Top tips for making the most of mealtimes

Set achievable goals. Choose at least one day every week which is set aside for sharing a meal with family or friends. This should be an event which is an honoured and routine part of every week, whether it’s over a leisurely breakfast , dinner on a Friday or lunch on Sunday. Make sure everyone is involved, both in deciding the day and in making sure it’s kept free. Other things should not take priority on this important time.

When planning the meal try to choose something that is tasty but simple and easy to prepare. For example ‘one pot wonders’ such as delicious stews, hearty soups or healthy curries using ingredients such as chickpeas. Roasting in the oven is a great time saver and many meals can be cooked in the same roasting dish such as roast chicken with vegetables, or roast vegetables which can be mixed with other ingredients such as goats cheese and lentils.

Get others involved in preparing for the meal: Someone to decide on what will be served, someone to do the grocery shopping, and decide who will set the table, do the cooking and who will do the dishes. Rotate these tasks.

Planning meals in advance will save time in the long run and provide an opportunity to put a little more thought into introducing a variety of interesting dishes into mealtimes. Ask others for input into meal planning.

Making enough for two dinners helps with busy schedules during the week. Freeze the extra portions and use when time is tight.

If you have children, over the course of time get them involved in all aspects of mealtime preparation from menu planning, to cooking to doing the dishes.

Try to use the opportunity mealtimes provide to talk and share. A television on during a meal will be distracting even if its only in the background.

Mealtimes can be a great time for sharing experiences and ideas, to kick things
off, try asking each person to ‘bring a topic to the table’.

For more tips on eating healthily on a budget see our Food and Mental Health Campaign