Being a parent is a beautiful, wild journey. We spend so much of our day planning how we are going to fuel our kids to help keep their energy levels up, while at the same time, trying not to drain ours. Some days it seems like all they want to do is eat! Between work, school, play dates and sports, finding the time to fuel our kids’ busy bodies can be challenging. Getting a variety of foods helps to provide an array of nutrients essential for growth, but how can we do that when we need to cram 30 hours worth of activities into a 24-hour day? Here are some hacks that can help.
Grab-and-Go Fruits and Vegetables:
Keep a variety of ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables on hand so when the mid-morning snack craving comes around, there’s an apple front and center. Other fruits such as bananas, oranges, peaches, pears and plums can also be easy to rinse and eat on the run or balance out a meal. Purchasing items such as mini cucumbers or baby carrots can also help to get in those five servings per day while requiring little to no prep time. Add a dip and you can include these with any meal or snack.
Cook Together:
Instead of taking on the snack and meal burden yourself, get your kids involved and have them help you in the kitchen. The more hands, the faster it will go, and you can spend time with your children, teaching them the satisfaction of making a meal themselves.
Keep Pantry Staples On Hand:
Items such as boxed mac and cheese are quick to make and can be nutritious too. Add some frozen peas and you have yourself a balanced meal. Keep canned beans and fish on hand too to be able to whip up a quick chili or tuna sandwich, especially for those nights when you just don’t have the extra time to cook.
Include Ready-To-Eat Proteins:
Fully cooked chicken, deli meat and cheese and hard boiled eggs can be prepped ahead of time or bought ready-to-go, and can make meals go from prepped to table ready in minutes. Add some frozen vegetables and fully cooked grains (try Nature’s Promise pouches of brown rice or quinoa) and have a balanced meal in no time.
Lunchbox Essentials:
Look for fruit cups in 100% fruit juice or applesauce pouches. Try whole grain crackers and pair with slices of cheese. Stock up on whole-grain granola bars and other ready-to-eat goodies like cheese sticks, guacamole and hummus. Keeping pre-portioned items like these on-hand can reduce the burden of lunchbox prep and allows you to spend your time on more important things.
When you’re not sure of what to include for a balanced meal, think of the plate method and aim to include a grain, protein, fruit and vegetable. Visualizing this can help you think of balance and by using the tips and tricks above, you can fuel your kids while still having time to fuel yourself throughout your day.
For recipes and inspiration, visit www.hannaford.com/recipes.