Getting dinner on the table can feel like an impossibility some evenings. Here’s what I do to make it more achievable when I’m working from home or have my children with me.

Rather than dinner feeling like a mammoth task that I have to start at 5 to get on the table by 6, I break it down into small and achievable chunks that I work on throughout the day, which fit into my routine. I also get the kids involved, making it part of our activities and (when they’re young) working to short attention spans.

So, that might look like getting some equipment out whilst waiting for the kids to put their shoes on, getting some ingredients out whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, chopping the carrots whilst I’m preparing my lunch, popping something in the microwave whilst making my afternoon cuppa, Alexis helping to chop, grate, scoop or squeeze as part of our after-school activities, preparing something whilst the kids eat their snack and we chat. All that’s left to do at dinner then is to pull everything together.

I made a video showing how I prepared fishcakes and salad one day using this method.