By Toni-Maree Hannan
Organising dinner has been revealed as one of the most stressful tasks for Aussies. In fact, new research from EveryPlate shows more than half of Australians (58%) find organising dinner to be one of the most stressful daily activities, while over a third (36%) experience a ‘lack of control’ when organising mid-week meals.
To help Aussies regain control in the kitchen, budget-friendly meal-kit service EveryPlate has partnered with life coach and anxiety counsellor, Toni-Maree Hannan, to share advice for Aussie families on how to take back control of their life, starting with dinner.
Keep it simple
Getting on top of dinner time stress starts with keeping it simple. We have the best intentions when planning a weeknight dinner but, among the mid-week chaos, an easy meal plan is the way to go. Start with a simple meal plan and recipes you can follow, to avoid any sense of being overwhelmed.
Get the family involved
It’s no secret that the age old question of “is dinner ready?” is a cause of stress for most Aussie parents. By getting the kids involved in dinner – whether it’s helping decide what you’ll cook for the week or setting the table – you’ll not only keep them occupied, but you’ll also give them a sense of achievement and a chance for family bonding and quality time together. This creates a positive environment and will ultimately reduce a sense of anxiety around dinner.
Take back time
One of the biggest triggers for anxiety is feeling as if you don’t have enough time. Finding ways to save or create time throughout the week is key, especially when it comes to meal planning, buying groceries, and cooking meals during the week. Using a meal-kit delivery service like EveryPlate saves planning and shopping time, with pre-portioned ingredients delivered to your door, and easy four-step recipes that have minimal prep and less to wash up.
This helps you to minimise the time spent organising dinner and maximise the amount of time you have to do things you enjoy.
Create a routine
Kids (and adults!) thrive off routine, so by setting and sticking to daily and weekly habits, you’ll be able to take control of dinner. Find a regular time that works for you to plan and shop for your meals each week and set a regular time for dinner each night to give you the reassurance that dinner is sorted.
Stick to your budget
Overspending at the supermarket is one of the biggest stresses for Aussie families. Meal-kits are an effective option for budget-conscious families, as they provide a clear cost per week. EveryPlate works out cheaper than the supermarket, starting at $3.99 per plate. It’s perfect for Aussies looking for a budget-friendly meal kit with good quality ingredients without any fancy extras.
