4 Tips For Managing Mealtime Madness

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Red Baron® pizza. The opinions and text are all mine.

#Thebigone joined Cub Scouts last year, and he’s had so much fun earning patches with his pack. I’ve gotta say, it would be awesome to earn patches for all of my mommy accomplishments! Especially on those busy nights when we’re scrambling to make dinner before running out to one of the kid’s activities. Red Baron® Pizza has recently introduced the Baroness, and I love the patches she earns. She’s seriously the Ultimate #WingMama! Today, I’m sharing 4 simple tips to help you channel your inner Baroness while managing mealtime. Maybe you’ll even earn some of her patches for your mommy accomplishments!

RALLY THE TROOPS

There’s no reason mom has to get dinner on the table all by herself every night! Make your evening load a little lighter by enlisting help from your family. My hubs is not a great cook by any means, but he can definitely successfully pop a Red Baron® pizza into the oven for me. Kids can contribute to mealtime by setting or clearing the table, or mixing a salad. There’s no shame in asking for a little help, so go ahead and delegate when you need to. Anything to make managing mealtime a little easier! 

Earn It:

Ask Your Dad: Mom can’t be in charge of everything all the time, so ask your dad. ‘Nuff said!

MAKE MEALS YOU CAN MANAGE

Sometimes, you just have to know your limits. Every night isn’t going to be the right night for a multi-course meal. I know mom guilt is running rampant these days, but in my opinion, there’s no shame in preparing meals that keep your stress low. I love the convenience of grabbing a few Red Baron® pizzas from the freezer aisle on one of my frequent Target runs, and keeping them in the freezer. They’re the perfect solution to make managing mealtimes easier. 

When I’m choosing simpler meals to prepare, I always try to keep in mind what my kids will eat. After a busy day, the last thing I want to deal with is stress over picky eaters refusing meals. Luckily, Red Baron® pizza comes in several varieties, so I can make sure everyone is happy and fed. #Thebigone loves any Red Baron® Classic Crust pizza with meat on top, while #thelittleone is a fan of Red Baron® Thin & Crispy pizza with cheese. My husband is the least picky eater I know, so he’ll gladly eat any pizza, but Red Baron® Brick Oven pizza is definitely his favorite. 

Earn it:

Nailed It: Family ate every bite of dinner? A day to remember, for sure.

KEEP CLEAN UP QUICK

Setting the table with paper plates or plastic silverware is a great way to cut some of your evening stress. This is something we only do on particularly busy nights, like when we need to rush #thebigone to scouts or the library. It’s a small change that really makes such a difference in the amount of mealtime work you have to do.

Earn It:

Whatever Works: ‘Cause some days, you just have to do what works for your family, paper plates and all!

CONTAIN THE KIDS

One of my major challenges in managing mealtime is dealing with my kiddos. Especially after a busy day at school and daycare, when they have so much to tell me with energy to burn. It’s nearly impossible for me to prepare a meal with a clingy toddler in my arms though, so I’ve had to come up with some quiet solutions for them.

I created this fun pizza night printable so my kids can sit at the table while I’m working on pulling dinner together. They can still talk with me about their day, but I’m able to move freely and use both hands. The printable is perfect for giving my boys a chance to be creative before dinner, and such a simple way to keep them busy without relying on a screen. As a bonus, it’s created to be used over and over again, so I can pull it out as often as I need to.

Be sure to scroll down to grab your own pizza night printable. After it’s printed, be sure to laminate it, or sandwich it between contact papers. This makes it more sturdy and reusable. Kids can create their own custom topped pizza while you cook. My boys enjoy using dry erase markers to draw right on the mat. It’s simple to wipe clean and start over as many times as they want. Some evenings, when I’m feeling extra brave and patient, I let them sculpt their pizza toppings with play dough. The pizza night printable pulls double duty as a placemat as well, so you can wipe it down when you’re ready to serve dinner.

Earn It:

Mothers Slay: Your kids are happily engaged in a creative activity and you’ve got dinner in the oven. You’ve got this under control, mama!

FEELING LUCKY?

Channel The Baroness within you, and try your luck at this limited time game. The Baroness Instant Scratch & Win Game hosted by Red Baron® is your chance to win some great eGiftcards! It won’t be around forever, so be sure to play today!

Do You Have Any Tips For Managing Mealtime Madness In Your Home? Share Them In The Comments Below!

> > > GRAB YOUR PIZZA NIGHT PRINTABLE HERE! < < <