Ah, summer. There are so many pleasures of summer and many factors that change and influence how we eat and feed our families. There are schedule changes with school and vacations, warmer weather that influences our appetites and decreases our desire to cook hot food in hot kitchens, and a plethora of fresh and delicious seasonal foods available at farmers markets, gardens, and grocery stores.
The basic tenets of the Feeding Your Family System still apply in the summer but can be most effective with a few seasonal tweaks:
- Plan the number of meals for the week that you will prepare (plan for days that you are traveling or eating out), and stock your pantry and freezer accordingly.
- Stock your pantry with Summer Pantry Basics for easy meal preparation.
- Shop local and seasonal.
- Freeze ingredients to preserve the summer’s bounty.
- Get your children more involved in cooking, gardening, and food shopping.
Plan cooking and meal preparation to accommodate the summer schedule, weather, and foods:
- Bake early in the morning when the kitchen is coolest.
- Keep insulated shopping bags/coolers in the car to protect groceries.
- Plan menus to highlight seasonal produce that is fresh and abundant.
- Change out weekly theme meals to reflect the season, i.e. grilling or salad bar one night a week.
- Keep supplies on hand for impromptu picnics so that you can go when the mood or weather strikes.
- Expand the usual snack list to take advantage of summer fruits and produce.
- Try variations on family favorites such as pasta pomodoro with fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic instead of bolognese sauce.
Happy Summer!
