This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of On-Cor. The opinions and text are all mine.
You can read my full disclosure policy here. 
I hope your new year is off to a great start! While the weather in January is not my favorite, the vibe definitely is: new beginnings are so invigorating. Like most people, I’ve set some resolutions but they’re more like goals for me. Things I want to improve upon this year. I have health, wealth, learning, and family goals. And one of my family goals this year is to spend more quality time together.
3 Tips for Creating More Quality Family Time
My kids are growing up so fast. They all do, right? But mine are on that cusp of the teenage years (ages 8 and 12) and I can feel the gap widening. So I’m making a point to make the most of these years we have left with the kids at home so we’ll all look back at the times we spent together (and not the times we spent rushing through every night and messing around on our screens). My family is with me – we all have the same goal – and this is how we’re planning to tackle it to make 2018 the year of more family memories.
Make Mealtime Memory Time: On-Cor Frozen Entrées
One of the biggest stressors for me on weeknights is dinner. This is doubly true if I don’t take the time to meal plan (ahem…another ‘resolution’). But sitting down together as a family for dinner has always been a must for me. It’s sometimes the one time of day all four of us are together without other distractions. So I’m definitely utilizing quick and easy meal ideas to carry on the daily dinner without stressing myself too much. 
One of my favorite easy dinner ideas are On-Cor frozen entrées. They are delicious and almost ZERO work for me, which gives me so much more time with my family. Plus they are meals I feel good about serving. On-Cor has recently enhanced their products to satisfy the needs of moms looking for convenient, quality dinner solutions for their families. Raising my hand over here! This one, the Penne Pasta and Meatballs with Tomato Sauce is one of our family favorites. It now has 25 percent more meat, which you can see right on the packaging (I love that they make it easy to know exactly what you’re giving your family). And that’s a win for us because my son will tell you, the meatballs are the best part! 
Doesn’t that look so good? The kids scarfed it right down. This isn’t some fancy, esoteric, crazy recipe you’d never cook on your own. It’s just really, really good food. And it’s food that brings the family to the table. Mission accomplished, without mom driving herself crazy. And here’s the best part for me (besides a dinner everyone loves): On-Cor entrées are so easy to serve that it frees me up to do something more important, like spend time with the kids. They take care of the prep work so I can take care of making memories. And clean up is a total breeze, too, so there’s even more for me to focus on other things. So how do I make meal time into memory time? Definitely the #1 goal is to bring everyone to the table to eat together. An added bonus with On-Cor is that because they’ve pretty much done all the work, I have all that time saved on prep, the cooking is totally hands-off for me, and the clean-up is a snap so I can instead use that time to hang with the kids. Sometimes that means quizzing my son on his math facts. Sometimes it means my daughter can show me her book project for English class. And other times it means we all lay on the floor with the dog and just chill out together. You don’t have to be doing something profound and planned to get that quality time in. Find the moments and grab ’em!
Make Your Evenings Count
On those really busy nights when you’re rushing from work to home to practice, it feels like the kids go to bed without you ever having connected with them. I’m trying to make at least some time to really be present with them. I read to my kids (yes, even my 12 year old) every night and just those 10-15 minutes are enough to end the day feeling like we had some quality time together. On the nights when we actually don’t have practice or something to rush off to, I try to make the evenings count. It doesn’t have to be some great big organized activity, but let me tell you, if I yell “Who wants to race me in Mario Kart?” those kids will come running. Play a game together, watch a movie, even kill two birds with one stone and run a few errands. Monopoly and popcorn have become one of our favorites. We have yet to finish a game, but… One thing my husband and I have been trying to do more is split the kids up and each spend time with one of them. For us, we are able to really connect with the child we’re with when the sibling isn’t around. This isn’t ALL the time (we still all do most things together), but once in a while it’s a nice change in dynamic.
Get Away Together
As my kids get older and spend more time in their rooms, with their friends, texting on their devices (you know the drill), I find that one of the best ways for all of us to really connect is to travel together. I’m a big believer in experiences over things, and though I love me a week-long Caribbean vacation, I’m not talking about breaking the bank here. Just plan something. Plan a weekend away. Go to the glow-in-the-dark mini golf place. Go do something new, see something new. I think the anticipation and planning can be as exciting as the getaway itself. And when you take everyone out of the home environment and there are no dishes or laundry, computer, ipod, or Xboxes there to distract you from being together, this is when memories are made. Pick a weekend and run away together! Having something to look forward to is part of the joy of the trip.
