The In's and Out's to Meal Groups

5:00 pm - What's for supper? Three hungry children begging to eat, and you have been running all day long. You are exhausted and just want a break. Please don't make me think about dinner and then prepare it. Does this scenario sound familiar?

Many of us have days like this. This is where meal groups can be very effective. First, you have to find like-minded individuals who feel the same as you. You could look at your church, playgroup, or neighbors. Ask if they would be interested in cooking once a month and feasting like a king for at least a week or more.

Once you have assembled your meal group crew, you will need to set down some ground rules. The meal group I am in meets once a month at the same time and second Sunday of the month. The leader will send out reminder notices to us all early in the month. The other rules are you must fix enough to feed six adults (lots of leftovers), each recipe must contain 1 1/2 pd. of meat and/or cheese, and you must label with clear directions on how to prepare the dish. We have a label that is used by all that contains the person's name who prepared it, the preparer's phone number, the directions on preparations, suggestions for sides, and any additional notes for the recipe. By using these rules, we can be assured that it is fair to all.

Each participant must be willing to cook once a month preparing a meal eight times to feed six adults. It sounds difficult, but once you get started it can actually be very easy. You are mass cooking, mass chopping, and mass preparing. Once you put on some good music, the time flies. Clean-up is a chore but isn't it always. It is important to remember that clean-up after eating the other meals will be extremely easy since most of the dishes are in gallon-size Ziploc bags or cheap (read throwaway) containers. Another reason why I love these meals.

The advantages to meal groups are wonderful. New recipes, less time cooking, easy clean-up, and bulk shopping make this a winning idea. So assemble your crew and get to cooking. I promise you will love just as I love it.