Suzie Roberts knew there had to be a better way. As she ordered fast-food pizzas, she told herself if she were just more organized, she would have nutritious, family-friendly meals waiting in her freezer for her busiest nights.
"Dinnertime was always crazy in our home," the Perry woman said. "We would wait until the last minute to decide what was for dinner, and all heck breaks loose when you don't plan ahead."
So in 2004, Roberts came up with a plan: She would find nine friends willing to make, freeze and trade meals. And with a once-a-month effort, all 10 families would have made-ahead meals ready to thaw, cook and consume on their busiest days.