With life as busy as it is many people are thinking about scaling back, organizing and simplifying. And while cutting activities from your daily routine is well and good, there are some things like eating we simply can't avoid.
The best way, I've found to tackle this is to simplify and better organize my meal preparation. In our house, I do the cooking and my better half does the clean-up. I'ts our way of organizing a system that works best for us. There are times when neither of us revels in our respective duties but we put on a smiling face nonetheless. And since a cook and housekeeper aren't in our budget and our bellies love a good meal, we've also found some other creative solutions that work.
You know how food tastes especially good when someone else makes it? It's the same with pasta sauce from a jar to a harried parent it could be homemade. Stir-fry dishes can be a breeze if you purchase frozen vegetables and meat already cut up. And it's totally amazing what one can do with a can of soup and a few extra ingredients. You can have a gourmet type meal in a matter of minutes.
And you don't have to compromise good nutrition for quick meal solutions. It's a known fact that serving raw fruit and vegetables with a low-fat dip is much healthier than boiling the heck out of the veggies. Even a few frozen peas placed in a bowl on the kitchen table while you're organizing the rest of the meal should temporary appease little appetites.
Instead of responding to the constant "Mommy, I'm hungry" requests, keep healthy snacks convenient and self-serve. Organize a quick snack section in your fridge. Store easy-to-open containers of cheese and crackers, washed and cut-up vegetables and fruit along with handy containers of dipping sauce.
Use the same method for organizing drinks; keep a selection of reusable drink boxes or install a self-serve water jug with a spout and a nearby stack of plastic cups. As a work at home parent, this self-serve idea has come in handy more times than not.
Meal time can also be fun family time. Even on those nights when you don't have a clue what to make. For anytime or when you're plain out of dinner ideas host a picnic. Yes, you heard me - a picnic. Picnics are not only for summer and they don't have to be complicated. Throw a plastic table cloth on the family room floor and enjoy. Make the ordinary extraordinary by turning deli sandwiches, hot finger foods, or simple cheese and crackers into fun. It sure beats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the dinner table. Or, turn grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup into a posh affair by lighting a couple of candles and serving the kid's milk or juice in wine glasses.
Do you find it hard to get in some quality time with your kids - especially the teenaged variety? A creative way of organizing a little one-on-one time is to post an ad on your family bulletin board for kitchen help. "Salary paid out weekly with an endless supply of love, understanding and support". Encourage togetherness by delegating simple tasks like washing vegetables or setting the table. My mother always told me that working along side another person promotes conversation. Your teen may be more willing to open up to you while chopping vegetables than she would be sitting directly across from you at the kitchen table.
Published by Sherrie Le Masurier on October 12, 2005 03:40 PM
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