It’s hard to believe that the holidays are upon us once again. It seems like just yesterday we were saying that for the previous season. Quite often it flies by so quickly and in a rush that it’s difficult to enjoy it all.

The decorating, shopping, school festivities, parties, wrapping, baking…what did I forget? Oh, yes, family meals. That’s because it can easily be one of the last things we focus on during the holiday season, with everything else that is going on.

However, eating well and balanced meals are a necessity, even in November and December. Our health should not be thrown to the wind, just because we are too busy. I often wonder if that is why there is so much sickness around the holidays.

So, a couple years ago I made sure to have a plan in place, assuring that we could eat fairly normal during this time. Of course it won’t be perfect, and the snacks and goodies, which we all bake, will get in our way of being completely balanced. But, my goal for our house is to not let it get out of hand.

I’m going to share some of my ideas, just in case you are just as tired as I was with the annual holiday weight gain, and sugar highs that were causing sleepless nights.

Be Well Equipped

Before the lights are strung, and the tree is up, I make sure that my kitchen is in good condition, as well as all the tools and equipment that I need for making the everyday meals, as well as the big day meals…and of course, the baking.

I check the oven, pots, cookie sheets, hand mixer, and especially my food processor because I would be lost without that gem. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting a good one. If you are unsure about what kind, size, and quality to get, simply Google food processor reviews.

Planning a Weekly Menu

Once I know everything is in working order, I grab a calendar to sit down and plan out a weekly menu. By doing this, it saves the time and frustration of having to come up with dinner plans at the last minute. It also saves money, if you can plan your menu based on the market’s sales for the upcoming week, along with the paper’s coupons.

I take the weekly ads from the paper to look what is on sale, as well as the coupons. I can then plan out the entire week’s menu, and save money. This frees up the family’s time, and the extra events that the holidays bring on are not as rushed.

Get the Family Involved

I also get help from the family when the menu is posted ahead of time. For example, if my husband finishes with work before I do, he can then get it started.

Even though my kids are young, they like to help out as well. We like to find little tasks for them to do, so they feel a part of the plans. They like to set the table, help with the coupons, and check off the daily menu when we are done with dinner. This can also double as a countdown calendar for Christmas.

Any little piece of help the family can provide helps to keep day feel less rushed.

Prepare and Cook what You can Ahead of Time

With many meals, there are things you can do ahead of time, either by hours, or even days.

There are some meals that can be made ahead, and then placed in the freezer until you are ready, such as lasagna, chili, and chicken pot pie. Simply take the items out of the freezer the night before and place it in the refrigerator, and cook when ready. If you take the time to make a pan of lasagna two weeks earlier, make two and freeze one.

Other ingredients can be prepared ahead of time, and either frozen for a week or two later, or for the next day. Here’s just a sample:

* Chopped Onion
* Bell Peppers
* Strawberries
* Chopped Nuts
* Shredded Cheese
* Corn off the Cob

This is just a small list to give you an idea of what you can do ahead of time and place in the freezer to save time. Place them in a plastic bag, and then label them with a marker.

It might not sound like much, but you will be surprised at how much time it can save you. After all, when we are rushing around, trying to get to the school play, or choir practice, we aren’t typically an hour late, but rather just a few minutes. Less time than it takes to chop all those ingredients, actually.

In Closing

I hope I have been able to help you with a few tips on cutting down on the rush of the holidays, allowing you time to enjoy the extra festivities with your family.

For me, since I have implemented these ideas, our home has felt less rushed and more joyous.

Happy Holidays to you all!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Cameron lives in Texas with her husband and two young children. As a freelance writer, she enjoys writing about parenting and local history. After once seeing her enthusiastic purchase of a Cuisinart toaster, her husband thought she should add ‘finding the best buys’ to her topic list. So, she did.

