Fall is a fresh start. A new school year, a change in the weather, the fall harvest — there are so many reasons to get back in the kitchen and start cooking cozy fall foods for your family again. School schedules demand organized pantries to pack lunches and snacks, and school nights are filled with homework and activities. Plan and prepare dinner in advance to reduce stress and save time and money. We’re here to support you with the tools and inspiration to get it done. Fill up your tool box with these worksheets, check-lists, and handy hints.
1. CELEBRATE SUCCESS AND GET A FRESH START:
Most people ease up on the meal planning during the last hot months of summer. If you’ve worked on setting your family goals and making a meal plan – celebrate! If not, here are the worksheets to identify your goals, and turn them into a plan that works for your family’s fall schedule.
Try it this week: Determine how many nights this week you will prepare a meal at home. Make a plan for the week.
2. STOCK THE PANTRY, REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER FOR FAST LUNCH AND DINNER:
Try it this week: Chop fruit and vegetables and store in single serving containers for easy lunch packing or snacking.
3. COOK FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Try it this week: Make your daily routine easier by cooking large batches of basics at the beginning of the week.
- A large batch of oatmeal can be refrigerated in small containers and heated up in 1-2 minutes each morning (saving time and dirty dishes).
- Quinoa, pasta, and rice can be cooked and tossed with a little olive oil to keep it separated and moist. Refrigerate and take out portions as you need them to add to meals or recipes. With a large batch of cooked rice you can: make fried rice, add to soup, serve with beans or sautéed vegetables, use as a base for stir fry, make pilaf or Mexican rice.
- Double Batch your cooking. Get twice the meals from the same amount of effort by cooking double the amount of food each time. It’s the same amount of work to make two dishes of lasagna, a bigger pot of soup, twice the spaghetti sauce, double the beans or taco meat. Put one dinner on the table, and the other can be packed for lunches or frozen.
Tools, Ideas, and Inspiration:
- Printable Feeding Your Family Goals Worksheet
- Printable Family Favorites Worksheet
- Printable Pantry Essentials List
- Printable School Lunch Ideas List
Now you’re organized and ready to go. Welcome Fall!
