I give my kids dinner before the school day is even out – not only does it boost my mood but has a hidden benefit
WITH the average family eating dinner at 6pm, some people might quiver at the idea of dining any earlier.
But not mum-of-four Aimee Connor, who gets her children fed before the traditional school day is even out.
The 38-year-old’s family was already having early dinners, but she noticed it creeping earlier and earlier.
She found that by the time her older children are home from school and day care, they would be hungry and reaching for snacks – typically, unhealthy ones.
So, the nurse decided to remedy the issue by preparing dinner in the afternoon and having it on the table for 3pm.
The Connor family are based in New South Wales, Aus where a standard school day ends at 3:30pm.
But that hasn’t deterred Aimee from preparing a super early dinner, because it puts her “in a better mood”.
“I’m offering them junk food because I just need to do the dinner,” she told Good Morning America.
“So if the dinner is ready at 3pm, all of that is eliminated and I’m in a better mood, they’re in a better mood, and it just works so much better.”
Aimee added that the meal time shift has helped overcome “mum guilt” and the shame she felt around feeding her “fussy” children.
“I had a huge, huge amount of guilt and shame with food because of how my children just were fussy,” she said.
“The later dinner times were just this negative experience and I just wasn’t looking forward to it.
“So as soon as I took that guilt and shame off, I could really concentrate on just having that positive attitude and creating this positive light and shine on dinner times and make it fun.”
Dinner in their home are typically easy and basic meals like pizza, chicken schnitzel and spaghetti bolognese.
The hidden benefit of the family’s system is that the children eat much healthier as they aren’t reaching for snacks in the late afternoon.
“As long as they’re eating something healthy, something nutritious and we’re all enjoying it while we do it, I’m a happy mum,” Aimee said.
“For the most part, people just thought it was a great idea and they’ve been trying it and it’s been working for them too.
“I’m all about whatever works for your family.
“Just try and find that little niche, get in there and if that works, go for it.”