Get Dinner Done Fast

While point #2 in my Family Cooking Mantra advises against worrying about time when you cook with your kids, every family has time constraints when it comes to making meals. The menu you choose is going to have a big effect on what time you serve dinner and how long it will take to prepare--with or without your children.

At my house, each child sets the dinner menu once a week. In general, we stick to recipes that can be assembled in 20 to 30 minutes. When the boys ask for pizza at 6 p.m., I have to explain that the dough won't have time to rise. Instead, we might make the dough (which only takes about 10 minutes) and store it in the refrigerator so we can have pizza the next night.

Involving my sons in this way teaches them time management and assigns them some of the responsibility for meals they choose. They think nothing of running to the corner store when we need something for their recipe. If that ingredient isn't available, then they have to accept that they did not plan well and that we will have to make something else. It's wonderful to watch your children develop an appreciation for the meal-making process. Include them when you plan and prepare their meals. You will see what I mean.

I should emphasize that my sons are not my servants. Whenever they are otherwise occupied or not in the mood, I prepare the evening's meal. This means I get to make what I want, and I usually choose something quick. Believe it or not, once you're used to having the kids in the kitchen with you, you will notice that it takes longer to cook by yourself. When my sons help, more hands are busy, everyone's talking and enjoying themselves; time flies by--and I have more fun.

Here are some pointers for keeping the preparation time under control:

•Welcome your kids' help. Their involvement in the process eliminates the "I'm starving! When do we eat?" syndrome.

•Develop a list of family recipes and categorize them according to preparation time. This way you can choose the recipe that will work with the time you have between the teacher conferences, sports practices and all the zillion and one other dinner conflicts.

•Let your children choose a meal from your family favorites the night before. Then involve them in the planning process to help them learn about timing.

•Invite homework and other school-related activities into the kitchen or nearby. Some kids lose interest in cooking after a few minutes, but you can still be together as dinner is prepared and you can help them with their work as necessary.

•Allow snacking during dinner prep, but only on fruit and vegetables. They don't tend to ruin appetites like chips do.