Jane’s Nutrition Tips for Back to School!

 

JANE’S NUTRITION TIPS

Back to School – Back on Track

Even for those of us who aren’t heading to class this September, the busy back-to-school rush is underway. Rather than get caught up in the seasonal frenzy, take some time to mindfully prepare with these healthy and helpful back-to-school tips.

Learn to Delegate

You can’t do everything, so trusting others with responsibility is one of the most important ways to boost productivity. Have your children help out in the kitchen, share the grocery shopping and cooking with your partner and if possible, the rest of the family.

Plan Ahead

Start your weekly meal plan on the weekend

Set aside 15 minutes to review your kitchen – the pantry, the refrigerator and the freezer. Identify the meals you can make from the ingredients on hand. Then create a grocery list for the family favourite recipes. After grocery shopping, commit to one to two hours of meal preparation, such as peeling and dicing veggies, cooking breakfast bars, making double the family favourite recipe, and then freezing portion sizes for easy access during the busy week.

Strategize

Envisioning your meal plan for just 10 minutes a day can keep you on track and reduce your chance of diverting to take out or fast food.

No-cook Meals

Remember no-cook meals can be just as satisfying and nutritious as cooking a full course meal. Try spinach greens, sliced red onion, diced cucumber and sliced chicken breast (made on the weekend) with a small amount of dressing, topped with almonds or walnuts for a tasty and nutritious meal to take to work or to have for supper on an eventful evening.

Keep on Track 

Find out the best routine for you (and your family). If you observe things getting off track, include the meal planning on your priority to-do list, and then the simple satisfaction of checking tasks off your to-do list should keep you motivated and on track.

Recipe

This is one of my favourite recipes, Morning Glory Breakfast Bars, to make ahead of time for a quick breakfast, afternoon snack or healthy dessert option from Dairy Farmers of Canada – Dairy Goodness Website.

Need More Tips for Your Kids?

For more tips to keep your kid’s nutrition on track – check out my YouTube Channel Video Healthy Eating Tips for the Family.

Jane Dummer, RD, is a leading dietitian for the Canadian food and nutrition industry and a long-time resident of Waterloo region. Jane offers services for corporations and media, specializing in agri-food, functional foods and workplace nutrition and wellness. Follow Jane on Twitter @janedummer and subscribe to her Grow with Nutrition Blog.

 It’s never too late to eat healthy!