Picture this: it’s 5:30 PM. The kids are squabbling over who gets the blue plate, your youngest is declaring they’re starving like they haven’t eaten in weeks, and your partner is asking, “Have you seen that permission slip?” Meanwhile, you’re standing at the fridge, staring into its depths, hoping for inspiration to magically strike.

Sound familiar?

Trust me, I’ve been there—more times than I’d like to admit. It’s like dinner-time chaos is its own special kind of tornado, sucking up what’s left of your energy (and sanity) at the end of the day. But what if I told you there’s a way to make that chaos… well, less chaotic?

That’s where meal prep magic comes in.

Let me take you back about ten years ago. I was deep in the trenches of mum life, with my daughter Hannah, who was one year old at the time. One of my besties, who was a teacher, asked if I could watch her son every Monday, so she could work, she wanted to avoid putting him in daycare. I happily agreed – not just because I love a good favour-for-a-friend moment, but because it meant built-in playdates for Hannah and she even paid me a bit of money (side hustle idea there mums) Two kids under 3 running around? Piece of cake, right? (side note: It was not a piece of cake.) lol

I have been doing homestay on and off for 20 years and in that time I have learnt a thing or two about shopping and catering for my international guests.

I wanted to share a few tips that might help other families because. I know that catering for others can be a source of anxiety for some, however with a bit of planning and preparation you will find that it isn’t that daunting and totally doable!

Sometimes we really overthink stuff. One thing I know people could overthink, and talk themselves out of very quickly, is being a homestay parent. When I share that I am a homestay parent, as well as a parent to my own 4 kids, people are amazed and I am almost always met with the following comments or questions…