Honey Housewife Shares Easy, Kid-Friendly Recipes for Back-to-School Meal Prep
Back to school, here we come! After a few months off enjoying the summer sun and good company, it's time to refocus our energy on the school year ahead.
The back-to-school season takes serious organization, especially if you parent more than one school-age child. If you're in search of how best to set yourself up for success, you aren't alone. According to CBS News, back-to-school stress is REAL for both kids and parents, the biggest factor being change in routine.
Megan VanStone, also known as Honey Housewife, a Spokane-based home and lifestyle blogger, shared with Trending Northwest how she's prepared to face this thing head on. With three kids of her own, she offers her tips on how to handle this busy season.
Here's how to prepare your kids (and their lunchboxes) for back-to-school success.
Quality Time Together Leading up to the Start of School
Rather than stressing over the date circled on the calendar, Megan strives to enjoy the last few weeks of summer with her kids. “We put so much pressure on ourselves as moms. Do they need to start with a new backpack and fresh kicks? No absolutely not! I find that taking that load off and just trying to soak up the last days we have together fills everyone's cup way more the monogrammed lunch box. (But don’t get me wrong, there will be a monogrammed lunch box),” Megan shared.
See also: 5 Local Shops to Visit for Back-to-School Shopping
Building Good Back-to-School Habits
Preparation is key! Honey Housewife shared how not everyone in the family is a morning person, so prepping for the next day the night prior can help alleviate stress in the morning. “Whatever I can do to set up us for success the night before is huge. I like to set out backpacks and water bottles so they are ready to go. We alway lay out what the kids are going to wear the night before so they can get dressed without any fuss.”
She even says that she will meal prep extra over the weekend so her kids have something to reheat in the morning. “My kids love a big breakfast on Saturday morning so I will often make a double batch of whatever I'm making for the kiddos to warm up before school. That way I know they are getting something good for them to start their day,” Megan shared.
Back-to-School Meal Prep Tips
Breakfast
While trying to fuel kiddos in the morning, it can be helpful to have your breakfast pre-prepped! “One of our go to breakfast is overnight oats. My kids actually love to make them themselves which is a double win. They are easy to grab and eat on the go if they need (in the fall my kids have a.m. cross country practice so they can take them to school and eat them after they run). It’s really a life-saver. It’s fun for them to also be able to mix it up and have fun with the things they add into them. When I take these extra steps it allows us to enjoy the morning, turn on some music and have a little kitchen dance party to start the day in a positive environment instead of rushed and stressed one,” Megan shared.
On top of overnight oats another easy meal prep, according to Honey Housewife, are copycat Starbucks egg bites. “My kids can throw down some Starbies egg bites. I found a great little mold on amazon and will prep a bunch to heat in the morning before school starts,” Megan said.
Lunch
Hot lunch or homemade? It's an age old question that keeps parents up at night. Megan says don't overthink it or stress too much over the time spent throwing a lunch together. “Sandwiches in the shape of flowers and dinosaurs, who has time for that?!” Megan shared. “Let's be honest, I'm 40. My skincare routine is a full time job! Fancy lunches are not on my priority list,” Megan joked.
Megan often makes homemade chicken salad for her kids. “One of our go-to meals is making a big batch of chicken salad. It's so easy to add to a left over croissant. (Yes I'm a baker and I’m lucky enough to bring these home often. I love Trader Joe's bake from frozen croissants. We bake them often and they make great little sandwiches for the babes.) Or, we use crackers and veggies to dip. I love knowing they are getting some good fiber and protein to get through their day. It also helps this mama remember to eat in the afternoon because who can resist some chicken salad!” said Megan.
Another fan favorite in her family is homemade charcuteries for lunch. “Another of my go-to lunches is just that, a little meat, a little cheese, some crackers, grapes, almonds and maybe a hunk of left over baguette. It does not have to be fancy. Use what you've got and let them snack. One of my girlfriends calls it a French lunch. I mean look at these fancy cultured little babes we are raising.”
