The Struggle is Real: A Team Mom’s Guide to Meal Planning (Not Meal Prepping)

-


If you’ve ever tried to plan meals around a sports schedule, you know—it’s no joke! I’ve been in both roles: the working mom and the stay-at-home mom (although, let’s be honest, running a few youth organizations felt like full-time jobs). Either way, the challenges remain the same. And don’t even get me started on the "I don’t want that" complaints.

Meal prep? Ha! You mean the Sunday when I’m supposed to be at two different fields in two different towns while also magically roasting chicken and chopping veggies? Let me just summon my inner Martha Stewart—oh wait, she’s at the game too.

What does work for me, though, is semi-meal prepping—not the whole “spend six hours cooking on Sunday” thing, but batch cooking with a game plan.

Game Plan: The Power of Bulk Cooking

Instead of cooking one pound of ground beef, I cook four pounds at a time. Why? Because I can spread the wealth throughout the week:

  • Monday: Tacos or nachos

  • Tuesday: Sloppy Joes

  • Wednesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce

  • Thursday: Toss it into a stir fry or a baked potato bar

Same effort, multiple meals. That’s the kind of meal prep I can get behind.

MVP Dinners: Set It & Forget It

Some nights, it’s all about having something that’s ready when they are.

  • Crockpot Italian Meatballs – Toss them in a jar of sauce, and boom! Dinner’s ready when anyone walks through the door. This is a lifesaver when my adult kids are coming home from work while the middle schoolers are just getting back from practice.

  • Stir Fry Magic – A little flank steak and some veggies in the crockpot, and it’s ready whenever. Serve over rice or in tortillas for an easy switch-up.

  • “Gameday Nachos” Hack – Keep a jar of queso at home. Chips + that pre-cooked ground beef + any random toppings = dinner in 30 seconds flat.

Overtime Strategy: Emergency Dinners

Some nights, you’re just not feeling it. That’s why I always keep:

  • Lunch meat & sandwich supplies – No shame in a sandwich night!

  • Frozen pizza or breakfast for dinner – Scrambled eggs + toast is a legit meal.

  • “Concession Stand Combo” – Bring your own hot dog buns and grab the $1 hot dogs at the field.

Final Whistle: The Real Win? Sanity.

At the end of the day, it’s all about finding what works for your team. Some nights, it’s a well-planned meal. Other nights, it’s a “grab what you can” situation. And that’s okay—because we’re all just trying to survive the chaos of sports life!

What are your go-to survival meals? Drop them in the comments—I’m always looking for new plays to add to the meal plan lineup!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🔥 Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer. 🔥

-
Image
Look, anyone can walk into a room and just match the vibe —that’s easy. But real ones? They set the vibe. A thermometer just reacts. If the energy is low, they’re low. If the team’s frustrated, they’re frustrated. Meh. 😴 A thermostat walks in and CHANGES the temperature. They bring the hype, the hustle, and the “we got this” attitude— whether they’re the star player or not. So, are you just reading the room or are you running the room? Choose wisely. 😏
Read more

Welcome to Huddle Up HQ: Where Team Moms & Real Life Collide!

-
  Welcome to Huddle Up HQ: Where Team Moms & Real Life Collide! Hey there, team moms, fashion lovers, DIY queens, and every woman juggling the beautiful chaos of family, sports, and everyday life! I’m so excited to welcome you to Huddle Up HQ —a space where we embrace the game of life with all its wins, losses, and everything in between. For over a decade, I’ve been deeply involved in youth sports, not just as a supportive parent but as the behind-the-scenes operations coordinator, planner, and cheerleader-in-chief. From organizing game-day essentials to handling the inevitable last-minute chaos, I know the ins and outs of what it takes to keep a team (and a family) running smoothly. But let’s be real—life doesn’t stop at the field or the gym. We’re also navigating raising teens, transitioning into parenting adult children, staying stylish while on the go, and squeezing in those DIY projects that make our spaces feel like home. That’s where Huddle Up HQ comes in. Think of this...
Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Being a Team Mom

-
Image
  So, you’ve been crowned “Team Mom.” First of all—congrats! Whether you volunteered or were “voluntold,” this role is an honor (and yes, a little bit of chaos). But don’t worry—you’ve got this. How I Got Started I know exactly what it’s like to be thrown into this role. My journey began with t-ball , when my husband volunteered to coach. Neither of us came from a baseball family, so it was all very new. Of course, I was voluntold to be Team Mom—back then, it was simple: snacks, a few minor details, nothing too overwhelming. But sports have a way of pulling you in. By year two, we had two kids in t-ball and wrestling and a baby in tow. By year three, I was deep into wrestling—tracking scores, helping wherever needed. Baseball didn’t stick, but wrestling did. Before long, we were running the program. Then came tackle football , where a lack of volunteers meant we were suddenly in charge of a full team of 9-year-olds. Fast forward to today, and we’ve built two premier programs i...
Read more