tips to take conytrol of your bus family kitchen By Allie Gaunt & Jessica Benton
H
ave you ever lacked a little inspiration when deciding on what to make for dinner? Whether it’s a busy afternoon you didn’t quite prepare for, the unpredictability of juggling babies and young children, or you’re simply a little tired from thinking about what to put on the table each night. Trying to cater for different age groups and food preferences in amongst managing the never-ending demand of kids activities can feel quite overwhelming. Plus, don’t get us started on the seemingly endless amount of lunchboxes we need to consider each day.
Create a meal plan that works for you Try and look at your typical week as a whole and find some gaps of time to get ahead and stay there. Simply map out which days are busy, and which could offer some extra time, then work with what you’ve got. Once you have this basic plan in place, you can then fill the week with whatever you need - one day might be a slow cooker meal with a freezer dump bag prepped for another day, while another might be a fast meal, or some leftovers that you planned from the day before.
20 Peninsula Peninsula Kids Kids ––Summer Summer2022/23 2022/23
Instead of aspiring to absolute parenting perfection we suggest making small, realistic changes that fit with your family's busy schedule and take the time to look after your future self. So, when days are more challenging or life gets in the way, you can feel more prepared by utilising your well stocked freezer or having a range of fast meals that utilise pantry staples, rather than spending on expensive takeaway or top-up shops too often. If this seems all too familiar, why not try some of these simple, achievable and maintainable solutions that can help you stay in control.
Fruit and veggie grab boxes
Many parents feel guilty that they haven’t offered enough fruit and veggie options throughout the day. One of the greatest simple prep ideas we have is to create a fruit and veggie grab box at the beginning of each week (and top it up as you go). The idea is that with a few minutes of prep - think washing and chopping veggie sticks and peeled and chopped fruit - you will have some incidental snacks, lunchbox filler and fresh sides to offer at dinner. We find if it’s prepped, you are more likely to offer it and they are more likely to eat it! Better yet, once you’re in a good routine, older children can help with preparing these bright and colourful boxes for you.