The holiday mental load is real — especially around food. Meal Planning became Hearth’s #1 requested feature for a reason. That’s why we partnered with Alex Snodgrass of The Defined Dish: a recipe developer, trusted cook, and fellow busy parent.
”Work, kids, dinner plans — our Hearth Display is where everything lives: calendar, routines, and our weekly meals. On Sundays I make coffee, sit down, and map out the week. Seeing it color-coded brings calm to the chaos.” — Alex Snodgrass
As the season picks up — with more gatherings, more lists, and more “what’s for dinner?” moments — making meals visible and doable can shift the feel of an entire week. Regular family meals are linked to better grades, higher self-esteem, and improved physical health. Shared food time matters — and planning is how we make room for it.
Here’s how Alex uses Hearth to keep weeknights calm — plus a fast stir-fry that saves the day.
Meal Planning: Hearth brings everyone to the table.
Like Alex, keep one shared menu board on your Hearth Display so breakfast, lunch, and dinner are clear at a glance — color-coded, linkable, and easy to scan. Paste in recipe links, add notes (“leftovers,” “meatless”), and let everyone see what’s coming. Fewer questions, fewer scrambles, more buy-in from the whole family.
Stars & Rewards: Little rewards for big help
Small jobs add up — washing greens, setting the table, loading the dishwasher (we see you, Alex’s daughters). Stars & Rewards turns those moments into motivation. Celebrate effort and teamwork, not just the finished dish, and let kids redeem stars for simple privileges. Less nagging, more follow-through.
Hearth Helper: Your holiday sous-chef, powered by AI.
From picky eaters to guests in town, Hearth Helper can help turn what’s in your fridge into flexible, inclusive meal ideas — then slots them into your plan. Ask for swaps, scale portions, or build a whole week around one anchor recipe. Smart help, right when you need it.
Routines and Lists: Forgot nothing, enjoy everything
Turn plans into action with grocery lists and gentle reminders. Tap Add to List from any recipe to build your cart by aisle. Set defrost timers, bake times, and “start rice” nudges so the rhythm of dinner keeps moving — without juggling five different apps.
A weeknight dinner win
Alex’s Garlic Shrimp Stir-Fry is a season saver: quick prep, minimal cleanup, and easy to adapt. It’s packed with weeknight-friendly veggies and a savory sauce that hits the table fast — perfect on its own or over rice, with simple swaps if you’re cooking gluten-free, dairy-free, or meatless. When schedules are tight, this kind of reliable 15-minute dinner keeps everyone fed and the evening on track.
Ingredients
Tamari or Soy Sauce
Low Sodium Chicken Broth
Toasted Sesame Oil
Honey
Garlic
Freshly Grated Ginger
Tapioca Flour
Avocado Oil
Broccoli
Red Bell Pepper
Red Onion
Shrimp
Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Chili Oil, Optional for Serving
Recipe Step-by-Step
Step One: Make the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients until well combined. Set aside.
Step Two: Cook the Veggies
Heat the oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli, bell pepper, and onion and sauté until the veggies are slightly tender, 4 to 5 minutes.
Step Three: Cook the Shrimp
Add the shrimp, salt and pepper to the pan and continue to cook, tossing, until they begin to turn pink (but they don’t need to be fully cooked yet).
Step Four: Sauté in the Sauce
Pour in the sauce and let cook, tossing often, until the shrimp are cooked through and the sauce thickens and coats everything, about 4 more minutes.
Step Five: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve alone or over rice and drizzle with chili oil, if desired.
A calmer season, one meal at a time
Food is at the heart of the holidays. With Hearth (and a few go-to recipes from cooks like Alex), you can see the plan, share the load, and make room for what matters most: time together.
On your Hearth display, open Meal Planning, scan the QR code to add Alex’s Garlic Shrimp Stir-Fry to your week, and let Hearth Helper fill the rest.
