I’ve been packing lunches for my girls for NINE years now, starting from when Big Sis was a mere tot in preschool. Wow, that’s a lot of lunch making! Back then, it was pretty easy. Life was just slower-paced and there was no where we HAD to be! The girls themselves might have required more work, but we had a pretty easy-going life. Fast forward NINE years and though the girls are more self-sufficient now, life has become a mad dash. Between their school, SIX soccer practices, piano lessons, and basketball and my own volleyball league, we are constantly on the move Monday through Friday.
With back-to-school looming for some and already in full swing for others like me, it’s so important to stay organized and simplify life where life can be simplified. One of the major areas in my life that requires planning and forethought is in the food department. Between breakfasts, school lunches and figuring out dinners in the midst of relentless activities, my refusing to hit the drive-thru’s and take out as much as possible, my kitchen and fridge need to be organized. Whether you’re a working mom or a stay-at-home one like me, life is just that much easier if you can get organized.
Think about routines and get organized for back-to-school meals now. You can do it! For starters, stock up on those items that make life a little easier and run a little smoother. While I love to cook and make things from scratch as often as possible, sometimes you just need the quick and easy. Luckily, there are great affordable options that my kids love like State Fair® Corn Dogs, Tyson® Chicken Nuggets and Jimmy Dean® Pancakes & Sausage.
On top of the multitude of activities, Big Sis is a very skinny, very picky eater, but we WILL put some meat on her bones! She WILL grow this year and protein is our tool of choice. Not only do these three items fit into that category (all three are high in protein), my choosier one LOVES every one of them, as does the less picky one. Yay!
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to make these meals. Here’s how I get I organize their meals:
1. First of all, pick a set day of the week to set aside some time to perform the mundane, dreaded tasks of food cleaning and prep. Sunday would be ideal since you can start using the items first thing Monday, but if you’re like me and just can’t (i.e. won’t) do it, Monday works great, too. As painful as it may be, a little time up-front will save you a ton later on.
2. Pre-wash your veggies and fruit. Don’t pre-wash berries, though, as they won’t last nearly as long. Use a scrub brush or soak and rinse them, depending on the produce. Clean with a 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar solution, a veggie cleaner found in stores or just plain water. While you’re at it, wash their packaging in warm and soapy water, to reuse for storage and save yourself and our Earth from another baggie. Make sure the veggies, fruit and bags are thoroughly dry before storing in the fridge. This will help them keep longer.
3. Pre-cut the meat, cheese, and whatever else you see fit! For example, for cheese, I buy the pre-sliced kind for sandwiches and then cut them further in quarters, the perfect size for crackers. Return them to the baggie they came in so there aren’t any additional containers to clean later.
4. Pre-fill little containers with snacks and dips your kids eat frequently, like hummus or applesauce. Surprisingly enough, it’s amazing how mind-numbing it gets to fill these on a daily basis. These little gems are Little Dippers by EasyLunchboxes.
5. Find storage bins that fit nicely in your fridge. Buy these bins or use something you already have sitting around. Fill the bins with go-to items like cheese sticks, drinkable yogurts, fruits, veggies, apple sauces, whatever!
6. Find a nice, convenient spot in your fridge. That slightly-too-short shelf that just won’t fit that much stuff was the perfect one for me.
Tada! Isn’t it GREAT to be organized and ready for a week of quick and easy breakfast/lunch/dinner making? This also makes it fun and easy for kids to pack their own lunches as well!
Now let’s see them in action. Wednesday is our crazy busy day. Big Sis comes home from school, then we go pick up Little Sis from school and take her straight to piano lessons. From there, we hustle to Big Sis’ indoor soccer practice, followed by basketball or soccer practice. That means quick and easy meals are a must, but healthy and high in protein are just as important. The girls were excited to see my sign that corn dogs were on the menu today! A special treat. With my lunch box gear ready to go, I quickly (and easily) got to work.
Who doesn’t love a corn dog dinner every once in a while? I know I certainly have a hard time resisting them!
Chicken tacos made with chopped up chicken nuggets make for quick and easy dinners. They’re nice for evenings when you can eat at home but are still pressed for time.
Lastly, who doesn’t love a corn dog breakfast every once in a while? I know I certainly have a hard time resisting them! Haha. This breakfast sausage dipped in pancake batter is delicious! They’re great for Monday morning breakfast when it’s just too hard to get up earlier to cook up something more involved. With Big Sis going to school an hour earlier than Little Sis now, these are a huge help AND she LOVES them! The perfect way to put more meat on her bones.
For some back-to-school lunch-packing tips and ideas, be sure to check out The Lunch Post!
Good luck to you all as YOU get organized for back-to-school meals! And wishing your sweeties a wonderful new school year!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to make my day by leaving me a comment, following my blog via email, on Facebook or on Instagram – the more the merrier!
Christine, aka happyvballgirl : )
To check out items used in this post or some of my favorites, simply click here: “Products I Love“. Purchases made using these links earns me a little extra cash to support my bento habit, which Hubby really appreciates. Haha! So, THANK YOU, should you choose to purchase any of ’em!
These are some great snack and meal ideas for our busy back to school routine. Thanks for all the ideas! [client]