How to Enjoy More Family Time Together

July 12, 2022 By Anne

In today’s world, it is not uncommon for parents to feel like they are constantly on the go. They are juggling work and family life in a way that is not always satisfying. The constant need to be available and responsive to their kids, their partners, and their employers has left many feeling like they are missing out on important moments with the people that matter most to them.

The best way to create more quality time for ourselves as parents is by creating boundaries between work and family life. Let’s take a look at how you can make the most of this.

How to Spend More Quality Time Together

It is important to spend quality time with family. But it is not always easy to find the time. So it’s more about proactively and consciously making the time. This can involve having a better a better routine in place, making more time for your life together as a family, ensuring that your self-care is prioritized first, and that you’re making your life exactly how you want it to be.

In today’s world, it is not uncommon for people to work more than 40 hours a week. This leaves them with little time to spend with their family. To make the most of the time that they have, you need to make it count.

Ways of Spending More Quality Time Together

The ideas for family time are endless and can be tailored to your specific needs. For example, you can use a family game night to spend more quality time with your kids while teaching them and having fun at the same time. Some families choose to go out on a date night every month or so, while others prefer movie nights that allow them to watch their favorite movies together or work out how to watch hbo max outside us. You can come up with your own ideas for family time, as long as you have the right attitude and make it fun for everyone!

Tips for Families With Busy Schedules

There are some tips that can help families who have busy schedules to maximize the time they spend together.

– Schedule a regular family dinner hour.

– Take turns cooking dinner each night.

– Set aside one day of the week to do an activity as a family, like going to the movie theater or taking a walk in the park.

– Plan ahead for special occasions and holidays and take turns hosting them at your home.

How Children Benefit from Spending More Quality Time With Their Families

Children need to have a bond with their family members in order to grow up as healthy individuals. They need to spend quality time with their parents, grandparents and siblings. It is important for them to learn how to communicate and socialize with other people from the start of their lives.

In today’s world, children are spending too much time on screens. They are not interacting with the people around them and they don’t understand how relationships work. This type of lifestyle leads to unhealthy habits that will affect them in the future.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Cutting Costs When Inviting Family Round To Eat

June 6, 2022 By Anne

It is no secret that many people are struggling right now, and that growing living costs are putting a strain on many families’ family budgets. Food prices and rising energy costs make cooking, particularly entertaining, a potentially costly hobby. The good news is that, despite escalating prices, hosting a family lunch on a budget is achievable; you just need to know how to arrange it.

Photo by fauxels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-people-making-toast-3184183/

Here are some pointers to help you organize a family lunch on a budget while still eating well and having a wonderful time:

Get Rid Of The Takeout Menu

If ordering takeout is your typical method of entertaining friends, you are aware of how costly it can be. While ordering takeaway may appear to be an easy way to ensure that everyone gets to eat what they want, the cost can rapidly become overwhelming. You may have observed that the cost of ordering food has grown in recent months, so instead of ordering takeout, creating a menu and cooking dinner should be a more economical option. Of course, even a home-cooked lunch can be extremely expensive if you do not keep a tight watch on prices, but you will be able to spend significantly less if you carefully prepare your menu.

Keep Your Numbers Low

Inviting your entire family to dinner may seem like a fantastic idea and a great way to bring everyone together, but it may quickly spiral out of control. Creating a guest list and limiting your guests will help you keep your spending under control. When you have a large number of visitors to feed, it can be difficult to assess the amount of food you need and manage portion sizes. When catering to several guests, many people discover that they cook significantly more food than is required, resulting in food waste. Using a recipe such as macaroni salad recipe with egg can help you to learn how many guests can be fed while staying within budget.

Set A Budget

Setting a food budget and sticking to it is a sure-fire strategy to keep your expenditures under control. Thinking about how much you can afford to spend and breaking it up to pay for each course is an excellent approach to keep your expenditures in check. Shopping around for deals and special offers is a great way to get more food for your money. Don’t forget to include any extras which may cost more, such as drinks and snacks, when estimating your spending.

