Transitioning to a new routine

With school starting up again, a return to routine is in store for most families. While many will miss the warmth and adventure of summer, the structure that September brings to family units can be a welcome sight for parents! For many families, establishing a regular routine is a must when balancing work, school, meal planning, and extracurricular activities.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered with some handy guides to make your back to school planning a breeze!

Setting a Morning Routine

When planning your morning routine, it is important to know what you hope to accomplish with your day and what items on your list are essential.

Whether you are getting some exercise to get your mind and body ready for the day or cooking a hearty breakfast for your family before going to school and work; your morning routine should be all about setting a path to success for the rest of your day and week. For ideas on how to start your day off right check out our Guide to a Healthy Morning Routine.

Repetition is Key

The most important thing to keeping a strong routine is repetition. If you miss an item or two on your list, don’t get down on yourself, just be sure to not miss out on it next time and continue to string good days together.

Studies show it takes about 21 days to form a routine but transitioning to new habits doesn’t have to be hard. All it takes is some advanced planning and knowing what works best for your life.

Meal Preparation to Make your Days Easier  

Meal prepping is an amazing way to stick to your weekly routine. Preparing your lunches and dinners in advance can save you from rushing to find something to eat when life gets unexpectedly busy! 

Cooking in advance may seem like a daunting task, but with some advanced knowledge, it is a tool that will save you time throughout your week and help you get healthier. For an in depth look at meal preparation, check out our Meal Prep Guide for delicious, easy meals that the whole family will enjoy.

Lunchbox Packing Guide

There is an art to packing a lunch box that goes beyond simply putting a sandwich in a grocery bag! Your child’s lunchbox should reflect all the nutrients and flavors they require to grow strong and stay focused while in school.

Our How to Pack Lunches for the School Year guide for new ideas to prepare healthy school lunches, plan meals, and grocery lists.

Power your lunchbox

For over a half decade, we have partnered with Power Your Lunchbox  to help parents pack healthy lunches with ease. By pulling together lunchbox-friendly recipes that are easy to assemble and can be prepped ahead of time, Power Your Lunchbox encourages families to start the school year off right by eating healthier.

Since Power Your Lunchbox launched, they have also donated 1.3 million mealsto families in need through Feeding America.

Tips to Power Your Lunchbox

Here are some of our favorite ways to add more fruits and veggies to power your child’s lunch:

• Adding chopped veggies to soups or chili like Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, onions, or corn, are a great way to spruce up soup or chili recipes.
• Finely chop onions, Bell Peppers, carrots, mushrooms, or spinach and add to pasta sauce. Serve over your favorite pasta or veggie noodles in a thermos for a delicious lunch. See our Canned Tomato Basil Sauce Recipe to get a head start! 
• Instead of jelly, use fresh fruit in your PB&J. Sliced bananas, Strawberries, kiwi, or grapes make perfect jelly substitutes.
• There’s something about food in the shape of a muffin that kids love. Break out the muffin tin and get your kids in the kitchen to help prepare these savory Mini Sweet Pepper Orange Cranberry Muffins.
• Skip the mayo on sandwiches and use mashed avocado instead. Or swap out mayo in egg, chicken, or tuna salad for avocado.
• Spiralized veggies, like this Caprese Zoodle Salad, or cauliflower rice are great alternatives to pastas and rice and a great way to sneak in some extra veggies.
• Handheld dishes, like these Chicken or Beef Fajitas or Hummus Tortilla Wrap are not only easy to eat, but easy to add fruits and veggies to.
• Most flavored yogurts come with added sugars. Make your own by mixing plain yogurt and your favorite fruit (adding a touch of honey if needed).