Dinner
“When it comes to dinner I like to keep it simple,” Megan shared. “I got a fancy big girl all clad crock pot for my birthday a few years ago, and she’s my best friend. I think the key to a successful school week is trying to plan ahead,” Megan said. “I try to map out my week and plan my meals so come dinnertime, I’m ready to go. Now don’t get me wrong, some nights you just have to punt and order take out or as one of my good friends calls it: a fend for yourself dinner. I think it's taking the pressure off by knowing that not every night needs to be a 3-course meal on the good china. It’s about balance,” said Megan.
“One of my favorite shows growing up was ‘Semi-Homemade,' on the Food Network,” Megan shared. I loved the way she (Sandra Lee) would take something store bought and pair or add to it with something made from scratch. For example: store-bought pesto meatballs paired with fresh peas and arugula and a homemade white wine sauce. It's fast but still feels special and thought out. Smoke and mirrors baby,” Megan added. “Like I said this allows me to spend my time over the weekend preparing a roast, making a big breakfast, dessert or homemade bread.”
Recipes
Overnight oats
You will need:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons sweetener (my kids go back and forth between maple syrup or honey)
- 1 tablespoon flax meal
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
To make:
Then this is where it gets fun, Megan shared: the add-ins! “I like are a little raspberry jam, peanut butter and a little granola. My daughter loves mini chocolate chips. My son likes frozen blueberries (because it makes it purple) and a scoop of vanilla yogurt. The options are endless! I add the ingredients into a mason jar, pop the lid on, and give it a good shake. You want the consistency to be a little runny so feel free to add a little more milk if needed. Let it sit overnight and you are ready to go in the morning!”
Egg bites
You will need:
- 10 eggs cracked into a bowl
- 1/2 cup half & half
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
To make:
- Whisk up the mixture and add in your favorite cheese and toppings! “My kids like bacon and cheddar,” Megan shared. “I’ll cook 5-6 strips of bacon and add 1/3 cup shredded cheddar.”
- Whisk it up and add to a greased mold. “My mold is round so I use a cake pan filled with 1/2 inch water to make a water bath for the egg bites,” Megan shared. “This will help prevent them from drying out. Place the mold in the cake pan filled with water for baking.”
- Bake for 12-20 minutes at 350 degrees until the eggs bites are firm to the touch. “I prefer 12 egg whites or 2 1/2 cup pre-cracked egg whites, 1/2 cup half & half and finely diced bell pepper and green onion with 1/3 cup shredded pepper jack for a little kick,” Megan shared.
- NOTE: These will last in the fridge for up to 10 days. (As if they will even make it that long.)
Chicken salad
You will need:
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken (meat removed from the bone and finely chopped)
- 4 celery stocks finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon old bay seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 cup mayo or 1/2 cup greek yogurt
To make:
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
- Store in the fridge for up to 10 days.
As back-to-school season makes its way back onto our calendars, Honey Housewife's leaves us with these parting words:
“My last piece of advice is a quote from one of my daughter's friends. While sitting at the lunch table not wanting to eat the homemade muffin in her lunch box her friend said to her, ‘You live in a castle and don’t even know it.' So, just know even if your kids are unimpressed with your efforts, their friends appreciate it,” Megan shared.
More recipes from Honey Housewife to check out:
- The perfect waffle
- Blueberry Strussle Muffins
- Butternut Squash and Kale Stew
- Chicken N’ Dumplins
- Brown Butter Rice Crispy
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Jordan (Jordy) Blaine has her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with a major in Public Relations from Carroll College, and is a professional journalist with 10 years of experience in newsrooms. Jordy has worked at Krem 2 News, and is now at Trending Northwest to organize events, coordinate PR campaigns, and expand coverage of marginalized communities . If you want to learn more about how she is making an impact right here in the Northwest, give her a follow on Instagram or Facebook.
