There’s no getting around the fact that we all have to eat and feed our kids, but when dinner time rolls around, you’ve had a busy day, you’re exhausted, and hangry, figuring out what you’re going to cook—and what everyone will eat—can feel impossible. Yet with some easy, stress-free meal planning ideas, you can get dinner on the table in no time and bring back the joy in cooking. In this episode, I sat down with Laura Fuentes, founder of the popular site, MOMables. Laura has helped thousands of families improve their health and wellness by establishing healthier eating habits as a family with her Family KickStart Program and weekly meal plans. Laura is also the author of 5 cookbooks, including her most recent title, Clean Treats for Everyone: Healthy Desserts and Snacks Made with Simple, Real Food Ingredients, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and spokesperson.  Laura explains how to make meal planning easy and enjoyable, how you can save 5 hours of cooking and cleaning in just one hour a week, and how to make cooking enjoyable even if your kids don’t eat what you make. Her realistic meal planning ideas will give you a ton of inspiration in the kitchen and make mealtimes pleasurable again.  Welcome 2:34 Let’s talk about your story! 7:02 More people took up home cooking during the pandemic and it seems it’s a trend that has stuck, but parents are too busy and stressed to cook. How do we bring back the joy to cooking? 10:00 Why is it not a good idea to become a short-order cook? 12:10 When we hear meal planning, we think it's time-consuming, complicated, and overwhelming. True?  22:39 What's the easiest way to get started with meal planning? 26:11 You say people can save 5 hours of cooking and cleaning in one hour a week. How is that possible? 30:14 What are some ways to find healthy, delicious recipes that everyone will enjoy? 35:00 What are your favorite tips for making the most of your meals? 38:54 What do you think about the meal kit subscriptions? LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Julie mentions this 2022 survey which found 39% of people are cooking 3 to 5 times a week and this 2021 survey which shows parents are too busy and stressed to cook. Laura mentions her popular chili recipe.  Laura talks about her experience with Blue Apron.  Learn more about Laura Fuentes on MOMables.com, and follow her on YouTube and Instagram.  FROM OUR PARTNERS Kids Cook Real Food eCourse The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, created by a mom of 4 and a former elementary school teacher, is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen. The course includes 30 basic cooking skills, 45 videos including several bonuses, printable supply and grocery shopping lists, and kid-friendly recipes. The course is designed for all kids ages 2 to teen and has three different skill levels. More than 18,000 families have taken the course and The Wall Street Journal named it the #1 cooking class for kids. Sign up now for the Kids Cook Real Food ecourse and get a free lesson for being a “Food Issues” listener. Thrive Market Thrive Market is an online membership-based market that has the highest quality, organic, non-GMO, healthy, and sustainable products. From groceries, clean beauty, safe supplements, and non-toxic home products to ethical meat, sustainable seafood, clean wine, and more, Thrive Market is where members save an average of $32 on every order! Through Thrive Gives, every paid membership sponsors a free one for a low-income family. Join Thrive Market today and get 25% off your first order and a free gift.