Some weeks I nail dinner. Other weeks I’m standing in front of the fridge like it’s a goddamn oracle, hoping it’ll whisper some kind of holy meal plan to me.
Spoiler: it never fucking does.
Let’s talk about the part of parenting no one warns you about—feeding these tiny humans 21 god damn meals a week (and that’s not even counting snacks).
Because burnout isn’t just real—it shows up hardest right around 5:00 p.m., when your body’s still in motion but your brain has checked the hell out.
😵💫 Why burnout shows up hardest at 5:00 p.m.
Because by then:
- You’ve answered 47 questions about snacks
- You’ve solved 3 kid fights, scheduled 2 appointments, and forgot 1 school thing
- You’ve already worked your actual job or kept the house semi-upright all day
- And somehow dinner is still on you?
There’s nothing left in the tank. And yet… here the fuck they come, hungry and emotionally unstable, like a tiny dinner cult.
🚨 Signs You Need a Break from “Home Chef Mode”:
- You’re googling “can you eat marshmallows for dinner”
- The sound of the microwave beeping makes you irrationally angry
- You fantasize about someone else just handing you a damn plate
- You catch yourself thinking “maybe the dog can share this sandwich with the kids”
- You’ve said, “I don’t care what you eat—just feed yourselves” more than once this week
If any of these sound familiar: congrats, you’re in the dinner spiral. And you’re not alone.
🥴 My Favorite “No-Thought” Meals That Still Look Put Together:
When you’ve got nothing left but still need to serve something resembling a meal:
1. Breakfast for Dinner
Scrambled eggs, toast, maybe fruit if you can dig some out of the fridge. Bonus points for pancakes.
2. YOYO Night (You’re On Your Own)
Let the big kids raid the fridge. Sandwiches, cereal, leftover chicken nuggets—whatever. You don’t even have to supervise.
3. Snack Dinner
Cheese cubes, crackers, baby carrots, grapes, deli meat. Put it on a tray and call it a charcuterie board. Boom, you’re Pinterest-worthy.
4. Quesadillas with Whatever’s in the Fridge
Tortilla + cheese + literally anything. Throw it on the stove and fold it in half. Done.
5. BBQ Chicken Wraps or Lazy Taco Bowls
If you have rotisserie chicken or taco meat prepped, you’re already winning. Toss it in a tortilla or bowl and pretend it was intentional.
🥣 And a gentle reminder:
Cereal is a valid dinner.
It counts.
It has vitamins.
And you didn’t scream while making it.
Call it a win.
❤️ Final Thoughts:
You’re not lazy. You’re exhausted. You’re not failing. You’re overwhelmed.
And sometimes the best thing you can do is take the night off, even if it just means letting everyone eat toaster waffles and calling it a vibe.
You’ve done enough. You are enough.
And if anyone needs you, you’ll be eating dry Cheerios out of a mug in the laundry room with the door locked.
Need a plan that thinks for you?
Grab a Feed The Chaos meal plan—complete with real-AF recipes, grocery lists, and dinners even your picky eaters won’t fight you on.
The Potty Mouth Panda 