Those Dishes! {Top 3 things overwhelming moms in the kitchen… and what to do about them}

Top three things overwhelming moms in the kitchen… and what to do about them (Part 3)

THOSE DISHES! 

No wonder meal prep and home cooked meals are a burden… if you loathe DOING dishes you will block from MAKING dirty dishes! 

But why are there so many?

Can’t we just use paper plates? 

I hear ya. 

This blog post might be a little trite… but hang with me. It’s easier than you think. 

So, how do I manage our family’s kitchen? 

My advice: Embrace Support. Find JOY…. 

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It’s called a Dishwasher for a reason. 

Invest in a decent dishwasher that doesn’t require you to completely sanitize them before loading. No seriously… We rinse our dishes immediately after meal time. Teach your kiddos from a young age that it is their responsibility to bring the dishes back to the counter by the sink. Mom or dad, rinse immediately so food doesn’t get baked on and gross (or attract flying friends), and load it up! 

THEN…. RUN IT EVERY NIGHT. Making this a daily habit is much easier than avoiding unloading it because it is slap FULL and then you wait until there are two loads worth piled up in the sink. Does it use more water and detergent pods? Sure. Is it worth it? Can you work it? Open up that Stainless goddess in the morning, and it will take you less than 5 minutes while the coffee is brewing… then the kitchen is off to a fresh start. 

NOTHING is worse than your kitchen greeting you with a giant mess in the morning. Never go to bed with a dirty space! 

Now, I am generally against using paper products (single use items) both for cost and environmental reasons. Plus food doesn’t look as good on a paper plate, #amiright? A few times a year at birthday parties, sure… I have even heard of moms “treating” themselves to a night off from dishes by buying paper plates. It’s a slippery slope, IMO. Just set the routines and make a “green pact” for your family that you reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. 

How many bowls and plates does one family need??

We rarely use those large dinner plates. Dinner is served on those smaller ones, to make us feel “fuller” — but don’t worry, we aren’t shy to seconds. Different size bowls for soups, quinoa bowls, desserts and dips.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve thought of packing away (or giving away) all but 1 set of dishes for every person in our family -- Chef Tristan gets a green plate, Chef Noah gets a purple, Dr. Holly a coral and Dad gets blue?? One plate, One bowl, One cup, One fork, One spoon, a family set of knives? In my dreams. During the great quarantine of 2020, I swear the kids were picking out a new cup at every meal! We like options. I really do love having different sizes of bowls for different types of servings.

So we have this large single barrel sink — and I’m not a fan. I’ve purchased a few things to actually make it look/feel smaller — because IF we let it fill up, its more than a dishwasher’s worth. And I have a hard rule on no glasses in the sink… ask me why.

So: Top 3 Things Overwhelming Moms in the Kitchen. 

#1 WHAT to eat

#2  PICKY EATERS

#3 THOSE DISHES

As promised… wrapping up our 3-part series…. my message to you, one mama to another:

MOMS: If I only impart one thing on you today… it is that you are ENOUGH. 

Please do not take this message, my message, as a form of judgement or ill-meaning advice meant to make you feel inadequate. 

This is all the information I WISH my parents had known -- and what I wish I had known more fully before becoming a mom myself. With an educational and clinical background, paired with my own journey of health, healing and realizations -- I have come to a precise place where I know we can do better, and I want to help. 

This road isn’t the smoothest. Let’s Be Honest -- I love this stuff, and I’m still learning everyday. Hopefully, with a little support and guidance -- your family can reap the benefits of embracing whole food nutrition and a wellness lifestyle, just like we deserve. 

Around all 3 of the “kitchen woes” I discussed in this blog series are underpinned by a silent “knowing” -- that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. There may be more you want, deserve and dream of -- and you’ve likely already overcome so much -- but I’m here to tell you, you are enough. 

This is all the information I WISH my parents had known -- and what I wish I had known more fully before becoming a mom myself.