Back to School Meal Planning Ideas

Mealtimes in the summer are much less structured and relaxed. Once the school year starts, get back on track and into a meal planning routine. Here are our best tips:

Create a Calendar

One of the easiest ways you can help yourself when it comes to planning meals is to create a calendar. Determine what you want to serve for each meal far enough ahead of time that you aren’t trying to figure something out last-minute. Try to plan meals around the activities you have going on, and choose meals based on their level of difficulty.

Prep as Much as You Can Ahead of Time

It can be really stressful trying to throw together lunches in the morning when there is already so much chaos going on. To make your morning routine a little easier, prepare all of the lunches on Sunday, so it’s all set for the week. Chop up fruit and veggies for the week at one time, and pack them into individual containers.

Do this with all the food you are giving your kiddo, so that way when morning hits you can just grab and go.

Practice the Changes with Your Kiddo

If your little one goes from eating meals whenever they feel like it to having a structured routine, this will be a difficult adjustment. A week or two before school, have them start practicing waking up earlier and eating their meals at the same time every day. Try to follow this schedule around the same time their school serves meals and snacks.

Beginning of the school year is a fantastic time to get into meal planning again. It can make eating times so much easier in the midst of chaos.

And if you enjoyed reading these tips, check out Tips for Saving Money on School Supplies, or 4 After School Options for the Working Parent!