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    Home » Holidays

    How to feed your kids (and stay sane) while cooking a holiday dinner

    Published: Nov 25, 2019 · Modified: Mar 17, 2023 by Trish Bozeman · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Thank you Amy’s for sponsoring this post. Share your holiday hacks, disaster stories, and tips for easing stress over the holidays with the hashtag #AmysToTheRescue on social.

    5 tips for feeding your kids while cooking a holiday dinner! Keep the in-between cooking meals stress-free and enjoy hosting your holiday meal.

    Feed kids while cooking a holiday dinner

    Happy Holidays, Rhubarbarians! Well, we are hosting a Christmas dinner in our new house this year! Ahem..... with a three year old. Are we crazy?

    It's not going to be massive, but we know it's still going to take all day to cook, not to mention all the prep in the days before.

    Don't let the in-between cooking meals stress you out

    You've got enough on your plate right now. So, we've rounded up 5 tips for keeping your kiddos fed and happy while you focus on making a special dinner.

    There are two main focuses at work here: prep ahead and don't be afraid of shortcuts. Because time isn't a luxury that you have, and well... you're not Super-person!

    Psssst... nibbling on some chocolate peppermint cups, twirling while eating sugar plums, and sipping on some eggnog may just make hosting a little bit easier. 🙂

    Broccoli mac and cheese

    How to feed your kids while cooking a holiday dinner

    Nobody likes a hangry toddler! Let's break things down so you can actually enjoy hosting a holiday dinner.

    1. Stick to your usual breakfast and lunch schedule

    We all know that kids thrive on routines. Even if dinner is early, you'll still want to stick to your schedule for breakfast and lunch.

    Sticking to your usual breakfast and lunch schedule will ensure that your kids' bellies get fed when they're used to. If they go an extra hour or two later than usual, they may get cranky, which we all know can make for a disaster of a meal sesh.

    Soup and Amy's broccoli cheddar bake

    2. Prep ahead

    Ah, the power of meal prep. But in this case it is SO important! pre-blended smoothies, pre-cut veggie sticks, pre-made packaged meals. These are what are going to shave precious time from your holiday in-between cooking meals.

    The day before your big meal:

    • Blend a batch of your kids' favorite smoothie and divide it into individual serving mason jars in the fridge. Easy grab and serve breakfast!
    • Chop some carrots and apple slices and place them in a tupperware for grab and go sides/snacks.
    • Stock your freezer or pantry with Amy's for the easiest lunch ever.

    3. Make breakfast easy

    Breakfast HAS to be easy. Pour yourself some coffee, you've got a big day of cooking/cleaning/prepping/hosting ahead of you!

    Remember those pre-blended smoothies from step 2? Those are perfect for breakfast! Pour them a bowl of their favorite cereal and serve a smoothie on the side. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

    Christmas day breakfast?

    Your Christmas day breakfast can be special AND easy! There are a lot of prep-the-night-before breakfasts out there that will please everyone, even kids. Try this overnight eggnog french toast bake!

    Amy's vegetable barley soup

    4. Amy's to the rescue for lunch

    Stock up on some Amy's meals to serve the family for lunch! Seriously, these meals are a lifesaver while cooking for the holidays. They are easy, quick, and definitely delicious. Best of all? Your kiddos can choose what they want to eat!

    We love the broccoli and cheddar bake and the vegetable barley soup. Our 3 year old loved all of it! It took a total of 15 minutes to cook in the microwave and both were on the table! Convenience without compromising quality. YESSSSS!

    Other kid-friendly Amy's favorites for lunch:

    • Vegan pesto and roasted artichoke pizza
    • Moroccan tagine wrap
    • Thai curry sweet potato lentil soup
    • Cheese enchiladas
    • Quinoa and black beans with butternut squash and chard
    broccoli mac and cheese

    5. Let kids pick out what they want

    Kids are picky! This is not the time for power struggles with kids. Give them a few choices and let them choose what to eat. Just another way to ensure they are happy while you cook the holiday dinner.

    Breakfast: Let them choose what type of smoothie you're going to make and what kind of cereal. Maybe try a few different options and let them help make it!

    Lunch: Amy's has a large variety of meals to choose from. Let your kids pick out the one they want to eat!

    two bowls of soup and some noodles

    That's a wrap! Don't forget to try to enjoy the process and show yourself a little grace. If your kids are old enough, ask for help when you need it too!

    We hope these tips make your holiday go a little bit more smoothly!

    Here are some available Amy’s coupons, too!
    $1.50 off One Amy's Entrée
    $2.00 off 2 Amy's Soups
    $2.50 off 1 Amy's Family Size Meal

    If you follow any of these tips, please let us know on social media or in the comments below! Comment or tag us on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.

    Thank you so much for reading and supporting Rhubarbarians and Amy's. If you’re looking for a group of people cooking vegetarian recipes through the seasons, join us on Facebook in our vegetarian and vegan recipes group!

    Hope you have a very happy holiday!

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    Hi, I'm Trish, a vegetarian mom with a passion for cooking meatless meals with seasonal produce. I'll help you create vegetarian recipes that your whole family will love. Welcome!

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    Trish Bozeman is a vegetarian mom with a passion for cooking meatless meals with seasonal produce. She will help you create vegetarian recipes that your whole family will love. Read More…

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