Back To School Meal Planning Tips

I know a lot of kids in the States have gone back to school, but here in Canada the kids don't go back until after Labour Day. This gives moms and dads here a few more weeks before cracking down on the school routine.

If your kids haven't gone back to school yet, now is the time to prepare and plan ahead and for the parents who are adjusting and getting back into the groove, here are some great back to school meal planning tips.

1. A Meal Plan
Nowadays kids are required to purchase school daily planners. It keeps them organize and on track. Working parents also utilize daily planners to be more efficient. It makes sense to also have a meal plan for the week. You can shop for groceries beforehand and even prepare some meals.

2. Frozen Dinners
No, I don't mean the ones that comes in a store bought package. Make ahead foods like sauces, casseroles or soups can be frozen and used in the future.

3. Simple Schedules
It's important to have your kids involved in extracurricular activities, but too many in a week creates chaos and stress not only for you, but for the child too. When that happens usually fast foods replaces home cooked healthy meals.

Mark the activities on a calendar or board where everyone can see it and will use it. Any changes in activities should be marked ahead of time if possible.

4. Involve The Kids
It's true that kids who take part in preparing foods will be more likely to eat it. Also encouraging your kids to come up with a meal idea for one day out of the week will make them a feel they have control and a choice. It's a good opportunity to introduce healthy foods to your kids. Involve your spouse, if possible as it's a perfect way of spending quality family time together.

All family meals should be enjoyed together, but having a special Sunday meal together is a nice way to start off another busy week.

5. Emergency Alternatives
When life throws you a curve ball don't opt for the easy way of ordering take-out. Make sure your pantry is stock with items you can throw together. 30 minutes meals are not only awesome, but can be nutritious as well. Remember the sauce you have in the freezer?

6. Routine
Start getting into a routine at least a week before school starts. This includes wake up time and bedtime and earlier dinners.

7. Once A Week Cooking
Some people do once a week cooking. It's basically choosing one day of the week to make large batches of foods that will last one week.

It saves time and you can make meals in a snap!