three ways to make weeknight dinners easier

Even if you’re a big foodie, cooking dinner after a long day at the office can be unappealing. But after all your hard work, you deserve a good meal. That’s why finding a way to enjoy weeknight dinners is so important.

After tons of trial and error, we’ve nailed down the three best ways to make dinner more enjoyable after a long day at work. Read on to find out what you can do to take back your weeknights.

1. Indulge and Order In

For most people, restaurants are an indulgence reserved for the weekend. But, if you actually want to enjoy your weekday dinner, consider swapping your routine and ordering in after work.

When you order food from a restaurant during the week, the kitchen is less overloaded by tons of orders, so your dishes get that little extra attention that just takes them over the top.

Plus, with tons of delivery apps, ordering delivery is easier than ever. And with constant Doordash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats app discounts, getting a great deal on your meal is just a few clicks away.

So, instead of cooking during the week, choose to cook on the weekends. You’ll get more time to enjoy the process and play around with a recipe. Time gives even the most inexperienced chef the chance to enjoy experimentation in the kitchen in a way they just can’t if they are only cooking after a long day at work.

2. Meal Prep Your Base Ahead of Time

Another way that you can make your weeknight cooking a little easier is by prepping the base of your meals ahead of time. Cooking a basic grain or protein in advance saves you a lot of time. You'll have the convenience of opening your fridge, taking out your base, and making a meal with a head start.

You can also apply this thinking to sauces, dressings, and side dishes. Consider making your salad dressing the night before so that you're not wasting an extra 10 minutes.

3. Participate in a Meal Swap

You can participate in a meal swap if you have a community of food lovers around you. A meal swap is an event where two or more families get together after cooking many portions of a single meal. Each family trades portions with each other. While you only had to do the labor of cooking one meal, you get to taste many different things.  

Meal swaps are a great community-building activity. These fun events allow you to experience many different flavors that you might not have ever cooked in your own home. You can exchange recipes, and you have an audience; you can ask what aspects of the dishes were delicious, and what you can improve for next time.

You don’t have to be the best cook to participate in a meal swap either. If you’re interested, ask your friends or coworkers if they’d like to start a meal swap group. It’s such a low cost and low-stress way to try new foods, so it’s sure to be a hit.

Take the Stress off Weeknights 

The most important thing is that after a long day at work you get to enjoy the meal you’re having. Whether you choose to bring home your favorite restaurant food, prep your food in advance, or work with your community to make a versatile menu, you should be less stressed than cooking a meal from scratch every night. 
Whatever you choose, we hope you enjoy your weekday meals from now on!