Photo of Akhona Ndlela

Dinner is ready! Smart cooking hacks for busy parents

Working moms and dads are basically superheroes. They manage to put food on the table every night while juggling full-time careers and parenthood.

It may seem impossible to find the time and energy to cook with all the to-do lists and small ones demanding attention, but they still find a way to do it.

Now, I may not be a mom, but I have witnessed the chaos that comes with trying to feed a family after a long day. It’s like watching a very dramatic reality show, the commotion, the “I’m hungry” cries, the pressure to prepare a quick and healthy meal!

The amount of tension is beyond my comprehension. The problem is that things don’t have to be that way. You can still prepare a delicious supper, satisfy the children, and perhaps even have some alone time afterwards if you know the appropriate tricks.

These techniques will make dinnertime less of a race and more of a breeze, from easy one-pan meals to becoming a total time management expert by preparing ahead of time.

Here are a few hacks.

  1. Take advantage of the store’s pre-cut vegetables, rotisserie chicken, and other prepared foods. They save a lot of time and simplify supper preparation.
  2. Parenting: Messy and Unscripted states that utilising kitchen appliances like slow cookers, pressure cookers, and blenders can significantly reduce cooking time and effort. These tools allow for overnight meal prepping, cooking beans, meats, and rice in less time, and can also be used for quick food preparation.
  3. According to Dad’s Delicious Dinners, ”Batch cooking is a parent’s secret weapon. Cook once, eat multiple times – that’s the motto. Whip up big batches of your favourite recipes and freeze them in portions,”

 

Also see: Exciting places to visit with your kids in the Eastern Cape

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