The Giveaway
The generous folks at On-Cor are sponsoring an awesome giveaway for my readers to make it easy for you to start implementing some of these ideas for creating more quality family time this year, too! One winner will get this prize pack valued at $200! The prize includes:
- (1) Coupon Valid for One Free On-Cor Entrée
- (1) Children’s Apron
- (1) Kitchen Tools Set
- (1) Children’s Baking Cookbook
- (1) Board Game
- (1) Popcorn Maker
- (1) Popcorn Bowl
This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+ only and will end at 11:59pm ET on January 19, 2018. Good luck!
Tim says
I don’t eat restaurant food any more, so that means we always have a dinner that we cook at home. A lot of the time, especially on pizza nights, our kids help in the kitchen.
Jessica To says
I am trying to teach my son how to cook so we enjoy time together in the kitchen. We tend to like to make desserts best!
Cheryl says
We’re creating more family time by scheduling it.
Francine Anchondo says
By having weekly game/ or movie nights.
Lauren says
I am reading out loud to my kids more this year.
Klydra Pugh says
We are planning to take more family trips this year
Thanks for the chance
Michelle C says
My kids like helping in the kitchen, so that’s some built in family time. We also like to play board games together and make it a point to do that at least once a week.
Candie L says
We like to play disc golf tourneys. Thank you
Janet W. says
We’re creating more family time in 2018 by playing more tennis together, playing in our culdesac more often, playing board games on cold, rainy days, and having a movie night at least twice a month!
Stephanie Phelps says
We are setting a day to cook together as a family and either watch and movie, go for a walk or play a game together!
Heather says
We are committing to family dinners and family game nights!
shelly peterson says
We spend time cooking and reading together.
Seyma Bennett says
We are playing more games together like Clue, Gubs, and Trivia games.
Debbie P says
I make everyone put their cell phones in a basket during dinner.
JEANETTE SHEETS says
we have set aside 3 night sout of the week for just family time ,doing some kind sport or project or art together ,no phones,computer etc allowed and we have family dinner together everynight !
Annette says
I’m cooking more and eating out less. I’m the only one here, so not really creating family time, but being healthier.
Robin Abrams says
We have a family game night 1 time a week. We all get together and play games with the kids and grandkids
Kristen says
We’re making an effort to sit down together at mealtimes…..and we take the dogs to the park as a family.
Dana Rodriguez says
We enjoy spending time cooking together and movie nights.
Marty says
I like the idea of having a regular game night and/or movie night together.
Mary Cloud says
We’re trying to have more family movie nights and try to cut ourselves away from the electronics so much
Lisa Bourlier says
We hope to spend as much family time together as one of our Sons will be leaving for College in the fall!
Kris I. says
I’m planning on having Friday night game nights with my family!
Jackie says
Because of everyone having a busy schedule, we try to have breakfast together on the weekend.
Linda Madden says
I cook dinner every night so that we all can eat together and talk about our day.
Melissa Storms says
We have been spending more time eating at our table, it is amazing how much time together you miss when everyone is grabbing their dinner and eating at the counter or at their desk.
Samantha Wagner says
We got the kids new board games for Christmas, and are trying to spend more time together playing games.
Nicole Martin says
I am scheduling at least one board game night per week.
elizabeth miller says
We are planning summer trips for family time but, the one thing I have found that has given more family time is I sat down and made a menu for the entire month of January. I copied every recipe and put it in a binder so its ready to open and use. So far, even though it has been a short time, it is great. We are trying new recipes and I have it all ready to do 2 trips a week to the grocery so meat is always fresh. It has freed up my time stressing over dinner and running to the store everyday which has given me more time to do other things to allow for more time with my family.
Meghan says
Playing games and just dedicating specific time.
Jeremy McLaughlin says
Planning on having more family time by having more family trips through out the year.
