Your schedule as a mom is non-stop and there is very little time for you to sit down and think about all of the upcoming meals you have to prepare for your family. Navigating meal times can be tiring, overwhelming and stressful for many parents, but now is your chance to make your life a little easier. When you have a child, breakfast, lunch and dinner times turn into a whole new ball game, but you should be able to navigate these times of day with ease. Consider some of the following ideas and you will soon be able to transform all of your meal times from manic to magic!
Make Meal Times an Experience
Instead of sitting around the dining table or kitchen table every single evening for dinner, why not shake it up and use your outdoor space? If you’re lucky enough to live in a warmer climate, then you should definitely make the most of cooking and eating outside. Your entire dining experience as a family can be taken to the next level by cooking pizzas together or having a weekly barbecue. Take a look at BBQGuys for the best outdoor kitchen equipment from charcoal grills to pizza ovens. Even if your kids dislike sitting down for dinner, they will love the experience of watching you cook outside and enjoying an authentic meal together as a family.
Ask for Help With Setting Up and Clearing Away
Getting your children involved in the process of setting up and clearing away during and after a meal will set you up for success every day. Children like to be given a certain level of responsibility, so this will help them to feel important and needed during meal times. Soon enough, they will understand what their personal jobs are when it comes to dinner times, and they’ll get excited to help you during the process.
Create Good Habits
Good routines and habits when it comes to meal times can help your children to feel calm and at ease. This means eating at a similar time everyday, telling your children what their meals are going to be in advance (so no unexpected surprises!) and creating a calm atmosphere at the dinner table.
Turn off the Digital Devices
Nowadays, our little ones are very attached to their phones and tablets. Although it’s not a negative thing to be digitally savvy, you should try and create a no-phone zone whilst you’re at the dinner table. Focus on having meaningful conversations during meal times and you will learn so much about your children during these precious moments.
Whether you’re dealing with a fussy eater or a little one who won’t sit still for more than ten minutes, these ideas will certainly help to take your meal times from chaos to calm. Relax into the process and enjoy the journey of enjoying a meal with your family. Make all of the preparations together, clear the table as a team and talk about your day as you enjoy a freshly cooked meal!
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