Don’t Do It All Yourself

If you generally say no when your guests offer to bring anything to a meal, now is the moment to change your tune. Inviting your friends to bring drinks, appetizers, or dessert is a great way to make your meal more reasonable and less expensive. You will be able to enjoy your family gathering without stressing about how much you are spending if the prices are maintained at a realistic level.

These tips should help you to keep costs down when you are hosting family or friends. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below.

Anne

Three Ways To Feed Your Family Healthier Food

May 13, 2022 By Anne

Are you trying to eat healthy but having trouble getting your entire family on board? If that’s the case, you’re not alone.

Many hurdles might stand in the way of better behaviours, ranging from stress and hectic work schedules to budget limits and limited food availability.

Furthermore, family members might not always agree on what to eat.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Parents who adhere to a specific diet may eat differently from the rest of the family. Meltdown prone toddlers may refuse to eat while crossing their arms in disgust at mealtimes. Teenagers may avoid family supper by stopping at the drive-through on their ride home.

It is feasible to get the entire family on board with healthy behaviours with a combination of thoughtful planning and a willingness to be flexible.

Here are some easy ways to make the family eat healthier:

You Don’t Need To Be Perfect

Despite what social media may well have you believe, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to eating healthier. This means that your meals don’t have to be costly, complicated, time-consuming, or photogenic. Instead, be realistic and do your best to assist your family in making healthy choices. Furthermore, by removing the pressure to have a flawless diet, you are more likely to find a healthy style of eating that works for your family. For example, a nice vegan pizza is bound to go down well.

Don’t Have Off Limit Foods

While some foods are undoubtedly more nutritious than others, it is critical to cultivating a good relationship with food by avoiding words like “bad” or “off-limits.”

Furthermore, being overly restrictive might lead to stress and tension during mealtimes.

Don’t consider any meal off-limits. All meals, in moderation, can fit into a healthy lifestyle. Consider using the terminology ‘always foods’ and sometimes foods.’ Fruits and vegetables are usually a good snack option, while birthday cake is only served on special occasions.

Make Sure Meal Planning Is Simple

Meal planning is an excellent time-saving method because you just have to go food shopping once or twice a week. Choosing which recipes to create, on the other hand, might be difficult. While there is a time and place for testing out a beautiful new Pinterest recipe, it’s best to stick to simple meal ideas during the week.

One approach to speed up the process is to plan meals around what you already have on hand. Using what you have on hand not only saves you time and money, but it also decreases food waste.

Another suggestion is to make meal preparation a collaborative activity by having a sheet of paper or a whiteboard board in the kitchen to keep a running list of food ideas to which the entire family can participate. Tired of preparing the same dishes week after week? Revisit old cookbooks that may be collecting dust in the basement or attic and save recipes that you’d like to make as a family.

These three tips should help feed your family healthy meals easier. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below.

Anne

4 Ways to Work Positively With Stubborn Parents

April 19, 2022 By Anne

https://unsplash.com/photos/P5c4cgJgg3g

There may come a time when your parents or parents need to change their current situation to make it easier for you and other family members to get to them in an emergency. This could come after the passing of an elderly relative or an injury. It could also be due to having a new child or recent retirement. Whatever the reason, it can sometimes be challenging to convince your parents that the change is necessary, especially if they have a reputation for stubbornness. A stubborn parent can make things more challenging than they need to be, which is why it’s so important to work positively with them.

Know When to Pick Your Battles

Picking your battles is important in any scenario. You don’t want to spend the mental energy arguing over something that, in the long run, won’t make a difference at all. Instead, you are better off considering which battles are more likely to push them towards the solution that’s best for them. If you know what arguments you can afford to lose, your stubborn parents may be more likely to accommodate other requests. When it comes to making significant changes, this could be a useful trump card to have in your pocket.

