How Can I Make Dinner Easier? 5 Simple Food Tips That Save Time Each Week
If you’ve ever asked, “How can I simplify meals during the week?” — this post is for you.
After years of experimenting with meal kits, sustainably sourced meat, and a few clever food tips, I’ve landed on simple systems that make dinner dramatically easier without sacrificing quality or taste.
Here are some of the services and tips that actually work for our family.
TL;DR: 5 Ways to Make Meals Simpler
Use sustainably sourced meat subscriptions like ButcherBox
Keep freezer slow cooker meals on hand
Switch to prepared meal delivery from CookUnity for busy seasons
Reduce recipe blog clutter with the cooked.wiki trick
Flip bread ends inside-out for better sandwiches
Check out my go-to dinner ideas on Instagram
1. What to Do With the End Pieces of Bread
Many people avoid the “heel” of the bread loaf, be it due to the look or the difference in texture.
Here’s a simple tip from my friend Greg:
When making a sandwich with the last two slices:
Put fillings and condiments on the outside of the end slices
Flip them inward
You’ll recreate the look and texture of middle slices and waste less food.
2. Order Sustainably Raised Meat (ButcherBox)
Years ago, I read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. After finishing it, I decided to continue eating meat, but prioritized sustainably farmed sources for health, ethical, and environmental reasons.
The company we’ve used for years to source our meat is ButcherBox.
Why I like it:
High-quality, sustainably sourced meat
Convenient delivery
Subscription perks (often free add-ons)
Excellent meatballs (don’t skip those)
If you want to simplify meal planning while improving meat quality, a subscription box removes a lot of friction.
3. Keep “Set-It-and-Forget-It” Freezer Meals (Beehive Meals)
Beehive Meals offers freezer meals that go straight into your slow cooker.
Why this works:
No chopping
No planning
No mid-week grocery runs
Dinner ready in a few hours
We’ve tried several, and they’ve consistently been delicious. On chaotic weeks, these are a lifesaver. We get a box every single month.
4. Consider Fully Prepared Meals (CookUnity)
For years, we used meal kits like Home Chef—which we loved and I still recommend—but we’ve since shifted to fully prepared meals from CookUnity.
Here’s why:
✔ Less packaging waste
Containers are recyclable or compostable (except the thin top film)
They pick up the insulated delivery bag + reusable ice packs the following week
✔ Bigger portions
Two meals easily feed our family of four when paired with fruit or raw veggies.
✔ Kid-approved
Always a win.
If you're debating meal kits vs. prepared meals, this switch dramatically simplified our weeknight routine.
5. Save Your Go-To Dinner Systems in One Place
Having one organized place for dinner inspiration reduces decision fatigue. If you’d like more tips for how we get dinner on the table (along with some recipes), I keep a highlight of food-related tips and simple meal ideas over on Instagram. You can also create a highlight of your own favorite meals and food tips so you can reference whenever you need some weeknight inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Simplifying Meals
Q1: What’s the easiest way to simplify weeknight dinners?
Use a mix of:
Subscription meats (for easy protein)
Freezer slow cooker meals
Fully prepared meal delivery during busy seasons
You don’t need to cook from scratch every night to eat well.
Q2: Are prepared meal delivery services environmentally friendly?
Some are improving significantly. For example, CookUnity uses recyclable or compostable containers and picks up insulated bags and ice packs for reuse.
Q3: Are meal kits or prepared meals better?
Meal kits (like Home Chef) are great if you enjoy cooking. Prepared meals (like CookUnity) are better during high-stress seasons when time is limited.
Q4: How can I reduce food waste at home?
Use bread ends creatively
Plan protein in advance
Keep freezer meals stocked
Save leftovers intentionally for second meals
Final Thoughts
If dinner feels overwhelming, don’t aim for perfection, utilize systems. A few smart subscriptions and easy kitchen tips can reduce stress dramatically and get dinners on the table quickly.
Want more tips?
If you’d like more tips like these, my popular Friday Five Newsletter is the best place to get them every week!
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About The Author
Jessica Eastman Stewart is a consultant, workshop facilitator, and podcast guest expert. She teaches busy professionals how to get more organized at home and at work so they can stop feeling worn out and start living a Joyfully Managed Life®! Thousands of readers drop everything when her weekly newsletter, The Friday Five, arrives in their inbox. Every Friday, you’ll get FIVE amazing tips to help life feel INSTANTLY more joyful and easy!