Though advertisements and the telly would have you believe otherwise, there are many ways to spend fun afternoons with your children without spending a pound. Especially when the financial climate has families struggling to make ends meet, parents should consider gifting their children experiences that will make lasting memories instead of costly gifts or expensive nights out.

Outdoor activities

On a nice day, try spending the afternoon at a park, which will give your children the chance to socialise with other kids and the chance to get a healthy dose of exercise. You can arrange to meet family friends or their school mates, or just spend a quick half hour before the sun goes down.

Country walks or hiking trails are also a good way to spend quality time while giving the whole family a workout. Pack food and some games to occupy your time during a much-needed rest, and then get back to exploring! You can take a book on the local birds, trees, or insects, or take pictures with your phone to look up when you get home. The most important thing to remember is to keep them interested and excited about your afternoon as outdoor adventurers.

If the season is right, take a basket or plastic bag for each child and take them for a berry picking mission! The fruits of your labor mean you can make pies or preserves that the whole family will love and know that they contributed to.

Flying a kite is another excellent way to get children out of the house without much cost, and they will remember the excitement flying their first kite for years to come. Pick a windy day and bring a stopwatch to celebrate how long your kids could keep the kite in the air. Don’t forget a warm treat like tea or hot chocolate as a treat after a windy workout!

Winter activities

The cold months surrounding the holidays may find you hard-pressed to take your children out on a budget, but there are still many things to do while the weather is not so nice.

A rainy or snowy day is the perfect opportunity to comb your local library for literary treasures. You can let your child pick out a book to read, and perhaps find one of your favourite childhood books to share with them.

Galleries and museums often have free days or let children under a certain age enter free. You can take this chance to expose them to art, history, and culture and cultivate their creative side.

About the Author

Andrea Vane from www.comparejuniorisa.com writes mainly about the Junior ISA

A little bit of sugar makes the medicine go down, according to Mary Poppins.  The same holds true with vegetables as well as medicine.  No, of course we are not advocating putting the sugar bowl next to your child’s plate, but the same concept can work with all sorts of other ingredients. Here are some great vegetable recipes that will have your children asking for seconds.

 

Creamed Spinach

No one but Popeye likes spinach in its pure, unadulterated form.  But bathe it in a creamy sauce, and you can just see the muscles pop!

 

In a small saucepan, melt a tablespoon of butter or margarine.  Gradually sprinkle in a tablespoon of flour.  Stir quickly and vigorously until well blended into a paste.  Gradually add a cup of milk, or if you are not concerned about calories, cream.  Keep whisking until smooth and thick. Mix well with cooked fresh or frozen chopped spinach.

 

Candied Carrots

Looks like we lied about the sugar bowl on the dinner table.  This is a quick and delicious way to get everyone, not just children to love their carrots.

 

In a small saucepan, melt a tablespoon of butter or margarine. Add a tablespoon of granulated brown sugar.  Stir until the sugar is melted into the butter.  Pour over well drained cooked carrots, frozen or fresh, and then toss to blend flavors.

 

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

 

Every child of my acquaintance loves cheese, so why don’t we just wrap it around everything they don’t like to eat?  Full of vitamins and calcium, they will be getting a double whammy of good for them vegetables and cheese.

 

In a microwaveable cup or bowl, put about a cup of grated American cheese.  Microwave on medium for about a minute.  Stir and microwave for another minute until completely melted.  Pour over steamed broccoli heads in a baking dish and blend gently, so as not to break up the heads.   Sprinkle bread crumbs over and dot with butter. Bake for 5 minutes to melt the butter and crisp the bread crumbs.

 

Vegetables with Dip

If you have really fussy kids, or in a pinch, one sure way of getting the good vitamins from vegetables into your kids’ bellies is to just serve raw vegetables that they like. Carrot sticks, pepper strips, celery and cucumbers sections make a delicious and colorful platter of great food that they can dip into the sauce of your choice.

I’m writing on many topics, including criminal background check, basic background check and investigating someone in general.