Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to get back on track with your dinner routine. The transition from the relaxed attitude toward dinner that set in over the summer to something more organised that can get the kids to bed at a decent hour can be one of the toughest parts of going back to school, so here are some tips for making this time easier.

1. Start small

Miracles aren’t going to happen overnight. Don’t set yourself up for failure by going from a summer of ordering takeaway, grilling and scraping together leftovers to making a restaurant-quality meal five nights in a row.

It will take some time to work your way back up to your previous level, so start out by gradually increasing the number of nights per week you cook in increments to make the return more manageable.

2. Seek inspiration

Getting back into the routine of cooking every night doesn’t have to mean making the same old familiar meals night after night. Why not shake things up a little by seeking some new inspiration to mix into the repertoire?

Buy yourself a new cookbook or look online for new recipe bloggers. Not only will you find plenty of great new ideas, but you’ll also get step-by-step instructions and photos to make it that much easier to get back on track. I share plenty of cooking inspo on my Instagram and Facebook profiles, too.

3. Start by making food your family enjoys

Even the most health-conscious mums among us tend to relax a little over summer. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, but you do need to be aware of the fact that your kids probably really enjoyed the less-healthy foods that crept into their diet and may not be too receptive to going back to healthier meals at first.

So, start by making foods everyone enjoys, even if they aren’t as high on the nutrition list as you’d like – homemade pizzas and burgers are still way better for you than any of the prepared meals you had over the summer. Then you can worry about reintroducing healthier dishes as everyone’s taste buds adapt. 

4. Get your groceries delivered

Honestly, the hardest part of cooking is often just conjuring up the energy and patience to go to the grocery store. If you’re having trouble overcoming this common hurdle, turn to grocery delivery services. There’s something that feels so triumphant about having your groceries magically appear on your doorstep without having to brave the traffic, crowds and long lines. 

5. Look for simple recipes

The work involved in dinner doesn’t end when everyone sits down at the table. You’ll still have to face a kitchen full of pots, pans and dishes afterward. Make things easier on yourself as you get back on track by learning some sheet pan and one-pot recipes to keep clean-up quick and easy. Add a simple salad or a loaf of crusty bread, and dinner’s done!

6. Embrace batch cooking

Your family has to eat every night, but that doesn’t mean you have to actually cook every night! When you batch cook, you can get away with cooking every other night and have some extra meals in the freezer to boot for those days when things just get out of hand.

In that spirit, I’ve just opened registrations for my batch cooking challenge. Whether you need to learn batch cooking for beginners, or you’re looking for some new batch cooking recipes, or you just need the motivation to batch cook a few meals, you won’t want to miss out. All you need is 20 minutes a day in your kitchen, and that will give you 9 total meals! Sign up for my Batch Cooking Challenge today (spots are limited!) and learn how to become a true batch cooking queen!