Char says
I love spending time with family, thank you so much for the offer!!
Karley Moore says
We are doing game night every Friday night and we try to have breakfast together every morning. Thanks for the giveaway!
Kelly D says
I am creating more family time by limiting our computer and tv time and playing more board games with my family.
Stacie Humphrey says
I think sitting down for family dinners is the best, but we also do family movie night sometimes. We will order pizza, make popcorn and watch a family movie together.
Nicole Lancaster says
I am creating more family time in 2018 by starting a family game night every Saturday.
livivua chandler says
I let someone else do the cooking.
tara darity says
We will be getting more family time by planning trips and activities together! We want to try some new things this year!!
kathy eyre says
We cook togold enough to go on trips with usether now, and the kids are
kathy eyre says
LOL that is to say… We cook together and the kids are old enough to go on trips with us
Cindy Peterson says
We are planning a family outing once a week.
Sandra Watts says
We are creating more time by having dinner together more often.
Jessica W. says
We will try to always eat meals at the table. It helps us talk more and share the events of our day.
Cheryl B says
We turn off our electronics during dinner time.
Alexandra Y says
We create family time by putting our phones away and actually speaking to each other.
Annamarie V says
I am planning a girls trip for my Mom, Sister and Niece to go see my other Niece and grand niece in April.
Richard Brandt says
We create more family time with movie nights – and every night is movie night!
sylvia says
I’ve committed to taking some random days off of work just to spend time with my younger kids. i am cooking more at home and trying to plan family game and movie nights.
Buddy Garrett says
We have family movie nights, taco nights, hike and bicycle together.
Kat says
We are planning a trip to go visit my daughter in college for some family time.
Tara Liebing says
i AM CREATING MORE FAMILY TIME BY HAVING DINNER TOGETHER AS A FAMILY AND HAVING A FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT ONCE A WEEK.
Dawn Monroe says
We are trying to do a family “black out” no phones/ipads. So far so good. We have them twice a week for 2 hr. spans.
Lesley F says
We have a game night every weekend with the kids and do a lot of outside activities with each other
Janice Crespo says
My oldest daughter moved back from Florida and her and her boyfriend got an apartment in the same complex as my other daughter and I. We try to have one family night a week – alternating who does the cooking at their apartment. It’s been great!
Edye says
We have phone free dinners!
Allison Frederick says
Creating more family time as my New Year’s Resolution! I am accomplishing this by planning more fun activities, for example this weekend we are going to an indoor waterpark.
Kayla Klontz says
We have created a family game night and a family movie night as well for the start of the new year, we are all very excited about more time together.
KENNETH OHL says
my wife and I have made this our New Year Resolution to work less and enjoy more we are working on it for sure
Jennifer W says
I’m creating more family time by meal planning. We all go grocery shopping together and then everyone preps on Sunday.
darla says
I hadn’t thought about it. We might try do things together we all have in common.
Marci says
We are dedicating time once a week to turn all electronics off and play games and talk.
Ann Marie says
Since it’s so busy all the time at my house and it seems I’m always working I decided to put everything on a calendar. I write our family fun days on it, so the kids can see it and look forward to our family fun night.
cheryl s says
my kids are grown so we have family time by scheduling several yearly family vacations
Sandy Klocinski says
I am finding time to call or text my daughter regularly to say hello. Ask her howher day went. A few simple words can make a big difference
Steph says
I picked up some really fun family type games for us to play like Memory, Monopoly, stuff like that. we also got a bunch of movies to watch together.
Lori Walker says
I’m going into work earlier so I can get home and have more time in the evenings.
Margaret Smith says
We try to plan some sort of outing or time together each weekend and usually have a family night with games or movies once or twice each week.
Charlene S. says
We have a family game night and a family movie night. We eat dinner together every night too, & spend it catching up about what happened during the day.
paige chandler says
We have Sunday dinner together and then have family game night. This started this new year.
Julie Bickham says
We are trying to have more family dinners, which is hard. If we can’t do that we have family breakfast on the weekend. One of those is a most at least once a week!
Keri Justice says
We’re making family a priority. More meals together around the table. More family activities together such as family game nights.
