My Secret Weapon for Conquering Mealtime Chaos

Come 6 o’clock I have seen it all. From melt downs to tantrums and hysterical laughter to instant tears. It’s also the time where I have reached my exhaustion breaking point. The last thing I want to hear is fighting, screaming or crying. I’ve never really enjoyed cooking, especially when there are about 20+ directions and tons of ingredients. It’s overwhelming to me and the thought of spending hours on a meal, only for my kids to not eat it, would drive me insane. In our house, mealtime has never been a battle. If the kids don’t want to eat, fine. If they do, that’s great. I’ve learned that simple meals go over a lot better than fancy foods. A staple in our house for dinner is Red Baron® pizza. The Red Baron® Classic Crust is one we can all agree on. It’s not too thick and not too thin, with just the right amount of crunch. I also love that I can find it right in the frozen section at Target. It’s a match made in Heaven since I am there a few times a week. I’ve always been a fan of things that make my life easier. Because after all, if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy! To make mealtimes run a little smoother in our household, I tend to follow five simple basics.

Tips for a Stress Free Dinner

1. Make Mealtime fun! It’s a no brainer, kids respond to fun. The more you can make a potential battle seem like a day at the beach, the easier it is for everyone. Whether it’s everyday food cut into shapes, serving dinner on their favorite character plates, or a classic cheese pizza and a movie, dinnertime can be fun and laid-back.
2. Dinner doesn’t always have to be eaten at the dinner table. After my kids have been in school all day having to sit, be still and listen to rules, how can I possibly expect them to sit still at the table for a meal? We are totally laid back when it comes to where the kids eat. Now that the brutal Atlanta summer is behind us, we have loved enjoying mealtime together on the deck.
3. Don’t make mealtime a big deal. Have you noticed that the more you want your child to do something, the more they resist you? When dinner is ready I don’t make a huge spectacle or announce it. I simply set the plates down in front of the kids and say “Dinner!” one time.
4. Limit the amount of liquids. I don’t know about your kids, but mine can chug 10 ounces of milk in record breaking time. Then, not surprisingly, they’re full and want nothing to do with food. I make sure that they at least finish half of what’s on their plate before giving them milk.
5. Last but not least, give yourself some credit! After a long day, us mama’s know that our patience has run thin and we are counting down the hours until bedtime. Don’t let the stress of mealtime get to you. Remember, don’t sweat the small stuff. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if kids eat their dinner or not.

I’ve always approached motherhood with a “whatever works” attitude. I believe that babies should be fed, kids should be happy and parents should cut themselves some slack. I don’t stress over being the perfect parent and having my kids be geniuses. I do the best that I can knowing that my children are immensely loved. Just because you’re not feeding your children fresh, organic produce grown in your backyard does not mean you’re failing at being a parent. Mothers around the world all deserve the title of The Ultimate #WingMama, who helps busy moms find humor in the often-hectic moments of motherhood. The patches earned as a Red Baron® Ultimate #WingMama include Napkin Ninja, Clean Plate Club, Freezer Wizard and Tantrum Slayer. I’ll never forget one day when it was pouring out, there were no groceries in the house and the only thing we had to eat was hamburger buns. I kid you not, I slathered butter on that puppy and let the kids eat several for breakfast. Don’t believe me? Check out this Instagram post to prove it. My husband and I try to find humor in our everyday raising kids. Between all that life gives us to juggle, mealtime shouldn’t be one of them.

Right now you can have a little fun with The Baroness Instand Scratch & Win Game at RedBaronBaroness.com. Play each day for your chance to win daily prizes! Each day, 2 lucky winners will win a $10 eGiftcard and 3 lucky winners will win a $25 eGiftcard!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave