Getting meals on the table becomes even tougher when you have another mouth to feed. But there are some helpful tricks that experienced moms use to make mealtimes as simple as possible:

Make a plan. If you can make the time for it, a meal plan can do wonders. We know it’s another chore in an already busy day, but figuring out what you want to feed your family in the week ahead helps busy moms stay on top of ingredients and cooking times, and can even save money at the store.

 Stock up. When you do cook, try doubling the recipe and freezing half, especially with your family’s favorite meals. Some moms also find it worthwhile to make some time on the weekend to assemble and freeze a couple of meals for the coming week.

Feed the baby first. When preparing meals, try to get the baby fed before you start so you can pull everything together without having to take time out for a feeding.

Set up fun distractions. To keep older kids entertained, some moms like to set aside a drawer or other spot in the kitchen where they can play or pretend to cook with plastic utensils and other fun kitchen tools.

Cover up. Once the meal starts, the best defense against messes is a good offense. Protective gear like bibs and a plastic mat under your little ones will help make cleanup much easier and faster.