Time-Saving Back-to-School Meal Strategies Your Family Will Love

By Hescott Nutrition Services | posted in August 2024 | Back-to-School Meal Prep, Time-Saving Strategies, Family-Friendly Meals, Healthy Meal Planning, Lunch Prep Ideas, Kids Lunch Ideas, Quick Dinners, Healthy Family Meals, Batch Cooking.

Are you a parent of children heading into the back-to-school season? If so, you might feel overwhelmed by the preparations needed for this time of year.

There is so much to do before the school bell rings! I understand because I was once a parent of a young child. He is now an adult who is presently attending college, so there is some planning of a different kind involved here as well.

One important strategy to lighten your load this school season is your meal prep strategy. In this post we will explore five strategies for back-to-school meal prep that will save you time and energy. Plus, you'll love that your family is eating well.

I hope it helps make things easier for you and keeps everyone happy and healthy during these busy days!

Delegate

No matter your children's age, they can help at some level with meal prep and lunch packing. My son used to make sandwiches when he attended school.

Kids love to participate in food prep. Whether cutting up ingredients, packing sections of their bento lunch boxes, or stirring muffin batter, giving them some responsibilities will help your child to eat their meals if they've had a role in their creation!

Kids are also more likely to try new foods—even fruits and vegetables—if they help prepare them. I'll never forget when my child ate a salad with his favorite protein, chicken. I thought it would never happen!

Plan And Prep Ahead

It's difficult for anyone, including dietitians, to make the best decisions when tired or frazzled! Having a plan A and B ensures that meals run smoothly, regardless of how the day unfolds.

Using a meal plan as a guide can be super helpful! It doesn't mean you have to make every meal on it, but it's a great way to kickstart prepping healthy meals the whole family will enjoy. Choose three dinners and a few snacks each week, and stick with it until you have at least 10 go-to dinner options in rotation. This can take up to 4-6 weeks. Meals like soups, stews, and roasted proteins are perfect for lunch boxes when paired with easy, no-prep sides like fruits, veggies, cheese, and crackers.

Some of my favorite dinner leftover combinations include:

• Shredded chicken tacos with salsa and prepared guacamole
• Vegetable chili with cheese and crackers
• Tofu or other protein kabobs with yogurt sauce
• Broccoli Cheddar soup with whole grain toast wedges

An excellent tip for turning dinner into lunch is to scale up your recipes so there’s enough for the next day. Pack lunches before you eat dinner, saving yourself the hassle of dealing with it during your already busy mornings.

Batch Your Work

We talk about batching work with tasks at the office, but what about in the kitchen? The same time-saving principle applies!

For instance, if your kids love smoothies for breakfast, prepare smoothie packs ahead of time by storing the ingredients in cups or bags in the freezer. When morning comes, all you need to do is toss the pack into the blender, add their favorite milk, and blend!

Another example is if your child loves having crunchy red bell pepper sticks in their lunch, don't cut up a new pepper every night. Once or twice a week, cut up bell peppers or have your kids do it! And store them in baggies that are ready to toss into the lunch box. Or store all of the sliced peppers in a container so they can pack their bento lunch box much faster.

And if you know that you're cooking two different dinners that call for chopped onions and celery, chop up enough veggies for both dinners. You’ll be thankful for less chopping when the time comes to cook the second recipe!

Use A Template

How else can we reduce your mental load? Follow a template whenever you can!

If your child uses a bento box to pack their lunch, assign a food group to each section. Whole grains go on the left, fruits below, a protein on the right, and so on. Discuss what "counts" for each section of their lunch and brainstorm choices that fit into each category. From there, your child can pack their lunch with less input from you.

For dinners, have some regular meals that you can depend on to be quick and delicious without needing too much brain power. For example, Taco Tuesdays! Use the crockpot to cook your favorite taco filling, and dinner will be mostly ready when you and your crew get home hungry. A few other ideas are breakfast for dinner, pizza on Fridays, and Meatless Mondays.

Conclusion

As life changes, so do your patience and energy levels-this is completely normal! During the back-to-school season, it's essential to be kind to yourself. With more on your plate, it's okay to simplify and delegate tasks. You don't have to do everything the same way as before, and shortcuts can still lead to a happy and healthy family.

Change naturally brings a bit of stress, especially during this busy time. Be patient as you and your family adjust to new routines. Focus on planning meals that help everyone thrive, and always have a plan B ready to keep things running smoothly!

If you're ready to connect about planning family meals and snacks, I can help! Schedule your free consultation by going to SERVICES, or call 347-915-3738. I can't wait to meet with you!