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Time Saving Tips

Antonia Chitty is the author of Family Friendly Working (£9.99 White Ladder Press). She shares some of her top tips and ideas for how to save time when preparing family meals exclusively with my child.

If you're a working parent like me, you are sure to be short of time. It can be a real rush to get everyone fed in the evening, and you can find yourself having to clear up breakfast dishes before you can start on dinner. Here are a few tips to help any working parent feed the family with minimal fuss

Prepare, prepare, prepare!

Make it easy on yourself in the morning. Lay out bowls and spoons for breakfast, and make sure the cereal is within reach. Even the smallest school child can help themselves to cereal if it is all laid out. Fruit makes a quick and healthy addition to breakfast, so put your kid's favourites out in the morning, and they should be good to go.

If your kids like pack lunch, get them to assemble as much as possible the night before. Even if they can't make neat sandwiches, they should be able to empty out the day's rubbish and put a yoghurt, drink, biscuit or apple in their bag, leaving as little as possible for you to do.

Have a second set of toothbrushes and paste downstairs. Save crucial moments in the morning by getting the kids to brush their teeth as soon as they finish eating. If they do it over the kitchen sink you can keep an eye on them, whereas if they wander off upstairs it can take precious minutes to get them back and on track for school.

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Menu master

  • Plan meals ahead. You may hate spending your weekend thinking abut meals for the week, but do it once and you are sorted. Have a plan for a fortnight's meals, choosing popular family favourites that are easy to cook after work.
  • Make the most of online supermarket ordering too. You will save time, and can even save money. I am far less tempted to pick up extras when shopping online.
  • Take turns cooking the evening meal. Get the kids involved and ask them each to be responsible for one night of the week. Even if the six year old can only make sandwiches, it won't hurt anyone to eat them for one night, and they can soon progress to bean on toast. Older kids will enjoy being responsible for one meal, as long as they get lots of praise, whatever the results! Give everyone responsibilities for clearing up afterwards too.
  • When you do cook, double your quantities if it is a meal that will freeze. You'll then save time on cooking another night of the week.
 

Clean up team

Teach your kids to clear up their own plates. It can be the work of moments to put one bowl and cup in the dishwasher, or rinse it in the sink. If each member of the family does their own it can save you from a depressing bowl of dirty dishes.

If your kids need motivation, give them stickers or points for helping each day, and a reward or pocket money at the end of the week.