With These 5 Parenting Hacks, Stress-Free Mealtimes Are All But Guaranteed

Just like the picky judges on your favourite cooking show, your kiddos won't be impressed with food that doesn't look appetising. Amping up your presentation can make even the most basic meal seem new and exciting to kids. Use cookie cutters or a knife to slice sandwiches into stars, flowers, and other shapes, or write kids' names in ketchup and other sauces.

It might seem obvious, but picking a food your kids love is the easiest way to guarantee a stress-free meal. Opt for a food that kids can play with as they eat, like Heinz Spaghetti Hoops. Not only are those tiny hoops beloved by kids everywhere, but they're free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and now available with no added sugar. And though picky eaters might not realise it, there's a whole tomato in every can, so this pasta dish counts as a serving of veggies. Best of all, they're guaranteed to bring big smiles and clean plates!

Bring out the nice dishes and fabric napkins — it's time to play five-star restaurant! Print out a menu of the evening's mains and sides, then have your kids "order" from it. You can even choose meals you'll prep to order, like a taco bar or omelette station. It spices up an otherwise boring weeknight dinner, with very little extra work on your part.

Sick of begging and pleading with your kids to eat their leafy greens? Convince them to try new foods by making it into a challenge. Serve a variety of colourful fruits and veggies, then challenge your kids to eat the complete rainbow to win a special after-dinner treat. Or, draw a noughts and crosses board on a plain sheet of paper and have kids use cucumber slices and carrot sticks as playing pieces.

Once your kids know what goes into a recipe, they'll be more interested in tasting it. Choose a recipe that's easy enough for little chefs, then enlist your kids as helpers. Your kids can definitely add toppings to homemade pizzas, roll up sandwich wraps, or help assemble tacos.