Time-Saving Strategies

In these unofficial final days of summer, you’re likely thinking about back-to-school clothes, supplies, and new schedules. I would add a few meal-related tasks to the list. Quick breakfast ideas, easy-to-pack lunches, and dinners that match your family’s afternoon and evening schedules. Let’s start with time-saving strategies that will allow you to prep balanced meals with less time and effort.

Breakfast

A rushed morning calls for make-ahead or easy-to-prep options that are quick and balanced. It’s tempting to give in to “it’s too early to eat” or “I’ll have something later.” But for many of us (and especially students), this turns into a long morning with little nourishment.

Try these Guiding Stars earning combinations:

• Guiding Stars earning frozen waffle + nut butter + sliced banana

• Guiding Stars earning granola + unsalted nuts + no added sugar Greek yogurt

• Guiding Stars earning whole grain bread (toasted) + avocado + pan fried egg

• Guiding Stars earning cottage cheese + fresh fruit + hemp seeds

• Guiding Stars earning cereal + unsalted nuts + dried fruit

Or try these simple, star-earning supermarket picks:

• Sweet Earth Big Sur Breakfast Burrito

• Sweet Loren’s Chocolate Breakfast Biscuits (GF), (paired with nonfat plain Greek yogurt)

• Morningstar Farms Veggie Breakfast Original Sausage Links

• KIND Zero Apple Cinnamon Nut Granola

• Veggies Made Great Spinach Egg White Frittata

Or maybe these make-ahead dishes (reheat in minutes):

Lunch

Examine how your children are eating this summer and replicate it. Go for a bento box if they prefer a “Lunchables”-style lunch that they can build themselves. Or follow this simple blueprint: sandwich or salad, snack, fruit, and a Guiding Stars earning beverage for a more traditional lunch. Cooking tip: The fastest lunch salad comes together when it’s made with ingredients from the previous night. Build it while you’re cleaning up after dinner.

Try these simple sandwich and salad combinations:

• Guiding Stars earning whole grain bread + sliced turkey breast + sliced avocado + lettuce

• Guiding Stars earning tortilla + sriracha mayo + grilled chicken + lettuce

• Guiding Stars earning whole grain pita + hummus + sliced cucumber + sliced tomato

• Guiding Stars earning whole grain bread + nut or seed butter + sliced banana

• Guiding Stars earning whole grain pita + tzatziki sauce + hummus + grilled chicken

• Lettuce topped with chicken + corn + black beans + shredded cheddar

• Pasta combined with diced fresh peppers + grape tomatoes + cucumber + mozzarella pearls

• Spinach topped with crispy chicken + uncured chicken bacon (pre-cooked) + grape tomatoes

Or try these, star-earning “grab and go” supermarket picks:

• Tasty Bite Mild Indian Style Chickpeas & Rice Bowl

• Daily Harvest Sweet Potato + Wild Rice Hash Harvest Bowl

• Taylor Farms Veggies & Guacamole Snack Pack

• Cedar’s Foods Edamame Salad

• Taste of Inspirations Thai Chili Mango Chopped Salad Kit

Or maybe these make-ahead lunches:

Dinner

While family dinner is a nice goal, the truth is that most of us can’t achieve this during the week. It’s very difficult to align schedules, hunger levels, and food preferences every evening. If I’m describing your family, then consider other ways to connect. Maybe it’s Friday night pizza or Sunday morning brunch. For a busy family, I recommend embracing deconstructed meals and other streamlined time-saving strategies during the week.

Try these simple dinner ideas:

Or keep these supermarket picks on hand to build easy meals:

• Nature’s Promise Medium Raw Shrimp (frozen)

• Nature’s Promise Salmon Fillets (frozen)

• Goya Red Bell Peppers, Peas and Garlic Quinoa Blend

• Bell & Evans Organic Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets

• Harvesting Good Broccoli Florets

• Pico de Gallo

• Lundberg Family Farms Ready in 2 Minutes Organic Jasmine Rice

• A Dozen Cousins Mild Cuban Black Beans

• Nature’s Promise Organic Shelled Edamame (frozen)

Or maybe these make-ahead dinners: