Remember back when you were a kid, all you had to do in a day was get up, get ready for school, go to school, come home, eat dinner, do homework and play outside (if it was nice) until bedtime and repeat. Where has time gone and why are times now so much busier? Is it technology, more activities and maybe the thought of having to do it all, all the time? We’re with you during this crazy time of the year. Today we are sharing tips to make the transition easier and adding some great quick recipes also.
Tip #1 Routine
Establishing a routine can be great help. Get a planner with times on it and write everything in that you need to get done. Plan your meals out and make a grocery list. Keep a planner/scheduler/calendar app the family can share where all activities can go into the same place so everyone is one the same page. Establish a morning routine and keep it up. They say the first hour of your day dictates how the rest of the day will go. I prefer mine to be planned out and on time, not rushing around and running late (even though those days happen to me and will happen to you too but having a routine helps keep them at bay). Read our amazing Evening Routine Blog for all our great evening routine tips. Our Food Freedom program has our morning rituals we love to follow. Our fall program will be starting soon so keep checking back for details!
Tip #2 Weekly Meal Prepping and Planning
The weekends are perfect for your grocery store trip and prepping meals for the week. I wash, cut up and separate all fruits and veggies. Grilling up some chicken and making sure the food is ready for dinners to be cooked is a great habit to get into for quick and easy weeknights. Meal prepping may seem like a daunting task, but once you get into the habit, it gets easier, saves numerous trips to the grocery store and cuts out any question of “what’s for dinner. Get the kids involved and have them help you make and prep the food. Turn it into a fun time for everyone! Have ingredients on hand for quick meals so if you’re in a pinch you can throw one together. Check out our 10-Minute Recipes below ☺
Tip #3 Keep Moving
Even though getting the kids to school may overwhelm you, driving from activity to activity, remember to keep moving yourself. Set aside time to go for a walk or get a fitness class in. Moving your body in stressful times helps decrease cortisol levels (the stress hormone produced by our bodies)! Even if you feel like you have no time, schedule a time a few times a week that you keep, as if the appointment was with your child’s teacher, and show up for yourself. Walking the kids to the park, or watching another mom’s kids while she goes to the gym and then switching off the next day for yourself are some great options!
Tip #4 Make Sure Everyone Gets Their Rest
It might be tempting to get the kids to bed early and stay up late to clean the house or check off your to-do list, but we recommend trying to be in bed before 10. Did you know that two hours of sleep before midnight are worth more than 4 hours of sleep after midnight? Try to keep to the same schedule on the weekends so that Sunday nights won’t be a fight getting the kids back to an earlier schedule.
Tip #5 Keep it Fun
This can be a stressful time of year for everyone, so making a list of fun things to do in the evenings once homework is done is a great idea. Also try rewarding the little ones with a fun activity after every homework assignment is finished, such as a 5-minute walk or playtime outside. Set a good example and do your work while they are doing their homework so that everyone can enjoy the 5-minute break together.
Remember, we are with you and have lots of great tips for routines and healthy upgrades for you and the family to enjoy. Here are our 5-Minute Meal Go-To’s for busy days! Try them out and let us know what you think:
Fresh Tuna Salad
2 cans Wild tuna
Juice of Full lemon
½ cup Green apple chopped
½ cup Celery chopped
¼ cup Olive oil
1 tsp Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!
Pumpkin Pancakes (blender)
1/2 can organic pumpkin purre
1/4 cup Bob’s gluten-free pancake mix
4 eggs
1 T maple syrup
¼ t Himalayan pink salt
1 t vanilla extract
1 T coconut oil
1 t cinnamon
Blend in vitamix or blender until smooth. Cook like regular pancakes in butter or coconut oil and enjoy!
Homemade gluten-free pizza
2 brown rice tortillas
¼ cup raw mozzarella cheese
½ cup Muir Glen pizza sauce
Toppings:
Any and all of your favorite pizza toppings. Whatever you have on hand. We love:
onion, bell pepper, pineapple, sliced chicken etc.
Sprinkle cheese on 1 tortilla, and layer second tortilla on top (so you have two stacked.) Add pizza sauce, toppings and cheese. Cook on grill (at lowest possible temperature) about 10-15 minutes until crispy. So simple and so delicious!
Kale Quinoa Salad
1 bunch raw lacinato kale (greenleaf)
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 red onion, minced
1 handful cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 cups cooked quinoa
1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
Ground pepper and Himalayan pink salt to taste
Remove stems from kale and chop kale ultra fine. Transfer to a large bowl and squeeze lemon juice over the top. Add onions, salt and pepper and toss with olive oil. Allow quinoa to cool and mix into salad.
Grilled Fish and Asparagus
Wild Caught Fish Fillets
Asparagus
Pineapple
Ground Pepper, Himalayan pink salt to taste
Fresh squeezed organic lemon juice
Cayenne pepper to taste
Put fish fillets on sheet of tin foil with olive or coconut oil on it. Sprinkle salt, peppers and lemon juice to taste. Put on grill (can use indoor grill as well). Grill until flakey. On another sheet of tin foil spray with olive or coconut oil asparagus, salt, pepper, wrap up and put on grill, grill for 8-10 minutes. Slice pineapple and lay on grill for a couple minutes on each side.
Paleo Avocado BLT
Organic Turkey Bacon
Organic Romaine
Gluten Free Bread or for a Paleo option use your Romaine Leaf
Avocado
Organic Tomatoes
Get your bacon sizzling on your stove top!
Then mash your avocado with Himalayan pink sea salt, pepper and little of fresh lemon juice. Spread on romaine leaf (if not using bread) or Gluten Free bread. Slice tomatoes and lay on romaine leaf or bread. Add bacon and enjoy.
