In building an event and subsequent series around “How You DO It,” some of its themes proved weightier than others. We’ll let you decide where on the weighty (food) scale this one measures in, but here are are some of the (chicken?) nuggets we gleaned from you on how you do it when it comes to… MEALTIME.
   
How You Do It: MEALS AND MEALTIME

  • “Just say no– to negotiating different meals– it makes life much easier if you are consistent about the fact that the whole family eats what has been made for dinner.”
    “Get a spouse who cooks.”
  • “If you have a nanny and she’s willing to cook, give her meal empowerment and let her cook things from her tradition; African Peanut Butter Chicken may even become a new family favorite in the process.”
  • “If you have a nanny or household help and she doesn’t cook, see if she’ll still be your ‘sous chef.’ (i.e. if the vegetables are all chopped when you get home, getting them into a pan and on the table isn’t so bad).”
  • “My best tip? Annie’s Organic Mac n Cheese– 4 minutes in the microwave!”
  • “It’s all about Fresh Direct (or alternatively, Pea Pod, or the equivalent grocery delivery service). You can get through your grocery list on-line from the office.”
  • “I found another 30 minutes a day to maximize my quality time with my kids by reading to them when they eat. Since their mouths are occupied you can’t really have a conversation. (And when you read, your own mouth is busy which is ideal for avoiding their leftovers… or their dessert).”
  • “This should serve as an answer: by the time our daughter was two, she’d pick up her toy phone to ‘order dinner.’ I suppose we should have been embarassed, but I’d prefer to give her points for being resourceful!”
  • “We’ve taken to having cooking playdates on the weekends- you socialize, the kids do too– and you get some good meals made for the week, to boot.”
  • “Every once in a while, we feel the need to make it a ‘Reverse Dinner’ night: this involves taking the kids out for ice cream, after which we come home and ask what they want for dinner. If they’re full, well then, they’re full (and as such– you don’t have to make dinner). It’s a treat on both ends, and a bonding experience (and really, an occasional dairy-only meal isn’t the end of the world).”

Tell Us How YOU DO It