The demands of a modern family unit are as hectic as they have ever been, but arguably it’s now far more feasible to have your cake and eat it too!
There has often been a competing narrative when it comes to being both a parent and having a successful career, and though it’s 2022 and as a society, we have moved on a great deal, there are still some roadblocks and issues that must be overcome.
Nutrition is a key element of a successful home and work life. Eating well is more than just about counting calories and making sure that your loved ones get a good variety of food groups into their systems; it’s about enjoying food and trying new meals and styles.
While thinking of food as fuel is one way of ensuring that fast food is off the table, it is also crucial that the food you eat lifts you and nourishes your body AND your mind and soul.
Here are some ways that will offer you a helping hand in the kitchen.
Meal Delivery Kits
One area that can prove a godsend when it comes to dealing with mealtime is meal delivery kit services, which can be invaluable for those who don’t have enough hours in the day.
This industry really boomed during the coronavirus pandemic crisis. They offer individuals and families a lifeline, and these are just as useful as life returns to some level of normality, and if you haven’t tried them, now is the time to give them a shot.
You can order these in bulk, and that way, you can also save a great deal of money. The kits come in a variety of styles, and some require more work than others, but essentially they are designed in a way that makes it easy for anyone to put together, especially as they will come with basic instructions.
Healthy Take Out
This may sound somewhat contradictory, but takeout can be healthy. Gone are the days when takeaway food only came in unhealthy styles. Much as the meal kit delivery industry was revolutionized during the COVID crisis, takeout also changed.
Now any restaurant worth its salt offers great takeout options that cover a variety of styles and types. Indeed you can get takeout food that is geared to all dietary requirements, and the delivery of these meals has also greatly improved.
That means that when you are too tired to cook when you get home, you can order out without the guilt, be that for yourself or your family. Think salads, healthy wraps, and poke bowls.
However, for the sake of your finances, this should still be something of a luxury option rather than a regular thing.
Plan Ahead
Often the issues around eating well come down to time and how much of it you have. We all know what it feels like when you are just too exhausted to put effort into putting together a nutritious and mouthwatering meal together, and this then leads to making something quick and easy, which often translates to meals that are not healthy.
So why not plan ahead? If you are making a meal, why not make enough for more than one sitting and then freeze it?
The best thing about this approach is the absence of waste. As a society, we throw way too much food away, and planning ahead is a great way to use what you have in your cupboards.
This goes for your weekly shop as well. Whether you live alone or in a vast family unit, you can help yourself in a big way by knowing what you will eat in advance. This may sound a little lacking in terms of spontaneity, but it’s very much how that fancy restaurant on the high street manages itself.
Learn Something Basic and Do It Well
Perhaps you live in a household where you are the only competent person in the kitchen; then it’s time to encourage others to pull their weight. The best way to help them get started is to push them to learn one meal, even something basic, and get them to hone it into a classic that the whole family can enjoy.
This will take some of the stress and strain from you and will make them feel more useful.
They can look to find any such recipe online, and once they get the hang of it, they can then look to spice things up, perhaps even literally, and before you know it, they’ll be a whizz in the kitchen, and you’ll be able to put your feet up when you come back from a hard day in the office.
Often when it comes to those who can’t cook, it’s down to confidence. Once they get the hang of putting together one delicious dish that the whole family enjoys, they’ll have the self-esteem and belief needed to try new things.
When You Feel Like a Snack, Keep it Healthy
In between meal times is when much of our poor dietary intake occurs. So, why not factor this in?
Instead of reaching for potato chips or cheese strings, which we only really eat because it’s there and easily accessible, why not precut some tasty fruit or vegetables and place them in easy-to-access bags in your fridge?
That way, when you need a quick bite to eat, it will come without the self-reproach that you might feel as you munch on your processed snack. It’s also a good way to educate your kids about new ways of thinking when it comes to what they put into their bodies.
