Why Mornings Just Weren’t Working Anymore

Back when it was just the two of us (or even three), it was easy enough to throw dinner together in the morning and wing it. I’d get the slow cooker going, prep a few veggies, and feel like I had things under control. But those days are long gone.

*an example of some of the meals i will make. This list is in the notes section of my phone, however I also put the weekly meal plan on the fridge.*

These days life looks a little different as we travel but it wasn’t that long ago that our house was full—and our mornings were wild.

We had a baby who needed feeding round the clock, a preschooler who always seemed to need something the minute I looked busy, one daughter who was smack-bang in the middle of learning to read and another who was just starting to get some independence with the morning routine but still needed support.

And to top it all off, we had 2-3 International students in the home who need access to the kitchen, and extra support getting around. It was chaotic but doable...

until it wasn’t.

I used to rely on that early morning window to prep dinner—chop, marinate, get the slow cooker going. But between the school run, packing lunches, tracking down missing socks, managing baby feeds, and helping our international students find their way in the kitchen to making their own breakfast, meal prep just fell off the list.

By the time the house emptied out, I wasn’t getting a break—I was solo with the baby and pre schooler, still felt like I was running at full speed. And with up to three ravenous teenage (international) students piling through the door later that day, as well as my own children, dinner still needed to happen.

That’s when I knew: something had to give.

Preparing meals in the morning just wasn’t sustainable anymore. I needed to shift gears and use my weekends strategically—but I didn’t want to spend my entire Sunday stuck in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove.

I wanted meal prep to fit into our real life—not interrupt it.
With sport, church, family commitments, and everything else going on, I needed a rhythm that was doable, not just ideal in theory.

Because let’s be honest—when you’re already carrying the mental load of motherhood, the last thing you need is another job that feels like a burden.

Sunday Prep to the Rescue

Here’s a snapshot of my weekly meal prep, usually done on a Sunday. Every meal is planned out — from roast veggie night, salads, and stir-fry night to Taco Tuesday. I also chop up veggies ahead of time, ready to go into school lunchboxes for the week.

By the weekend, I always seemed to hit a wall. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and running on fumes. Meal prep during the week had become near impossible—and when the dreaded witching hour rolled around, I’d be scrambling to feed everyone, juggling cranky kids, toy explosions, and a mental list a mile long.

So I decided to try something different.

I arranged for our groceries to be delivered—either on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning—so everything would be ready to go for Sunday afternoon. That small shift made a big difference.

That Sunday, after church, I carved out a couple of hours and prepped every dinner for the coming week. Not only that—I prepped a few components for the kids' lunchboxes too: portioned out snacks, chopped up veggie sticks, boiled some eggs… all the little things that usually slow me down midweek.

And you know what? It worked.

Now, Sunday arvos are our official meal prep days. I use simple glass containers with plastic lids from Kmart (oven-safe = fewer dishes = hallelujah!), and I get five to six dinners sorted and packed away. Then I scribble the weekly meal plan and pop it on the fridge to stop the endless “What’s for dinner?” questions.

It’s made a massive difference—and now it’s just part of our family rhythm.

There’s a Method to (my) Madness

*my meat prepped and ready for the freezer, after a bulk meat shop.*

*Some of the casserole (and pasta) type meals I make ahead of time, for the freezer, They stack well in these plastic freezer bags. Great to have on hand when things go south during the week*

I don’t just pick meals at random—there’s definitely a method to the weekly flow:

Fresh meals like salads and stir-fries go at the start of the week while veggies are at their best.
Tacos are almost always Tuesday (because, well, Taco Tuesday).
Burgers—beef or chicken—go midweek while the salad's still fresh.
Bakes and pasta dishes, like lasagna or pasta bake, often land around Wednesday or Thursday, because they are accompanied with the salads (freshness rule)
Friday is Fake-away Night—pizza, fish and chips, chicken and chips. And yes, grabbing a cooked chook from Coles or Woolies is 100% allowed. If the salad is still going strong, and there is some left, of course it is included here also.
Roast veggies and BBQ meats are saved for the weekend, when we’ve got a bit more time and my trusty reliable, dependable root veggies are still also going strong.
Casseroles—like stroganoff, curried sausages, butter chicken, or shepherd’s pie—tend to float between weeknights and weekends in our house. They’re filling, flexible, and easy to bulk out by adding extra veggies, lentils, or whatever’s on hand. And somehow, they always seem to taste even better the next day! I often portion out leftovers to freeze (or double batch from the get-go) so I’ve got easy lunches or a backup dinner ready for one of those nights when everything goes sideways.

