The Unsung Holiday Heroes: Why Paper Plates Are Every Mum's Secret Weapon

The Unsung Holiday Heroes: Why Paper Plates Are Every Mum's Secret Weapon

Picture this.

You've spent months researching accommodation, comparing flights, booking activities, packing for everyone, remembering medications, chargers, swimmers, hats, snacks, and somehow managing to fit it all into the car.

You finally arrive at your holiday destination. The kids are excited. Your partner is relaxing. Everyone is asking what's for dinner. And before you know it, you're standing over a sink washing dishes.

Again.

If your goal this holiday is to actually feel like you're on holiday too, I have one simple piece of advice:

Pack the paper plates.

Yes, really.

Mums are experts at making things look effortless.

We cook.
We clean.
We organise.
We remember everything.

The problem is that when we go on holiday, we often take all those jobs with us.

Sure, the scenery changes, but somehow, we're still loading dishwashers, washing coffee cups, drying cutlery and wiping benches while everyone else heads off to the pool.

Holiday accommodation might have a fully equipped kitchen, but just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use every plate and bowl it provides.

Why disposable plates can actually give you more family time

Let's be honest.

Most holiday meals aren't five-star dining.

They're sausage sandwiches after the beach.
Pizza nights.
BBQs.
Takeaway fish and chips.
Toast for breakfast.
Ham sandwiches for lunch.

None of these meals require your best plating skills.

Using paper plates and disposable cutlery means:

• No sink full of dishes after every meal.

• No arguments over whose turn it is to wash up.

• Less water used.

• Less time cleaning.

• More time swimming, relaxing or having that second coffee.

And honestly, isn't that why you booked the holiday in the first place?

But what about the environment?

It's a fair question. No one is suggesting using disposable products every day. But for one week each year, if using recyclable or compostable paper plates helps reduce your workload and improves your holiday experience, that's okay. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to make choices that help your family enjoy the holiday you've worked so hard to create. There are plenty of sturdy paper plates and compostable cutlery options available now that are much kinder to the environment than older disposable products.

Sometimes reducing stress is also part of looking after your family's wellbeing.

My holiday packing list always includes...

Along with swimmers and sunscreen, you'll usually find:

• Paper plates

• Compostable bowls

• Disposable cutlery

• Paper cups for the kids

• A roll of paper towel

• Resealable food bags

• A few large rubbish bags for easy clean-up

These tiny additions take up hardly any room but save hours over the course of a holiday.

Remember why you're there

Your children won't remember whether breakfast was served on ceramic plates or paper ones.

They'll remember splashing in the pool before breakfast.

They'll remember the card games, beach walks, ice creams and movie nights.

They'll remember having a mum who was sitting with them - not standing at the sink.

Permission to do less

As mums, we often believe we have to create the perfect holiday.

The perfectly packed bags.
The perfectly planned itinerary.
The perfectly cooked meals.

But maybe the perfect holiday is simply the one where you have enough energy left to enjoy it. So here's your permission slip. Use the paper plates. Bring the plastic, or better yet, compostable, cutlery. Order takeaway. Skip the dishes. Sit outside with your coffee while the kids chase each other around the campsite.

Because the real luxury on holiday isn't a five-star resort.

It's getting to be part of the memories instead of cleaning up after them.

And if a stack of paper plates helps make that happen, I'd call them the real holiday heroes.