Good Things Come in Threes — Cooking for Large Families

With three children, everyday things become more difficult logistically: in the car, the back seat can be cramped when booster seats are required for younger children; at home, there may not be enough bedrooms for one bedroom each; two player computer games cause arguments; frozen food packed in quantities of four are awkward.

For families with two adults, going from two to three children will feel different when you are out on day trips. You’ll notice that when there were two kids and two adults, one adult per child was perfect: you could cross the road safely, hold hands when walking and give your little one every little bit of your attention.

Child number three will alter the dynamics completely. But expanding your family means even more fun to be had, a lifetime of entertaining challenges and never a dull moment. After all, tables extend, bunk beds are cheap, there’s always room for an extra stool or bean bag, and the more children you have the more laughter and friendships will be made. 

The key to keeping three children safe and healthy is planning the meals in advance. If you have time to prepare food earlier in the day, a slow cooker is a priceless piece of equipment. With a little preparation in the morning, a hot meal can be simmering away as soon as you all get home. Not only that, it’s ideal if you have people who are wanting to eat at different times as the food stays hot without overcooking — perfect if the kids want to eat early and the adults want to eat later. A slow cooker is also a good solution for families with children with different tastes. For example, you could make a meat casserole with vegetables and dumplings, or a curry, but pick out the meat for a hot sandwich or wrap for a fussy eater.

When shopping, plan meals for the week ahead. If possible, throw in lots of healthy snacks too. When the kids come home from school, they’ll want food immediately and expecting them to wait hours for a meal to cook will turn your little monsters into grumpy menaces, causing lots of problems. Try to have something waiting for them. If you haven’t had time to prepare a meal, this is where the healthy snacks come in: crackers and cheese, nuts, fruit and vegetables can all do the trick.

Planning for everybody’s individual tastes will really help you when you are a busy mother of three. Then you can spend less time stressing over the family and more time having fun with them.