how do you cook with a toddler around?

[mollysmum82]

I have this fantasy of sitting down for nutritious, cooked-from-scratch meals as a family every night. My 15 month old is getting into food in a big way now (about time!) and nutrition is really important to me. However I'm really struggling to cook with her around and wanted to know what others do/did? Its so hard and dangerous handling raw meat/knives and cooking on a hot stove when she is crawling around my feet and hanging onto the back of my legs wanting cuddles (very sweet, but difficult!) So do I just need to relax my nutrition standards and wait till she is a bit older/more independent? Or is there something others do that I'm missing?

Thanks lots in advance!

I cook from scratch when DH is around which is half of the week, and the other half I usually do quick meals from the freezer.

I also used a playpen with DS1 in the living room whilst I was in the kitchen (too small in kitchen to put a playpen or table). Not ideal but for 10 minutes whilst chopping up meat or veg, it does the job. Means they are safe whilst you are busy in the kitchen. also have a safety gate at the kitchen entrance too.

cooking with a clingy baby and a toddler.

I have always cooked from scratch, but I've wipoed the horror of those years from my memory

i used a slow cooker lots.