It takes a village!

BUT SCHOOLS ARE OUT WORKING TOGETHER  Yesterday was supposed to be back-to-school day for my little monsters but the lockdown has put a damper on not just their plans but mine as well.  I've had to rethink all the work that I had scheduled.  My to-do list seemed to have gotten longer until I realised : 1. there are less clothes in the laundry, ergo less washing, less water and less ironing 2. there is less food wastage because in my house, you eat all your food until it's finished and I don't care how many mealtimes it takes to do it! Which I cant do with uneaten lunchboxes. 3. once the kids know the schedule, in between the fussing and bickering, everything gets done.  4. My to-do list has more hands to help me 5. We all get to sit down at mealtimes and talk to each other 6. I have help to do those things I've been putting off So here are a few tips to get everything done (and get some learning in as well) while the kids are at home. Check out my ED...

POTATOES It's the kitchen staple worth befriending, beloved the world over and such an interesting fella. With the highest production and consumption rate in the world, potatoes are undoubtedly the world's go-to and a staple food in every kitchen.  So maybe it's time you get comfortable and become a little more than friends. Potatoes have gotten a bad rap from the health and fitness communities. Choose sweet potatoes or other root vegetables, they say. It's healthier, they say.  Well let me tell you,  adding carrots or sweet potatoes to my mutton curry is a surefire way to start a fight in my house. And the bewildered potato is like whaaat? I'm not unhealthy, guys. Here's my profile pic, don't I look good? But studies show that it is how we prepare the potato that actually determines whether it's healthy or not.  I mean try deep-frying carrot sticks or broccoli heads in oil and then top them off with loads of sugary sauces and heaps of salt...

COOKING DURING A LOCK-DOWN The President has just announced the 21-day lock-down and I'm sure every parent everywhere felt their brain go How on earth are we going to survive our families, with our kids and spouses in such closed quarters for 21 days? Not to mention what do I cook? Don't fret. Help is on hand.  With a few rules in place, you AND your family will survive and thrive. Your grocery cupboard and your budget will also survive with just a few minor tweaks. Rules for Lockdown Be kind and considerate to each other ALWAYS. Try understanding the other person's point of view BEFORE you react. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Maybe s/he didn't mean it in a negative way. Before you say anything, ask yourself is this really necessary? When the inevitable argument occurs, stop. Think to yourself: do I need to be right? DO I get a prize for being right?  The answer is  NO. Your family relationships and your sanity are more important ...