School lunches. Definitely a hot topic in most circles.
With more and more kids entering the medically obese category, many are opting out of the (usually) less-than-healthy school cafeteria meals and trying to make and send healthy lunches with their children.
But, not every mom finds this to be an easy task. How do you create healthy lunches that kids will love . . . and how do you do it without making the same ol’ sandwich every day?
This is one of the question fueling the H-E-B/ConAgra Back to School Meal Maker Challenge. With the help of Phil Lampert (“Supermarket Guru“), 10 bloggers (including moi), and a bunch of coupons, H-E-B and ConAgra are trying to help busy parents prepare for the coming school year, giving them new ideas for healthy, budget-conscious lunches and school-night dinners.
Since I have spent the past several months creating a healthier lifestyle for my family, this challenge fits in perfectly with my healthy food philosophy. Healthy meals can be budget-friendly, delicious, AND incorporate time-saving food products.
For my family’s dietary needs, not every single item on the grocery store shelf works. We avoid prepared, boxed meals and “just add water” sides — with my health issues, my body just works better with fresher, real ingredients.
But, I still use time-saving options like canned tomatoes . . . flavorings like soy-sauce, etc. With attention-seeking, time-demanding Kidlets running around, I need these types of products to help me prepare meals quickly and efficiently.
PLUS, as a former teacher, I remember those years of working all day and, when coming home, not wanting to spend hours in the kitchen — each of the quick, healthy meals I’ve “created” (so far) for this challenge use a combination of fresh and preserved ingredients to give you more time OUT of the kitchen:
- Hubby’s Favorite Smoked Turkey Panini (recipe coming soon)
- Spicy Mustard Pot Roast (recipe coming soon)
What’s your favorite time-saving tip when it comes to meal preparation?
*Disclosure: this post was originally published as part of a Back To School Meal program by HEB and ConAgra; I was compensated for my recipe creations and posts.