Remain Calm

More than anyone else, some parents just know how to push your buttons. They have seen what aggravates you for years, giving them the ammo they need to get under your skin and frustrate you to the point that you give up entirely. You mustn’t allow this to happen, and controlling your frustration (or at least not showing your frustration) can help you maintain a positive relationship with your elderly parents. If you stay calm during discussions, you can make your points more clearly, which can help you show parents what you mean.

Ask for Their Opinion

It’s always useful to ask your parents’ opinions on important issues, especially when it surrounds their health. Too many adult children will think they know what’s best, which can conjure the stubbornness that is so frustrating. If you can get your parents’ opinion on what they want to do or how they feel, it will be easier to find a conclusion that suits both of you.

Get Backup

However, even getting their opinion doesn’t always work. If you feel like you can’t handle the discussion yourself, backup is essential. This could be from a sibling, child, or other relatives, especially if your parents are more likely to listen to them. But, this may not be enough, either. In this case, professionals, such as doctors and nurses or an assisted living consultant, could be the solution as they bring a level of authority and respect that your parents may respond to when compared to you trying to make them change their lifestyle.

Stubborn

Even though your parents are stubborn, they may still understand where you are coming from as long as you take the right approach. They do not want you to force them to do anything, and it is better to make them feel they made this decision all by themselves.

Anne

How to Cook Nutritious Meals for Your Children During the Week

April 5, 2022 By Anne

Cooking nutritious meals for your children during the week can be a daunting task. Between work and school, it can be hard to find the time to cook something that is both healthy and tasty. However, with a little bit of organization and planning, you can easily create nutritious meals that your whole family will enjoy! This blog post will discuss some tips and tricks for cooking delicious and nutritious meals during the week.

Via Pexels

1) Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to ensure that you can cook nutritious meals during the week is to plan ahead. This means creating a grocery list and meal plan for the week and sticking to it! When you have a plan in place, you will be less likely to resort to unhealthy fast food options.

Additionally, planning ahead can help save you money. By creating a grocery list and sticking to it, you will avoid buying unnecessary items at the store. Additionally, planning out your meals can help you use leftovers in creative ways, which will help reduce wastefulness.

Finally, planning ahead can also make life easier on busy weeknights. By having a set menu for the week, you will know exactly what you need to cook and can avoid last-minute scrambling.

2) Choose Healthy Ingredients

When creating nutritious meals for your children, it is essential to choose healthy ingredients. This means opting for whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats rather than processed foods. Additionally, you can add in lots of fruits and vegetables to boost the nutritional value of your child’s meal.

Some good examples of healthy ingredients include:

– Whole grain pasta

– Lean protein such as grilled chicken or fish

– Fresh vegetables such as broccoli or kale

– Nutritious fats such as olive oil or avocado

By choosing healthy ingredients, you can be sure that your child is getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy and happy.

An excellent example of a healthy and delicious meal is baked ziti with ricotta and meat sauce. This dish is packed with nutrients, and it is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters! Click here to find the baked ziti recipe.

3) Get the Kids Involved

One of the best ways to ensure that your child will enjoy their meal is to get them involved in the cooking process. This can be as simple as letting them help chop vegetables or stirring ingredients together. Not only will this make them feel important and included, but it will also give them a sense of ownership over their meal.

In addition, getting the kids involved in the cooking process can teach them valuable skills and help instill a love of cooking at an early age. Who knows – they may even want to become a chef one day!

A great way to get your kids involved in cooking is to let them help prepare their own lunch or dinner. Some easy recipes that kids can make themselves include:

– Grilled cheese sandwich

– Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

– Fruit salad

– Veggie sticks with hummus

By letting your kids help in the kitchen, you can ensure that they will enjoy their meal and get the nutrients they need.

Cooking nutritious meals for your children during the week can be a daunting task, but it can be quickly done with a little bit of organization and planning! By choosing healthy ingredients and getting the kids involved in the cooking process, you can create delicious and nutritious meals that your whole family will love.