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Bringing an End to the Meal-Time Rush |
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For years, mothers have referred to the period of time between 4
and 7 p.m. as the hardest part of the day. The reason? That's
the time when children begin getting antsy, waiting for dinner
to arrive. Because they're hungry, their nerves tend to be on
edge, resulting in more fussiness. It creates more work for the
mother, as she must figure out a way to entertain the brood,
while cooking dinner at the same time.
Even if you don't have children, meal time can be major stress
time. Your mate might become irritable while awaiting dinner,
and you might be grumpy as well. Hunger can be a powerful
motivator, but it can also be the cause of major stress.
Sometimes, you might find it difficult to concentrate as your
stomach is growling.
While cooking can be relaxing for some, it is a stressful
enterprise for others. There's the pressure involved in making
the recipe turn out right, each time. If dinner proves
disastrous, your entire night can be ruined. It can be difficult
to recover, once you've failed at preparing your evening meal.
Although there might always be some stress associated with
cooking dinner, it doesn't have to be an overwhelmingly
stressful event. There are techniques you can use in order to
better manage your stress, making dinnertime a pleasant event
for the entire family. If you put these techniques into
practice, chances are your mealtime preparations will proceed
much more smoothly.
To begin with, you need to make sure that you have a relaxing
atmosphere to |
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work in. This can mean turning on the radio or
putting on your favorite CD. Having music in the
background--particularly soothing music--can make it easier for
you to do your work in the kitchen. If you have little ones,
consider tiding them over with a healthy snack. Also, you can
occupy their time with a special video or game. Another
technique is to encourage them to join in the preparations. They
might be able to stir the soup or set the table. Getting them
involved in the action can help to alleviate their boredom, and
can provide you with some extra set of hands besides!
You might also consider making a few major meals on the
weekend, when your time is more plentiful, and freezing them for
use during the week. A good stew or casserole might last you for
most of the week, decreasing your mealtime stress considerably.
Some families have joined together in an effort to battle
meal-time stress. They've formed cooking clubs, enabling them to
share the burden of preparing meals. For instance, one family
might be responsible for meals for a group of families during a
given week. The next week, it's another family's turn. If you're
not used to preparing food for a large amount of people, this
sort of system might not work. However, if you like the idea of
sharing the responsibility for meals--and the camaraderie that
might result--such a cooking club may be the perfect fit for you.
In some cases, you might have to lower your personal
expectations in order to reduce your meal-time stress. |
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Untitled Document
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A growing number of designers are applying their skills and entrepreneurial zeal to empower the billions of people who lack basic products and services.
CHONGQING, China, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd. (NYSE: CCSC) ("Country Style Cooking" or the "Company"), a fast-growing quick service ...
A neophyte learns to cook Italian dishes at a couples’ class run by a no-nonsense teacher, Vicki J. Caparulo, at the Institute of Culinary Education.
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