The holidays are stressful, and preparing for the meal can be twice as hard when you also have children to look after and amuse (not to mention picky eaters to please). Inevitably, they will end up in the kitchen and under your feet. So how can you make the holiday spread without burning the buns? Below are six kid-friendly holiday meal planning tips.
1. Get Them Involved
The first thing you can do to make holiday meal prep easier on the whole family is to give everyone a job, including the little ones. You’re creating the perfect space for bonding and making memories by giving everyone a job, and it’s also more likely to keep everyone entertained and organized.
Try having young children mix ingredients or set the table. They want to imitate the adults in their life, so including them in the preparations isn’t just good for their sense of belonging; it also sets up foundational skills they’ll need as adults.
2. Let Them Decorate
If you’re not keen on having your kids in the kitchen or they are just too young to handle the responsibility, try giving them a different chore. Decorating for the holidays is an endless task and one that most kids will readily jump in on. Creating the place cards, decorating cookies, or setting up the centerpiece are great ways for your child to express their creativity.
If you want to add an element of elegance, you can have them pick out a flower arrangement for the table. FruitFlowers® offers some of the best FruitFlower® bouquet for dinner parties. Not only are they gorgeous flowers, but they come with decadent chocolate-covered fruits—the perfect dessert for kids and adults.
3. Let Them Pick Part of the Menu
Letting the kids pick out a dish for the menu is fun and can lead to some great family traditions. While you may not want to give them the reins over the entire meal, letting them select a side or dessert is enough to make them feel involved.
It’s also worth remembering that holiday meals are not always to a child’s taste. While adults can become baffled by a child’s pickiness during such an extravagant feast, they might feel overwhelmed by new textures and flavors. Putting something familiar on their plate can also help them open up to trying other foods.
4. Set a Timeline
Cooking a large meal should be treated as a marathon that you’ll need to prepare for before hitting the pavement. If there are steps you can complete before the main event, do them as early as possible. Several dishes can be fully or partially cooked and frozen, saving you a lot of time in the long run.
It’s also wise to try to write out the steps involved in making the meal. With clear instructions, you’re less likely to lose track of what you’re doing when kids breeze through with questions or complaints.
5. Serve a Mocktail
Mocktails are cocktails for kids, and they include all of the fun and flavor with none of the alcohol. Mix up Shirley Temples or pour sparkling grape juice into a champagne flute. Kids will have a blast joining in on the toasts and sipping their fancy beverages.
You can also allow them to create a signature drink of their own. Supply the kids with juice, fizzy soda, and sherbert for the perfect holiday punch. You can even give it a fun theme or name like Rudolph’s Red-Nosed Punch.
6. Give Yourself Grace
If the potatoes are a little dry or the rolls got crisp on the bottom, try not to beat yourself up. Children will only remember who stood in the kitchen and worked hard to put together a special meal for them. Giving yourself grace is important because the holidays are about coming together as a family.
It’s also important to ask for help when you need it. If you intend to serve many people, have everyone pitch in and bring a side. Or, ask someone close to you to occupy the kids while you work on getting everything ready. The kids will be grateful for some attention, and you’ll get some much-needed alone time.
Earning the Stamp of Approval
Kids are generally over-excited throughout the entire holiday season. Between the lights, noise, and extra sugar, getting a decent meal on the table can be tough. If you find yourself struggling, try engaging them in one of these fun activities and take a deep breath. The holidays don’t last forever, so soak up as much joy as you can while they’re around!