A Few Family Favourites

Here are some of our go-to weekly staples—simple, flexible, and family-approved:

Monday – Stir-Fry Night
Rotate the sauce, protein, and starch (think rice, noodles, even quinoa if you’re feeling adventurous). The variety keeps things interesting, but the routine keeps it easy.
Tuesday – Taco Tuesday
All the toppings are prepped and stored separately—especially helpful with teenage appetites! Mix it up with different proteins, hard or soft shells, or even taco bowls. It’s familiar but never boring.
Wednesday – Pasta Night
Pasta with a side salad while everything’s still fresh. We rotate between bolognese, Alfredo, carbonara, and more. Even changing the pasta type (spirals, spaghetti, fettuccine) makes it feel new.
Thursday – Bake or Casserole Night
Think Shepherd’s Pie, curried sausages, or beef stroganoff. These hearty meals often stretch into the next day’s lunch—or can be frozen for a future meal. Great for nights when the students are out at sport or with friends and need a quick reheat later.
Friday/Saturday – BBQ or Roasted Root Veg & Meats
Root veggies last well in the fridge, so they’re perfect for the weekend. Schnitzels, chops, sausages, or marinated meats (prepped Sunday and frozen in marinade) are ready to go straight from the fridge to the BBQ or oven.
Sunday – Roast Night
It’s a tradition in our house (I’m part Pom, after all!). We usually do a proper roast, and the leftovers almost always carry us into Monday’s school and work lunches.

Want to make it easier?

I’ve created a free Meal Preparation Planner with over 30 recipes and their morning prep steps. If you’re the kind of person who likes ticking boxes, this one’s for you!

Getting the Whole Family Involved

What makes Sundays even better is that it’s not just my job anymore.

The kids help (when they’re in the mood), and I rope in my husband—and even our students too. They’re usually more than happy to chop, simmer, or sauté something. Someone might be prepping veggies, someone else is crumbing the chicken or seasoning the roast, and someone’s on baby duty so I can tick off a few more tasks.

Yes, it gets chaotic. And yes, it’s almost always loud.
But honestly? It’s became one of my favourite parts of the week.

Even when it doesn’t go perfectly, we’re all in the same space—talking, laughing, playing music, kids darting in and out, chatting about their day. It’s relaxed, it’s unhurried, and it’s ours. This little Sunday rhythm has turned meal prep into something more than a to-do list—it’s become family time.

And really, that’s what weekends should be about for busy families: not just ticking off chores, but making space to do life together.

The Plan—With a Bit of Wiggle Room

I always say, “This is the plan, but don’t treat it as gospel.”

Having the meals ready gives us structure, but I also give myself permission to shuffle things around. Some nights I’m just not in the mood for stir-fry, or a day’s gone pear-shaped and I need something easier. That flexibility means I’m not tied to a rigid schedule—and that’s been huge for my mental load.

The Big Wins

It’s probably not the prettiest example to share—my handwriting is a bit of a disaster, and the whiteboard has definitely seen better days. But you know what? It’s real. And it’s exactly what we use.
*Using a whiteboard makes it easy to rub off meals and swap things around each week. It’s flexible, low-fuss, and fits perfectly with the ebb and flow of busy family life.*

Since starting this routine:

Weeknights are calmer. No more scrambling to cook while juggling homework, crying babies and toddler meltdowns.
We’ve saved money. Having food ready means less temptation to grab takeaway. using up what we have as well.
We eat better. More veggies, more variety, and way less waste.
I feel more accomplished. That Sunday prep session sets the tone for the whole week.

And maybe best of all? We’ve reclaimed our evenings. Dinner is no longer a stress-fest—it’s (mostly) smooth, simple, and even enjoyable.

Thinking of Trying It?

You’ve really got nothing to lose—and everything to gain.
Talk with your family. Let them know how you’re feeling, and be honest about needing a bit of support. Asking for help isn’t failure—it’s self-care. And the truth is, when you look after yourself, you’re also looking after your kids. It’s not selfish—it’s wise.

Because asking for help isn’t weakness. It’s choosing connection over burnout, and giving your family the best version of you—not what’s left of you.

If evenings are feeling like a mad rush at your place, give weekend meal prep a try. Start small—just prep two or three meals for the week—and see how it feels. I promise, once you experience that 5pm moment of grabbing something already done, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

You can grab my Meal Preparation Planner (with 30 prep-ahead meals and tips!) for free—print it out, stick it on the fridge, and see how many nights you can rescue this week.

Here’s to calm kitchens and full bellies,

Meal Prep Secrets for Busy Mums: Save Time, Stress, and Money