Quick Back to School Meals
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.
Back to school season is a time of new beginnings. A new classroom, new teachers, new topics, new lunch options. All of this can be so exciting for the little ones! Food is a huge aspect of the BTS season because it’s what fuels our little ones to study harder so they can become the doctor, athlete, firefighter (or in my son’s case, the astronaut) of their dreams! Keep on reading to find out the back to school food essentials I’ll be keeping in my pantry for this school year.
Feeding America
Unfortunately for some families, this time of year isn’t all smiles. September marks the beginning of fall and the start of school time, but it is also Hunger Action Month. Everyday some of us get to choose which dish we’d like to eat. At the same time, others are choosing between eating, having their medications filled, paying for childcare, and keeping the lights on. During Hunger Action Month, the Feeding America Network and the national public come together. They work to raise awareness for the tons of community members who are facing the issue of hunger every single day. 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries & meal programs later - Feeding America is the the largest hunger-relief organization in the US! They’ve been able to provide meals to more than 40 million people each year, but not without the help of our communities. Supporting Feeding America can drastically help out your local resources. It doesn’t stop there though! Supporting FA also helps out programs that prevent food waste, educate the public on how they can be of help, advocate for hunger-prevention legislations, and improve food security for those who find themselves in this situation. Food shouldn’t be an impossible choice. You have a choice. Choose to end hunger and take action here: https://www.feedingamerica.org/take-action/hunger-action-month
Veggies Made Great
If you’re looking for back to school food ideas, you’re probably actually looking for foods that have these two qualities: healthy and quick. Mama…same here! So I set out to find a breakfast option that the whole family could enjoy, while also still being healthy and quick. The Spinach Egg White Frittata and Double Chocolate Muffins from Veggies Made Great made it into my cart within minutes of getting to the store! Vegetables are the first and primary ingredient in every single Veggies Made Great product, so I was sold. I picked up the Spinach Egg White Frittata for Ben and I to enjoy in the mornings while we’re running the kids to school because they’re only 70 calories. (yes, you heard me right. ONLY 70!) Plus it has my four favorite veggies in it: spinach, tomatoes, onions and red bell peppers. I’ve been recommending it to all my friends who are looking for food options that are Gluten Free, Soy Free, Peanut & Tree Nut Free, or Keto-friendly. Plant-protein for the win!
The Double Chocolate Muffins for Aimery on his way to school were a huge hit. He didn’t even notice that zucchini and carrots are the first ingredients! Aims likes to eat them while we drive to school, but then he found out that heating them up in the microwave makes them taste like a yummy lava cake, so now he’s always making them that way! There’s no mama guilt, either, because they’re only 110 calories. If your little ones are picky eaters, these veggie-rich, high protein, low calorie snacks are a great addition to their diet. Both the Spinach Egg White Frittata and the Double Chocolate Muffins can be found in the freezer section of your local grocer! Grab a coupon here, before you make your shopping trip to pick up your own.
Mighty Sesame Organic & Harissa Tahini
If you’ve not yet tried Tahini, especially Mighty Sesame Organic & Harissa Tahini, you are missing a whole world of flavors! It’s a food that I’ve recently introduced to Aims, so I want to send out a reminder that introducing new foods to kids can be tricky. Although, if they see you loving a food, they could be more open and willing to give it a try. When he saw me loving Mighty Sesame Co.’s Tahini on my veggie sticks, he was practically begging for a bite. Falling in love with this Tahini isn’t hard, though, because the team behind Mighty Sesame Co. has spent their careers grading, tasting, buying and creating with sesame to make the perfect blend. Now, Aimery loves when I pack him lunches with sliced veggies and Harissa Tahini on the side as a dip. Plus, I love that it’s Organic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, a great source of protein, and has 260mg of calcium.
King Arthur Baking Company
Pancakes are a staple breakfast food. They remind me of Saturday morning breakfasts in the summer as a kid, or breakfast dates at a local family-run diner. They’re just a classic! That’s why I like to keep King Arthur Baking Company’s pancake mixes on hand for a quick batch of pancakes in the morning. Since 1790, King Arthur Baking Company’s has been the leader in providing the highest quality ingredients for the most delicious baked goods, so we choose them over and over again. Two of our most common buys from King Arthur Baking Company is their Buttermilk Pancake Mix and Confetti Pancake Mix. Aimery is always asking for breakfast for dinner, so I know I’ll be running out to the store to pick up more in the next few days!
The Buttermilk Pancake Mix is made with real buttermilk, so your result is pancakes that rival your local diners - not those flat cardboard tasting pancakes! If I’m running low on time in the mornings, all I have to do is add water to the mix and a filling breakfast for the family is made. PS, the mix actually comes in a resealable pouch so no more messy boxes that don’t close or seal! Who could say no to confetti pancakes?! Whenever someone’s birthday is coming up, you can bet that I’ll be in the store picking up a pack of this pancake mix! King Arthur Baking Company’s Confetti Pancake Mix makes fluffy and tender pancakes that have colorful sprinkles cooked inside to make the day feel extra special. Just like the buttermilk pancakes, simply adding water will give you a breakfast that is more than ordinary. Being a special treat with only 5 grams of added sugar, it's a breakfast I can feel good about giving to my kids!
Minute Rice
Any dish that can be made in a minute automatically has my heart! Minute Rice gives you time back to do the things that matter most, like spending time with family and helping with homework questions, rather than standing by the stove all afternoon. Taking that minute to slow down and take a breathe can be much needed. What’s even better is that there are no bad chemicals involved, just simple rice that is dried to add convenience. This is why when I was looking for back to school foods, Minute Rice was a winner! I picked up the Minute Ready to Serve White Rice and Minute Ready to Serve Brown & Wild cups to serve with a variety of dishes throughout the week. Whether we’re eating Minute Rice as a dinner side or I’m taking a to-go cup with me into the office, the BPA-free cups have the perfect amount of rice so we feel full but not overstuffed. Being ready in 90 seconds or less, I reach for these cups almost every night so I can get back to enjoying time with my family!
Finding back to school foods that are both healthy AND that can be made in a pinch can be hard to find. Veggies Made Great, Mighty Sesame Co, King Arthur’s Baking Company, and Minute Rice have become staple products for my pantry because they’re so versatile.
What will be your tried and true products this school year? Let me know down below!