One of the things that we love to share with our readers here at A Helicopter Mom is ways to save time. Tips, tricks and ideas for doing things more easily and more quickly so busy moms can have more time for other activities.
But I’ll admit, I’m guilty of finding ways to rush through meal preparation too. When the kids have homework, sports practices and after-school programs, I’ve often looked for the quick and easy way to get a dinner on the table.
So when I agreed to partner with Wolf on an initiative called Reclaim the Kitchen, I did some soul-searching about what’s most important in our house.
Instead of rushing through meal-preparation (and often even the meal itself), I want to take more time. To enjoy the process as well as the result. To spend quality time cooking with the kids and to enjoy serving healthier meals cooked with fresh ingredients.
When I think about how my own family’s priorities have changed over the years, I wasn’t surprised to learn that Americans eat fewer family meals together in the home than ever before. Instead of eating 98% of meals in the home like families did in 1900, we now eat less than 50%. Not only that, but Americans actually spend less money at the grocery store now than in any other time in history. And we only spend an average of 31 minutes a day preparing meals.
That’s kind of sad, I think.
I’m guilty of it too, though, so I totally get it.
We have busy schedules. Between my husband’s and my work hours and the kids’ school, homework and activities, it seems like we have less time to spend together. I rush through meals to make time for other things, but that time is actually important. I can spend that quality time with my children, as we prepare dinner together or just chat and catch up while I work on the food.
We’ve gotten away from having the kitchen be the heart of the home, the way it used to be. We’ve begun to spend less time in the kitchen and I want to change that.
We want to reclaim the kitchen.
Wolf is helping Americans to get out of the drive-thru line and back into their kitchens.
The Reclaim the Kitchen program gives tips, resources and inspiration to help Americans reclaim the love of preparing food in the home.
Learn more about Wolf and Reclaim the Kitchen:
Do you want to reclaim your kitchen?
This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Wolf blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.
Heather in VA says
My husband lost his job and I’ve been reclaiming the kitchen ever since. I’ve lost five pounds just by dropping meat from our diet twice a week. I bake more cakes and cookies and am teaching both my daughters to cook from scratch. I actually enjoy it and so do they!
Natalie says
Eating at home is SO important! We try to eat at home 5x.week
Dana Rodriguez says
We rarely eat out..I mean REAL Rare.I cook during the week and pack lunches and on the weekend my fiance’ usually does most of the cooking.
Cynthia C says
I love eating at home where I have control over what goes into my food.
Rosie says
I have reclaimed my kitchen! I don’t know what happened, but for some years it just wasn’t considered the thing to do, to be spending time in the kitchen making lots of delish food – just hurry and get it over with!!! Glad to not be in that kind of groove, as I’ve been on many kitchen culinary adventures, trying new things, simple and fancy, luvin every minute!
Betsy Barnes says
Since our son is grown, hubby and I have been cooking together. It started as a fun date night because we were eating out a lot. We now cook together at least three times a week. It has be really fun being in the kitchen together 🙂
Margot C says
I don’t have to reclaim my kitchen, w live in it practically
Laura W says
When I get home from work I’m exhausted, and the last thing I want to do is think about cooking. But the benefits of making a real meal outweigh the few extra minutes of work it would take. I try to plan out the meals ahead of time and do prep work at times when I have more energy so it’s easier to cook at the end of a long day.
karen lynn says
we have been spending more time cooking as a family and it makes a difference in how everything turns out and taste and were doing it together
Melissa S says
We eat and cook at home almost every night, but I need to get my son more involved so that he knows how to cook for himself as he gets older.
Leela says
I always want to reclaim my kitchen.
Nikolina says
Awesome post, really made me think about some everyday mistakes I make and I why I no longer enjoy cooking… Thank you!
Rajee Pandi says
cooking at home is best
Linda Bradshaw says
We only eat out on the 1st of the month. Other than that, we live in our kitchen!
bilqees bano says
This is so true
Samantha Peres says
Great thoughts.
Elena Rudaya says
I reclaim my kitchen everyday, and sometimes up to 3 hours in a row, hehe
Judy Thomas says
What a truly wonderful idea!
Morgana DeLarge says
Very useful, thank you!
Sarah L says
Having kids help with meals has many benefits. You get quality time with them, they learn what it takes to make things and they’re much more likely to eat what they help fix.
molli vandehey says
as the child of a hoarder, we never used our kitchen or prepared anything, aso i have had to learn the skills and joy of the kitchen on my own. it;’s now my favourite room o f the house
Emily Endrizzi says
I wish I could learn how to love to cook, but I honestly just don’t. I never have. My parent’s both cooked during my childhood and we always had a family meal together, but for some reason it just never rubbed off on me like it did with my sister.
mae abigail songco says
we use our kitchen all the time, we love food!
laurie says
This makes a lot of sense!
Sania Wasif says
I love to have capsicum so much!
Jessica Snow says
This is so true. I couldn’t agree more about this. It’s so sad that families no longer sit at the dinner table like they used too. We have started to dedicate at least one day a week to all sit and share a meal and our current events.
Amanda Sakovitz says
I’m all about saving time in the kitchen. I honestly think of dinner as chore so I need to learn to like it just a little more!
Theresa Smith says
We eat out once a week more as something to do. Other than that I cook at home. We don’t have a kitchen table as our kitchen is too small. But we do eat homemade meals.
Susan Smith says
I cook most of our meals at home, it’d cheaper and better for my family. They aren’t fancy meals but my family enjoys them.
Joy Venters says
I like to control the ingredients
Shakeia Rieux says
I’m the one who cooks most of the time for my boyfriend
anita says
Eating at home is the best for family bonding!
Buddy Garrett says
Recaliming the kitchen sounds great. However with all of our different commitments we hardly ever get to spend a dinner together.
JM says
I like the sound advice. I will use this for helping in my kitchen.