Back-to-school is fast approaching, and the routine seems daunting? The eternal chase for time, trying to fit it all in one day – cooking, preparing lunch boxes, and all the other tasks and responsibilities to run the household can make anxiety levels soar. Marilyne, our registered dietitian, shares three tips to make meal prepping easier.
Tip #1 : Plan all the meals of the week ahead of time
Never get caught last minute, with an empty belly, wondering what to eat for dinner! Pick a time of the week when you’ll have time to think of what you’d like to eat during the following week and write a grocery list accordingly. This way, you won’t have to go back to the grocery store to buy missing ingredients and you’ll save time. Don’t forget to plan food for three meals a day, as well as snacks!
Tip #2 : Plan some quick options
If you’re not one of those people who cook their meals ahead of time during the weekend, plan a few meals that are quick to put together and that require few dishes to cook to have more time to sit back and relax. The magic formula for a balanced meal is protein + vegetables + starch or whole grains.
Here are a few ideas:
- Stuffed pasta + tomato sauce + spinach + cheese
- Buckwheat pancakes + ham + cheese + green salad
- Gnocchis + lentils + tomato sauce + pan fried mushrooms
- Bagel + smoked trout + cream cheese + crudités
Tip #3 : Have a few prepared meals in the freezer
Frozen prepared meals have a long-standing bad reputation because of their high levels of sodium, fats, and low intake in protein and fiber. However, the offer has greatly evolved in the last decade, making it possible today to enjoy a frozen prepared meal that is both delicious AND healthy.
Here are a few options of delicious frozen prepared meals that follow the Canadian Food Guide recommendations and are therefore healthy:
- Tandoori Salmon
- Thai Chicken Soup
- Meat Lasagna
- Greek Veggie Bowl
What is more, all the meals from the Isabelle Huot line that we have both online and in stores have outstanding nutritional values, check them out for more options!
We hope these tips will help you sail through back-to-school smoothly. If it isn’t the case, take a deep breath and try to get through one day at a time, everything will be alright!
Have a good back-to-school and bon appétit!