by Briar Miller

Created on: March 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

In our dreams, dinner time is when we relax with our families. In reality it can be hard just to get something reasonably nutritious on the table, without screaming at someone or bursting into tears.

There are Supermoms out there, we've all seen them and marveled. Cool, calm, beautifully turned out and placing home baked pies on the table to general adulation from their adoring families. How do they do it?

The Supermom isn't smarter, faster or in any way better than you. She is just a little bit more organized. With a few simple tricks, you can remove the stress from mealtimes without compromising on quality.

Go with the Flow

Cut down your stress levels by respecting how you feel. If you really don't want to cook and you've nothing prepared, an occasional takeaway is not going to kill anyone.

Some days, you will want to cook. You have time, inspiration and ingredients to hand. Take advantage of these times to cook in large batches.

Get a Freezer

If you don't have one already and you are serious about cutting out stress in your life get a freezer! It will definitely pay for itself before too long.

I recommend a chest freezer rather than an upright if you've got space as they are more efficient. Fill it up over several days with water containers, milk jugs are ideal. This will make your freezer even more efficient because when it is full it takes far less power to run. Cover the contents with a layer or two of cardboard. When you replace water jugs with food, you can put them in your fridge to improve efficiency there as well. The best thing about this method is that if there is a power cut, you won't lose all your food.

Always label everything. Dates and contents. No matter how good your memory, you will end up with a detritus of mystery oblongs lining the bottom.

Group like with like. This ensures that you spend the minimum amount of time with your arms in the freezer.

Always freeze things in portion sizes. Even if you intend to eat as a family, a whole casserole can take several hours just to defrost. Put the food into bags, suck the air out, tie, and place in a rectangular container. When it is frozen you can reuse the container and your food will stack nicely.

One of the best stress-busting things about this method is that if you have a house full of picky eaters, you can give each of them a meal which caters to their tastes in a calm and smiling manner. They will think you are a magician!

With a freezer you can have proper meals on the table with a minimum of effort.

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