11 Food Hacks Every Parent Should Know

For me, mealtime is the biggest stress of parenthood. Getting my children to eat the same thing at the same time in an allotted timeframe makes for some truly trying times. But leave it to some creative moms to come up with some great food hacks to make feeding your kids easier, faster, and yes, even neater! From popsicle drip catchers and fun corn holders to a great way to hull strawberries without throwing out half of the berry, read on for 11 great parenting food hacks!

01
Presliced Apples

Presliced Apples

No one likes brown apples — especially picky kids! A Helicopter Mom's tip of preslicing apples and then securing them with a rubber band is great for packing lunches or going out for the day. By securing the slices together, air can't get to apple flesh, keeping it fresh and clean! Source: A Helicopter Mom

02
Corn-a-saurus

Corn-a-saurus

OK, this may be the cutest corn holder we've ever seen! Paging Fun Mums came up with the most adorable way to get her tot to eat corn on the cob — by hacking his toy dinosaurs! Source: Paging Fun Mums

03
Easy Peel Mandarin Oranges

Easy Peel Mandarin Oranges

Forget peeling and then pulling apart mandarin oranges — the process leaves your fingers smelling like oranges for days! JewelPie has an easy — adult-only — way to get the job done, and kids will love picking the slices off the peel! Source: JewelPie

04
Homemade Chipwiches

Homemade Chipwiches

There's nothing like a scoop of ice cream sandwiched between two fresh cookies, but getting the ice cream to fit perfectly between the cookies can be tricky. That's where this tasty Ben & Jerry's hack comes in. Just slice the carton into even slices, place them between the cookies, and peel off the carton. Ta-da! Source: YouTube user BuzzFeedFood

05
Strawberry Stem Removal

Strawberry Stem Removal

I don't know about you, but when I attempt to remove the stem of a strawberry, I usually end up taking off more of the fruit than I need to. But according to Instagram user foods2hack, all you need to do is take a straw and stick it through the berry, leaving more fruit for your little ones to enjoy! Source: Instagram user foods2hack

06
Keep Bugs Out of Juice

Keep Bugs Out of Juice

Bug juice got its name for a reason. But your tot's juice doesn't have to be full of bugs during a picnic or dinner al fresco. Simply place a cupcake liner over the cup, and the bees and bugs will leave their drink alone! Source: Instagram user foods2hack

07
Banana Messages

Banana Messages

Perfect for the first day of school or when friends are coming over for an after-school playdate, if you use a knife or a pin to "write" kids' names in a banana, the peel will turn brown around the incision so the name stands out. Source: Instagram user mikersanfran

08
Hot Dogs and Spaghetti

Hot Dogs and Spaghetti

Perhaps not the most sophisticated meal, but it is one that will put a smile on your little one's face! Place rods of dry spaghetti through a hot dog and then boil them. The results are fun! Source: Instagram user capironjacka

09
Watermelon For Little Fingers

Watermelon For Little Fingers

Yes, a child with a huge triangle of watermelon makes for an adorable photo, but what the pictures don't show is watermelon juice covering their faces, shirts, shoes, and more. Because a good slice of melon will drip! Mama Say What?! came up with a great way to slice the fruit so little kids can eat it without covering themselves in its sticky sweetness. Source: Mama Say What?!

10
Pizza Wheels

Pizza Wheels

Instead of painstakingly cutting all your babe's food with a fork and knife, grab a pizza cutter and roll away! Source: Instagram user shawnadovetail

11
Drip-less Popsicles

Drip-less Popsicles

Hot weather and popsicles don't always go together. While the pops are certainly refreshing, melting pops make for messy fingers and dirty clothes. The expert cleaners at Merry Maids, who know a thing or two about getting rid of messes, have come up with one clever way to stop this: thread cupcake liners through the bottom of the popsicle stick to create a "catcher" that keeps drips in the liner, not on your child! Source: Merry Maids