Timesaving Tips

Ever wish you had an extra hour in your day to put a satisfying meal on the table, wash those pesky pots or even play that board game? Well, it’s not longer a dream! With these timesaving, mom-tested tips you can find the extra time that you need to plow through dinner preparation and clean up, leaving more time for fun with the family!

  1. Get Organized. Go paperless in the kitchen and save sites like GetBacktotheTable.com in your favorites folder on your Internet browser so you can get recipes and ideas quickly. Reorganize your kitchen so you make fewer trips to the cupboard or the garbage can while you work.
  2. Pitch In. Kids love experimenting with different colors and textures so have them pitch in by sorting their snacks for the week while you cut up extra peppers and celery and freeze them for future ingredients.
  3. PREpare Dinners. Set aside a few hours on Sunday to prepare meals, which you can warm up on busy weeknights. Also, double recipes, such as stews and soups, rich with vegetables and meats, so there are leftovers for later in the week.
  4. Clean As You Go. Don’t leave the bulk of clean up for after dinner. You can save time and sanity if you:
    • Fill the sink with warm, soapy water so you can dunk and scrub tools and soak pots as you work
    • Keep spray and rags handy and wipe up counters right away
    • Empty the dishwasher and fill it up as you go
    • Let everyone bus his or her dish, utensils and glasses after meals
  5. Snack Smart. Instead of spoiling appetites with filling pre-dinner snacks like pretzels, cookies or candies, try introducing a vegetable. Libby’s canned vegetables are already cooked and ready to serve right out of the can. At the first cries of hunger, open a can of corn, lightly rinse and serve in little bowls with a spoon. Then don’t worry if they opt for their favorite foods during dinnertime, you got that serving of veggies in there!
  6. Lighten Up. Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect but it can be fun. Try inviting the kids to help you in the kitchen. Recruit a “Pantry P.I.,” who can search for ingredients such as canned green beans. Be creative and remember that your kids will be more likely to try foods they helped prepare and they will be learning about nutrition and cooking from the best role model: you!

For more tips, check out Hannah Keeley’s Family Mealtime Strategies