Stay at Home Mom Trick: Feed the Kids, Stay Sane

My kids eat approximately a bazillion times throughout the day. I am constantly refilling a sippy cup, or chopping up fruit or cheese, or preparing lunch, or something food related. Or at least that's what it feels like.

When G-Girl started Kindergarten last year I happened upon a very cool trick that has been saving my sanity. While packing G-Girls lunch I often also premake lunch and snacks for her little sister. I'm already washing and chopping fresh fruit, why not just chop a bit more and pack it away for tomorrow?

I store it in a small lidded bowl, or a bowl with plastic wrap over top and voila, instant snack when the little one starts to grumble. It saves me time over all and makes school days run oh so much smoother. I've often thought that what I really need to do is pre-make lunches and snacks for both kids on the off school days. I also often wonder why I never thought of this before? I wish someone had suggested this to me long before G started school.

Then I read this lunchtime tips from Celebrity Chef Donna Dooher --

Prepare ahead of time – If you've got a busy week ahead, take some time on Sunday evening to chop veggies and fruits so they are ready to divvy up into reusable containers in the mornings when the family is in a rush.

And I'm thinking, I SO need to do this! Spend a chunk of time on Sunday chopping up cheese and fruit and pre-packing it for snacks and lunches throughout the week. No more little one standing at the kitchen gate howling at me while I try and chop faster? Brilliant!

In case you missed it, check out my previous post for the full list of helpful lunchtime tips from Chef Donna Dooher, and for your chance to win a $180 gift basket from Metro!