As summer winds down and school begins, families often find themselves trading relaxed summer schedules for earlier mornings, packed lunches, after-school activities and busy evenings. With so much happening, maintaining a healthy eating routine can feel like one more thing to manage.

But getting back into a routine isn’t just about making the family schedule easier. Consistent meals and snacks can also support energy levels, appetite regulation and better food choices throughout the day. When we regularly skip meals or wait until we’re extremely hungry to eat, it can become much harder to make balanced choices and avoid overeating later.

That doesn’t mean everyone needs to eat at exactly the same time every day. Instead, establishing a predictable rhythm of meals and snacks can help make nutritious eating a normal part of the day.

“The back-to-school season is a great opportunity to get back into a routine with meals and snacks, but that doesn’t mean your routine has to be perfect,” says Olivia Thiede, Hy-Vee Corporate Registered Dietitian. “Start by focusing on a few consistent habits, such as eating breakfast, packing a balanced lunch or snack, and planning ahead for busy evenings.”

Breakfast is an especially important place to start. A balanced morning meal that includes protein, whole grains, fruit or other nutrient-dense foods can help provide sustained energy for the school or workday. Planning lunches and snacks ahead of time also makes it easier to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and quality protein instead of relying on whatever is most convenient when hunger strikes.

Preparation doesn’t have to mean spending an entire Sunday cooking meals for the week. Even 15 to 20 minutes spent preparing ingredients can save valuable time later. Chop vegetables, cook a grain or marinate a protein ahead of time, then put those ingredients to work when you need them.

“Look at your recipes for the week and ask yourself, ‘What can I do today that will make cooking this meal easier tomorrow?’” Thiede says.

For busy families, convenience can also play a role in maintaining a healthy routine. Gary Teachman, Strack & Van Til’s Director of Meat & Seafood, points to several ready-to-cook options available in the meat and seafood departments, including fajita kits, seasoned taco meats, crock-pot kits and marinated chicken shish kabobs.

Seafood options can make nutritious meals even easier. Teachman highlights steamable bags featuring salmon, tilapia or shrimp with vegetables, as well as seafood dishes paired with vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

“Convenience doesn’t have to mean sacrificing nutrition,” Thiede says. “Steamable vegetables, pre-cut produce and ready-to-cook options can make it easier to incorporate nutritious foods into meals while saving valuable time in the kitchen during a busy week.”

Ultimately, a healthy eating routine isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating habits that consistently provide your body with the nutrients it needs while fitting into your real life. Some nights may call for a meal prepared completely from scratch. Other nights, a meal kit, rotisserie chicken, steamable vegetables or another convenient option may be what makes a balanced dinner possible.

As the school year begins, focus less on creating the perfect schedule and more on building a sustainable routine. A little planning, a few nutritious staples and the willingness to use convenient options when needed can help families eat well—not just during the first week of school, but throughout the entire year.

Try some of these recipes!

·  https://www.strackandvantil.com/recipe-info/?id=0f332bf4-9479-46f6-a0af-d88fa673ab16

·  https://www.strackandvantil.com/recipe-info/?id=a040ec03-fde8-48b9-bc87-3440670ec96d

·  https://www.strackandvantil.com/recipe-info/?id=5a860d9c-2d4a-405d-a16b-5cb796531d8f

·  https://www.strackandvantil.com/recipe-info/?id=54533abf-c935-48ba-90c0-f8d66e533062

·  https://www.strackandvantil.com/recipe-info/?id=0bee03c5-0586-44f6-87e7-ee134e0b2ebe

By Brandon Winter