If you feel like you just can’t win at mealtimes these days, you’re not alone.

The Covid crisis has changed so many aspects of our daily lives, and how we shop and eat has been one of the biggest adjustments for many people.

Many of us mums find ourselves trying to keep our little ones entertained all day while still accomplishing the other work and tasks we used to do while they were at school – and it can be quite stressful at times! 

This is one case where a bit of planning and forethought can go a really long way. Here’s a look at my six best tips to help you win at mealtimes during the coronavirus crisis.

1. Plan a month’s worth of meals

Sometimes figuring out what to eat can take almost as long as cooking does. And you definitely don’t want to be scrambling to figure out what you can make with whatever you can find in your pantry in the hours leading up to dinner. 

These days, we have to really plan well given how hard and unpredictable it can be to obtain groceries, so I’m going all out and planning a whole month’s worth of meals at once.

I love having one less thing to worry about each day – all I have to do is consult my list. You don’t have to stick to your plan rigidly, of course, but at least you’ll have something to guide you when you’re ordering groceries. 

2. Shop in advance or shop local

Right now, getting a reasonable delivery slot from a large supermarket can be an exercise in frustration. When you do get one, it may be quite a ways off, so meal planning and buying ahead is essential.

I find that local village shops are a lot quicker to deliver – and you may even be surprised to find smaller shops that don’t normally offer delivery doing so these days. 

3. Buy extras of the foods you can’t live without

When you do manage to get a food delivery or venture out to a store, be sure to get extras of the staples you can’t live without.

Thankfully, many of these types of foods can be frozen, such as bread, ham and cheeses. If you drink a lot of milk in your house, get the long-life variety and stock up.

That way, if you have to get a later delivery next time, you’ll still have some basics on hand to get you through and can rely on freezer meals to keep everyone fed until the next order comes.

4. Batch cook

As you might have already noticed, I’m a huge proponent of batch cooking in normal times, but I find it especially useful as we navigate life under coronavirus lockdowns. It gives me more time with my kids and makes it easier to juggle my never-ending task list. 

It also helps me ensure we have nutritious meals on hand, which is especially important now as we all try to keep our immune systems in fighting form.

And if God forbid my husband or I have to be isolated for some reason, the rest of us will have some homemade meals to get us through.

5. Have a meal prep day.

Designate one day as your meal prep day and devote an hour or two to getting some of your cooking tasks for the week out of the way.

This might entail batch cooking some entire meals, like big pots of chili or stew, or simply chopping up all the veggies you’ll need for the recipes you make during the week and leaving some sauces ready so your weeknight meals will come together faster. 

I wake up two hours ahead of everyone else on Sunday mornings to meal prep and batch cook for the week ahead, and it’s an investment that pays off nicely throughout the week.

6. Use your slow cooker.

My slow cooker is one of the best kitchen tools I’ve ever bought, and when I win at mealtimes, it often deserves much of the credit. I’m not a fan of having a lot of kitchen tools in general because I hate clutter, but my slow cooker is more than worthy of the space it occupies in my kitchen. 

It’s a big one, so it’s perfect for batch cooking, and it saves me time because I don’t have to constantly check on my food. It also saves energy – running it on low for 8 hours equals 30 minutes of electric oven use – and cheaper cuts of meat work beautifully in it, so I save on groceries as well. And did I mention I can make all sorts of delicious meals in it?!

Did you know I teach (online) how to whip up 4 meals in the slow cooker in 45 minutes or less?
Sometimes it’s even faster! Not only that, but I also teach how to batch cook using your slow cooker, how to convert virtually any stovetop/oven recipe to a slow cooker one, and of course plenty of how-tos and hacks. Go here to have a look at my value for money slow cooker course!

These are unprecedented times, so be kind to yourself. When you feel like you just can’t win at mealtimes, remind yourself that even getting some food on the table and gathering around to enjoy it with your family is a victory worth celebrating right now!

All my love,

Nakita xxx