Back to School Meal Prepping
Between dropping your kids off at school, managing their activities and taking care of your own responsibilities, figuring out what to eat and make for the family is just another challenge once school starts back. With meal prepping, so much of that stress is alleviated! Read up on the benefits of meal prepping before the kids go back to school, and check out some helpful tips on making it fun and easy!
Time Management
A new school year for the kids also means a busier schedule for you. One of the main benefits of meal prepping is that it can save you time. Preparing whole meals, or even just portioning out ingredients over the weekend or on a designated day during the week will save you so much time in the evenings when it’s time to eat, or when packing your kids’ lunches for the day!
Healthier Eating Habits
The summer is a great time to eat healthier, but it can be difficult to stick to a fitness plan and easy end up reaching for quick snacks or fast food when you are short on time or energy. Meal prepping sets you up for success by already having healthy food set up to cook or healthy snacks ready for you to quickly fuel up on.
Tips and Tricks
Utilize Weekends
When it comes to meal prepping, the weekend is your best friend. It will take a lot less time if you do all of your preparing in one set period so there’s less to make up for during the week. This is when you should plan out your meals, figure out how much of each ingredient you’ll need, go grocery shopping, and prepare the meals. Of course it can be hard to plan for every little thing you’ll need, but you’ll get better the more you practice. By the time school starts you’ll be a pro!
Reward Yourself
While not having to prepare for meals during the week might be rewarding enough, you can also reward yourself after the meal prepping process to have something to look forward to after all that hard work. The day you choose to meal-prep can be your family’s designated evening for eating out. This way, you’ll have one special day a week where you get to go to a restaurant, and you have incentive to work hard on meal prepping during the day so you can enjoy yourself that evening. It’s a win-win!
Give Yourself Options
It can be easy to give up on meal prepping if you’re eating the same thing every day or not taking into consideration your real preferences and cravings throughout the day. If you’re the type of person that likes to snack, set out lots of different options for snacking throughout the week so you’re not limited to what you thought you’d want a few days ago. Cut up some vegetables for days you want a lighter snack, but also have some trail mix, nut butter, or homemade cookies ready for days when you need something a bit more filling.
Involve your Kids!
If you plan on meal prepping before your kids go back to school, start teaching them about the process now so that they might be able to help you out with it by the time school rolls around. They’ll love being able to have a say in what they’re eating, and will learn about responsibility, planning, portion control, and healthy eating along the way.
Meal-Prepping Meals
Popular Prepped Meals
Now onto the fun part: the meals themselves! Despite being pre-prepared, some of the most popular meals are delicious and unique. Some favorites are overnight oats, fresh salads, breakfast power bowls, turkey wraps, poke bowls and more!
Kid’s Lunch
It’s always a good idea to pack a protein, a veggie, a fruit, and a carb source in your kid’s lunches. Kids burn off a lot of energy during the day, so they need to eat healthier, yet take in more calories than many adults. Meal prep ingredients for burrito bowls, quesadillas, sandwiches, or leftovers from dinner the night before. Have some cut up fruit ready so it’s easy for the kids to dig into when they’re hungry. Every once in a while, surprise them with a sweet treat like a piece of candy or a little dessert.
Dinner
When meal-prepping for dinners, it’s always a good idea to have recipes in mind so no ingredients go to waste. Include meals that have fresh veggies that you can cut and prepare during the week like onions, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and potatoes. Many great dinner recipes include rice which can be cooked beforehand, or salad which can be prepared ahead of time (without dressing). Don’t forget to think about your protein ahead of time as well, as many meats can be stored in the fridge for days.
Contact Us
Just as you’re prepared for all your meals during the week, your air conditioner should be prepared to handle the hot summer weather in North Alabama! If you notice any issues with your air conditioning, don’t hesitate to contact us. You don’t want to meal prep in an uncomfortable home!
We are your trusted American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Customer Care Dealer in Huntsville, AL. If you have any questions regarding your HVAC system or your home’s comfort, you can always call us at (256) 536-0967 and we will be happy to answer your questions. For more tips and helpful information, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
