The age mix of kids makes such a difference in how you cook too. With having those that still finger feed I tend to make my meals finger friendly and then give the older kids a spoon an fork for most foods insist they use it cause they are "big" now. Chicken strips etc. the exception of course. There is no sense making a casserole then trying to get kids to pick out what they don't want or won't eat mixed together or have to feed the little ones so we all do what works for us. When I am putting the oven on to cook family supper I will toss in a tray of muffins to have for snack the next day or cook something I can then just warm at lunch or make a double batch of supper and freeze some.