Summer life is wrapping up and the crazy school schedules are back in swing. Between sports practices, extracurriculars, curriculum nights/conferences and everything that goes with the back-to-school shenanigans, life can feel a bit crazy.  

THEN comes the added stress of meal planning.

Making sure that the kids have healthy lunches for school and a somewhat impressive dinner on the table, can be daunting, believe me I know. Meal planning/prepping takes some effort but can definitely make life easier during the hustle and bustle of a busy school and extracurricular schedule.

A few tips for keeping the household fed and healthy:

1. Cook in bulk: Double your batch so you have plenty of leftovers, limiting the number of days you have to cook throughout the week. We love a good Sweet Potato Chili around here. You can top with some shredded cheese, Greek yogurt (in place of sour cream), or whatever extra toppings you like. Bonus: if you or hubby happen to get lucky this deer hunting season (Hunting season start October 1 here in Michigan), swap out the beef/turkey for your venison! A win/win for everyone. Leftovers store perfect in the glass meal prep containers. 

2. Healthy grab n’ go snacks: Muffins are a perfect grab and go snack. Store-bought muffins tend to have a ton of additives and added sugar. I try to limit both with our kiddos, as much as possible. My kids are fans of both the zucchini and pumpkin muffins that I make.  A little bit of veggies, a little bit of sweet and the perfect bit of convenience.  These cook great in the silicone muffin pan, and an added bonus they are super easy to clean! 

Check out the muffin recipes below, you won’t be disappointed. You can do them as written (I use Level-1 Protein) or choose to omit the protein powder all together. 

Need of more healthy recipe/snack ideas? Visit my Fit In The Mitt page for weekly “Tasty Tuesday” recipe ideas.

Kids in the Kitchen

3. Get the kids involved: Kids are more likely to actually eat the healthy meals you cook, if they get to help prep in the kitchen too. My 10-year-old is already quite the chef! He recently made meatballs that were amazing, with a recipe from his Raddish Cooking Club. This monthly club sends the 3 new kid-friendly recipes each month, along with a new cooking utensil, apron, and collectible patches. This is an awesome gift idea for parents/grandparents on the search of a non-toy gift!

And for those younger kiddos that want to help, kids prep knives are a GREAT option to teach them the ropes. 

4. School Lunches: Depending on what’s available at school, kids may or may not be able to heat up their lunches. The Bento Box w/ Thermos is a great option to keep their food warm until its time to eat. My son likes to take leftovers in his thermos or make himself a walking taco. For the extra compartments, he is a fan of hummus/veggies, fruit, RX bar, etc.  

5. Prep Ahead: Do you buy all of the fruits/veggies, just to leave them uneaten, week after week? Yep, I’ve been there. Tip: Cup up veggies/fruit to have ready to grab throughout the week. You’re much more likely to grab for the fruits/veggies vs. chips if they’re already ready to eat. These silicone stashers are perfect for this and they’re BPA free and reusable. Other staple items in my kitchen: hard boiled eggs, cooked ground meat, roasted vegetables/potatoes and some plain ole rice. Having trouble choosing “clean” produce for your family, check out our blog on the “Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen.”

For the moms

Are you a stay-at-home mom, who now has a little extra time on your hands? (Haha, but I digress.)

Perfect, use that time to make yourself a priority. Get back into a workout routine, if you have fallen off over the summer with the kids at home. Or, if you already have a good routine in place, take advantage of the extra kid-free time to get your workout in. I love setting a good example for my kids and having them see me make fitness a priority. However, it is also nice to be able to do a workout once in a while, without kids fighting and running in front of your kettlebell midair! 

Working Mom

Are you a working mom who now must figure out how you could possibly fit in a workout, with the crazy never-ending school schedules? 

Well, if you have kids with sports practices like mine, they are typically an hour or two long. Tip: Bring a set of dumbbells to their practice. While you wait, use that time to get a little parking lot workout in.  If that’s not your thing, take a walk around the neighborhood and get some more steps in for the day. Bonus: Fresh Air! Recruit another mom to join you. You never know, that mom might love the extra company and adult conversation too! 

Additionally, if you are in need of a workout program, I CANNOT recommend Street Parking enough. This online program is perfect for any fitness level, with any amount of equipment (including no equipment!), no matter how short you are on time.  Perfect for those parking lot workouts too!

Are you just completely lost regarding fitness and nutrition? 

I can help with that too! Since my son was born, I have been on a mission to make moms feel confident in their own skin and live their healthiest life possible (dads too of course!). I am an NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) Certified Nutrition Coach and I work with 1^st Phorm as a Nutrition Advisor. If you want 1-1 nutrition coaching, head on over to 1st Phorm and add me as your advisor (nicole.fitm@gmail.com). I would love to help you in your health/fitness journey.  

While getting into a routine during “Back to School” is daunting, routine can also be nice. Use this time to not only keep your family fed and healthy, but to remember to make yourself a priority too! 

Cheers to a happy/healthy school year!!

Nicole 

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