Michelle Donovan says
Cooking and meal prep together – lots more game nights
Linda Lansford says
They have all the time they want I am retired
Rebecca W says
We enjoy playing games together as a family, or my kids help me in the kitchen with my recipes.
Heather B says
Setting aside a few hours a week for some family game time!
beth shepherd says
We have at least one night a week for the family to unwind and connect. Thank you
shirley emitt says
The weather in 2018 is really the thing keeping all of us together inside, reading, writing and playing board games.
Nancy says
We are having a lot of fun reading more books together.
alice minx says
To not work as much and spend more time at home
TIM M. says
I make myself available.
Anita Duvall says
We are taking the time every week to have the WHOLE family come to our house for dinner and board or card games.
Ashley C says
I’m quitting my weekend job, so I can spend the weekends off with them!
Sam says
We actually eat On-cor dinners a couple nights a week. They are affordable family meals fast to make and taste great ! That is the best way I can think of to make more time and save some money 🙂
mami2jcn says
We’re staying home more and having family meals.
Cindy Merrill says
We have a family hour every day called “Let’s Do it”: We spin a wheel of “chores” and we pitch in and get them done- then each person spins the reward wheel- usually ice cream, their favorite meal or “Dinner Out” ( grand prize). It’s a blast.
Robin M says
Trying to eat dinner together more this year
pu ye says
We’re creating more family time by scheduling it
Azeem Isaahaque says
I spend more time with my family by cooking together, watching movies
Dynal Roberson says
We are re-instituting family game night. And turning off the Wi-fi while it happens. They don’t “Have” to join, but no electronics if they don’t.
heather says
I am creating more family time in 2018 by planning and making dinners ahead of time during the week.
Maryrose Hazzard says
I’m making more time by having disconnected (from tech) family dinners every night and board game night weekly.
Maria Beas says
I decided to work less and spend more quality time with my children.
Leela says
We playing more games and watching more movies together.
Jennifer Reed says
WE ARE TRYNG TO CREATE MORE FAMLY TME BY LSTENING TO OR TEENS AND ADAPTNG THE APPROACH TO THE ACCORDNGLY>
Tabathia B says
By doing more family things together and exploring more as a family on the weekends
Stephanie Liske says
We make sure to go out and do things together and get out of the house.
Amity J says
Better time management and turning computers off at a certain time
William Karcher says
My three sons are grown and move out but they get together and go fishing sometimes on the weekends. I’m going to start going with them this year !
maria s says
I’ve been cutting out watching movies to spend more active time with my family!
Nannypanpan says
Making sure the time we do have together is quality…games,sledding etc
Donna DePaolo says
We’re fixing dinner together so we have more time together after a hectic day of school and work.
Kelley Shymkwich says
My kids and I have weekly craft projects we do tpgether.
susan smoaks says
this year we are creating more family time by having dinner together every night and exercising together each day too. it’s been fun.
jenny says
We have a weekly family night! We cook dinner or dessert together, play board games, card games, create artwork and just relax and talk about our week. It is a great time to touch base and really listen!
laura bernard says
We do board games!
Rhonda says
My family is really just my husband and myself and we are trying to make a night on a regular basis that we go out to eat and talk about anything BUT family and work!!
Stephanie Larison says
We started a movie night every Sunday. So far it’s working out great!
Denise B. says
We already have lots of family time together. So, we’re always deciding what things to do week by week.
Latanya says
We have movie night or game night once a week.
Erica B. says
Scheduling time for certain activities.
Yona Williams says
I’m creating more family time in 2018 by making more of an effort to enjoy the hobbies and interests of my family.
Kyl Neusch says
By having weekly game night
Nickie says
We have movie nights
Terra Heck says
I’m creating more family time by requesting that electronics be put away a couple hours an evening so we can spend quality time together. So far, it’s working pretty good. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Jennifer Marie says
We are playing more board games together on a routine basis.
Brenda Elsner says
I am creating more family time since I am not working as much overtime right now. We are really enjoying the extra time together.
Karen Gonyea says
We have committed to eating dinner at the table, NOT in front of the tv, and as soon as the temperatures get a little nicer, we are going to start walking after dinner 🙂
Saundra Bowers says
Pizza and game night.
