How Do You Cook?

[URMySunshine77]

My son recently graduated to a booster seat, so now I can't necessarily fasten him into his high chair while I cook or do dishes. He really puts up a fight now.

Now I can't prepare a meal and cook while he is running around the house willy nilly. Last time I tried to prepare food for five minutes he was opening the diaper cream in the changing room. So this made me wonder how you other mothers do it. Are you finding time to cook real meals? Any tips? I really miss cooking whole foods instead of scraping together this and that for meals.

[Deleted]

I use the TV as a babysitter. All my meals are 20 minutes or less.

[ann86]

I use the TV or set her up in the dining room where I can see her with her coloring book or now her easel. She only has washable stuff so I don't keep a close eye on her coloring.

[ann86]

I also do a lot of crockpot meals

[chilibeansm0m]

Are you cooking solo a lot? I make dh in charge while I cook. But if that isn't the option i do second the prep when you do have a chunk of time. When i was home with R i would use nap time to get dinner at least started.

R doesn't pay enough attention to the tv to allow me to only use that as a babysitter unfortunately. It usually only holds her attention for 10 min tops.

[jcar]

I usually have DH watch DS while I cook or if he's not home I cook something easy (like grilled cheese).

[URMySunshine77]

Thanks for all of your advice. DH never gets home before 8, so that is why I always feel stuck. I have horrible mommy guilty about using TV, but I need to get over it now that he is two.

[TheEleventhHour]

Luckily our house is set up where I can see DS in the living room and he hasn't been too mischievous as of late so I usually just let him play while I cook. I will also use TV. Or I will bring toys into the kitchen. He has a shopping cart and loves going into the pantry and "shopping" by taking out cans, pushing them around the island, and then putting them back. As he gets older he is also more interested in cooking so I will sit him on the counter and let him see what I am doing while he eats a snack.

[URMySunshine77]

Feb 14, 2015 21:08:42 GMT -5 @aeroplaneoverthesea said:

Feb 14, 2015 21:02:10 GMT -5 URMySunshine77 said:

Thanks for all of your advice. DH never gets home before 8, so that is why I always feel stuck. I have horrible mommy guilty about using TV, but I need to get over it now that he is two.

I use to as well. Then I stopped giving a shit. I'm making dinner while he watches 20 mins of PBS, it's not like I'm ignoring him to go freebase crack. Sounds like you're doing a great job especially solo until 8!

@aeroplaneoverthesea:

Does that mean I have to give up freebase? 

[tarheelmom]

Bubble guppies or snacks if DH isn't available to help. Though we still use a strapped booster (see link) since we have a counter high dining set. We don't use the tray anymore, just push her up to the table. We've never actually used the counter attachment feature, just secure to the dining room chair.

www.target.com/p/summer-infant-secureseat-booster-seat/-/A-13933371#prodSlot=medium_1_7

[michieu129]

I try to prep food, like cut the veggies and season meat, in the morning, then cook as much of it as I can in the afternoon while he naps. Then I just reheat everything in the microwave.
I really cannot cook anything longer than 30 minutes if he is awake and running around. And, it absolutely cannot be something I need to watch carefully.
ETA: for the 10-15 minutes I am nuking food and preparing food for the dog, I will give him the ipad if he is being clingy or put on Thomas for 10 minutes.  

[brachysira]

I also use the TV, probably even more than everyone else. I also do a lot of crockpot. I will do a huge batch of chicken breasts and beans and then use them during the week to make things like soup and burritos that only take a few minutes to prepare. When I cook breakfast and lunch, I just do easy things and put DD in her chair with some fruit, her cup, and some Cheerios or something and that gives me time to cook an egg or whatever.

[littleheaven]

dh is usually home when i start to cook, or he's on his way home with her...we usually got home at the same time, so he could entertain her while i cook....
now...she's still in day care most of the week, so he still has her....depending on what it is we have for dinner, it's usually the same thing....he entertains her while i cook or i entertain her while he cooks....or we let her sit at the table with her ipad if we're both cooking...
also, there are times she doesn't always eat what we eat, so i'll just heat her up chicken nuggets and she'll eat while we're cooking

[b0710]

I have my husband do it Seriously, he's a great cook and cooks about 75% of the time. When I cook I don't have to worry too much because our main level is one big area except for doors that I can close (and stairs that are gated off). I love the layout of our house for many reasons, but this is a huge perk! I got lucky!

[bennikki]

I can see him (the 2 yo) from the kitchen, so he plays while I cook (I often babywear my newborn). DS1 helps me cook if he's interested. Most of my meals involve 20 minutes or less of prep then have to finish in the oven or simmer on the stove for another 20-30 minutes (sometimes longer) that's when I get their baths in. DH gets home around 7 this time of year, and that's when we eat, so kids are bathed and in their PJ's for supper. My dinners aren't very elaborate, usually a protein that's seared on the stove and finished in the oven, a sauteed vegetable or salad, and a raw fruit or applesauce. If it's an involved meal, I have to save it for the weekend when I can prep during naps or DH and I are both home to handle the boys while the other cooks.

[Stacy33]

Chalkboard walls in the kitchen work great.