Mealtime Madness

Tips for getting dinner on the table night after night

By ClubMom Parenting Expert Ann Douglas

Things seem to fall apart at our house most nights when I'm trying to make dinner. My baby will want to nurse or be held, my toddler will want me to play with him, and in the meantime I'll be trying to figure out how to get something more inspired than chicken nuggets on the dinner table. How does everyone else manage to make dinner without losing their minds?

Short answer: everyone doesn't. Lots of parents find making dinner a major challenge when there are little ones wanting and needing attention. That's why miracle products like salad in a bag were invented. Here are some of the survival strategies that have worked for our family and some of the many families I've interviewed over the years.

• Nurse your baby right before you think you're going to get busy in the kitchen, and then pop her in a baby carrier or sling so that she has a great view of what you're doing — something that may help to keep her entertained.

• Set aside a particular kitchen in the cupboard for your toddler. It could contain toys, toddler-friendly kitchen paraphernalia, or a mix of both. Add something new to the cupboard daily (e.g., swap a couple of plastic containers for the plastic strainer you won't be needing for tonight's dinner). With any luck, this distraction will buy you at least a couple of minutes of mealtime preparation time.

• Ask friends and family members to share their favorite recipes. Be sure to be explicit about your criteria: if it requires more than 15-20 minutes of kitchen preparation, it's probably not the right recipe for you right now.

• Turn to other sources of information for recipe ideas and inspiration. I like AllRecipes.com (the online recipe site) and I highly recommend Suppertime Survival by Lynn Roblin, MSc, RD, and Bev Callaghan, BSc, RD. (The book is Canadian and both authors are moms.)

• Try to get ahead of the game on weekends. Having pre-chopped veggies or precooked lean ground beef can be a huge timesaver on a Wednesday night.