you return home from the store, prepare all your vegetables immediately.
It will initially take extra time, but you will only be taking out (and then washing) the necessary utensils once instead of several times throughout the week. Additionally, they will be readily available for snacking instead of reaching for something else that's not as healthy.
5. Portion the food when you bring it in the house.
Cereals, nuts, cheese, dried fruit, snacks, etc. can be portioned into individual snack-sized baggies. Not only will it help resist the urge to overeat, but it will make it easier when preparing meals. I prepackage a 1/2 cup of high-fiber cereal and two tablespoons each of chopped nuts and dried fruit. It fits perfectly in a snack-sized baggie and all it takes is a 1/2 cup of milk and breakfast is done.
6. Pack lunch in the evening.
Have a section of the refrigerator specifically for your lunch so you don't forget anything or pack your lunch bag the evening before and put that in the refrigerator. Have your children do it the night before as well and save even more time and confusion in the morning.
7. Know the counts of your favorite foods.
Most of us have our favorite foods that we eat several times a week, perhaps even daily. Have the counts of those foods recorded in a convenient location until they are memorized.
8. Use the same utensils when you eat.
Pre-measure a 1/2 cup and 1 cup in the same drinking cup. Do the same with a cereal bowl. Use the same small plate after measuring three ounces of protein and see what it looks like on that particular plate. Put a serving of pasta, rice and potato on that same plate. Use those same utensils and you won't have to measure each time you eat.
9. "Average" the calories on foods you eat repeatedly.
Bread, luncheon meat (lean ham, roast beef and chicken), some cereals, low-fat granola bars, etc. can be averaged to save time checking nutrition labels every day. For instance, most light bread is between 70-90 calories for two slices. Average it as 80 calories and you won't have to check the label every time if you keep buying light bread.
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TELEVISION and PHONE TIME
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1. Use TV time for doing mindless tasks.
Exercise with weights or soup cans, walk in place, do floor exercises, wrap gifts, write letters or greeting cards, pay bills, open mail, plan future menus, write your grocery list, go through old magazines, clip coupons, iron clothes, sew buttons, darn socks, etc.
2. Record TV programs and watch them later.
Skip the commercials and you save yourself about 20 minutes of an hour program.
3. Use phone time wisely.
Pace the floor, march in place, work with weight or soup cans, iron clothes, fold clothes, clip coupons, etc.
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ROUTINE TASKS
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1. Batch routine tasks.
Pay all your bills together once a week, write out greeting cards for the month at one time (Put the date you need to mail the card where the stamp goes. When you stamp the card, it will cover the date that you wrote.), fill up the gas tank instead of getting a 1/2 tank a few times a week, map out your errands and when possible run several at each outing.
2. Automate as much as you can.
Use online banking or automatic bill pay, create distribution lists for emails if you frequently email the same people, have your paycheck direct deposited, request library books online and save time having to check the library since they will notify you when they are available.
3. Choose your clothes in the evening.
Believe it or not, this makes things run much smoother in the morning. Have your children do the same.
4. Use time in lines wisely.
While waiting in the line at a drive-thru you can catch up on reading, open mail, write letters, record transactions in your checkbook, read email from a cell phone if you have that capability, text family and friends.
5. Brush your teeth and shave in the shower.
6. Avoid the post office.
Leave outgoing mail in the mailbox for the mail carrier, order stamps online.
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ASK FOR HELP
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A lot of the tasks we do on a daily or weekly basis can easily be done by others that are living in our home. No matter what age or ability, there are some tasks that someone - or anyone! - can help with. Mailing letters, opening mail, taking the garbage out, washing/folding/putting away clothes, washing/drying dishes, taking care of pets, putting away groceries, etc. Don't be afraid to delegate duties.
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