Laurie Nykaza says
We spend time cooking and also watching movies together we like doing it together and will do even more cooking in this year.
Regina says
We have established family time for years, so we will just continue with what works. Thanks!!
Abigail says
We like to have Family Game nights!
Mary Gardner says
We will continue our Friday night family movie nights and also family dinners at least 3 times a week.
Ed says
I do not have a family.
Angie says
We’re adding in more family game nights and putting money aside in our budget for “family fun”!
Monique Rizzo says
We carve out time each day for eachother.
Sarah Hall says
I try to find time in the evening that is just family time with no distractions.
allison says
We are doing a lot more family meals! Thanks so much for the chances to win.
jennifer cervantes says
We are planning on doing a road trip where we look at colleges this summer and have a movie night at least once a month.
Robin says
We like to have a family game night Saturday nights.
Deb says
I am being more productive with my time which leaves much more time for family.
kathy pease says
My kids are all grown and on their own but them come over regularly with the grand kids..We love to have barbecues in the summer
Renee Grosskreuz says
I am giving more gifts that are homemade.My mom and I spend time together by doing arts and crafts projects.
Jennifer H. says
We are trying to make more family time.
Rose Santuci-Sofranko says
We always have a lot of time together….and like to spend time playing games with each other. Thanks and God Bless!
Fiona N says
To create more family time in 2018, I will find more new recipes to cook, and play family games at home
Thank You for the chance!
Michelle H. says
We have game nights and movie nights and do a lot of cooking at home.
Amanda Whitley says
i am creating more family time by planning things to do on weekends when kids are off school
Peggy Rydzewski says
We are. We started having family dinners on Sundays with our adult children. They like just as much as we do.
Sarah Mathias says
We eat dinner together and have a family movie night.
Meme says
We cook dinner together, sit down to eat together and have a family game night among other things
jackie says
We just bought our first home end of thanksgiving last year. So we are enjoying family time setting it up. Also got a lot of board games and doing less electronics. Planning vacations, enjoying the weather and exercising
Peter G says
Family time was hard to coordinate due to cooking meals, shopping, activities and more. Getting precooked, tasty, and healthy meals like On-Cor are a big help in having time together. Our favorite is the On-Cor Breaded Chicken Parmagiana PattiesTomato Sauce.
Mary Jacobowitz says
After dinner, we either watch a movie, just talk or play board games.
Debra Francis says
I am having more family dinners.
Jodi Hassel says
We try and do family dinners at least twice a week so that we are all together
Marianna says
We are trying to eat more meals at home, cooking together, and less time spent eating out!
Philip Lawrence says
I created more family time by retiring in 2018 which gave me plenty of new free family time.
Gina Ferrell says
I’m teaching my daughter how to bake and cook and we also take evening walks at the park.
Joni Chadwell says
we are planning a cousins get together for this summer.
Jaime says
We do a family activity every sunday.
Rosalee Jacklin says
I have been making a point to clear my schedule especially when my family has plans. I never used to BUT I have realized life is short. And tomorrow is NEVER promised. So we need to make the most of today!
Jerry Marquardt says
I try my best to have a weekend family “movie” night.
B.J. Bernal says
We have dinner together then watch a movie.
Hesper Fry says
I am creating more family time by having a game night or movie night on the weekend!
Jessie Redding says
LOTS of movie nights 🙂
Falon Lofley says
By worrying less about dirty dishes and laundry! =D
Elizabeth Brooks says
15 minutes play time with each kids
Vikki Billings says
We are going to be having a Sunday family together with our whole family.
DanV says
We have family game nights
Yana Ryjova says
My mom and I watch the Bachelor each week and drink cocktails 🙂
Sand says
We host more gatherings so that everyone gets together and we see more of each other. As our family comes from two big foodie cultures, every gathering is about good food and good company!
Janine H says
I’m spending less time at work and more at home
Trisha McKee says
I try to understand my child’s world. We have game night and she can invite some friends. It is a great way to get kids talking and laughing. And I have fun too.
Betty Curran says
I don’t have any family at home, it’s just me. So family time is only when our work schedules allow us to visit on the weekend or holidays.