Between after-school activities and conflicting schedules, school nights don’t always run smoothly. Luckily, it doesn’t take parental superpowers to navigate the chaos that back-to-school season brings. Weekly meal prep recipes are all it takes to conquer the madness. So, keep calm and welcome back the school year with our list of family meal planning tips and tricks for making school nights less hectic.
While you’re grocery shopping for the week, pick up a few frozen dinner entrées and side dishes. Having premade dinners and side dishes in your freezer will come in handy when the unexpected comes up. The kids will think you spent hours in the kitchen!
Use part of your Sunday to prepare and freeze weekly meal prep recipes that your family can enjoy for breakfast during the school week. This Loaded Breakfast Burrito recipe makes 12 burritos, each packed with onions, tomatoes, country sausage, eggs, and cheddar cheese. The perfect meal plan recipe!
We know it’s unrealistic to expect you to make weekly meal prep recipes every Sunday. Along with having frozen main dishes and side dishes on hand, pick up a box of frozen breakfast sandwiches. This easy meal planning tip gives you the ability to quickly make breakfast in the microwave and will keep hectic mornings zen.
The kids aren’t the only ones who need their lunches packed. As you prepare your kids for school, don’t forget about your own lunchtime needs. Make-ahead Mason jar salads are easy to assemble and keep for days in the refrigerator. Prepare a few each week and enjoy some fresh veggies while at work. Avoid soggy salads by properly layering the ingredients for this Spinach Noodle Salad. Start by first whisking together your dressing and pouring it into a short 16-ounce Mason jar. Top the dressing with cooked egg noodles and tomatoes, followed by fresh spinach, garbanzo beans, sliced red onions, and crumbled Feta cheese.
Good-for-you snacks are easy to make ahead of time and perfect for those weeknights when the whole family is running in different directions. No Bake Energy Balls and Salted Caramel Popcorn Bars are a great make-ahead snack option and pair well with your other favorite back-to-school recipes. Each recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to five days.
Serve dinners that store easily and work well for school lunches like these kid-friendly Caterpillar Chicken Tortilla Wraps. Make ahead for an easy back-to-school recipe the whole family will love!
Out of all the back-to-school recipes, this one is our favorite because it’s so easy! All the prepping in the world won’t prepare you for the unexpected. When you’re at the supermarket, place back-to-school staples like Snack Pack® Pudding, juice boxes, peanut butter, jelly, granola, and whole-wheat flour tortillas into your grocery cart. Just by adding a few additional items to your pantry, you’ll be able to send your children off to school ready for anything.
