Back to School: The Planning Episode

The fall season brings with it many changes... not least of all the Back to School routine. Adjusting to getting up early in the morning, packing lunches, figuring out what to wear, getting out of the house on time, etc. etc. can be super overwhelming. Often times, it can be really easy to overlook or forget about planning for your food!! Here are some tips to make sure that you are ready for the flurry of activity that comes along with the return of the school bus.

ONE: Have a plan!

Breakfast sets you up to be successful for the day. (We aren't trying to push school breakfasts on you here... this isn't a 90s poster, promise). What we mean here is more of a regulation of glucose and insulin levels thing. Breakfast makes sure that you have what you need to get you through the morning... no 2nd/3rd period hunger! Breakfast helps you stay alert and focused for the beginning of your day, so it's super helpful to have a plan to be sure that you actually have it!

If you are someone who likes to eat breakfast before school/work, having a plan can be as simple as laying out your needed items before hand or making sure that your bag is packed the night before. Doing whatever you can to make your morning a bit less stressful is going to be a huge positive when you might be a little groggy and rushed at 6:00am.

If you don't like to eat before leaving, think about having a transportable breakfast that you can eat on the go. If you are going to eat in the car/on the bus... make sure that "transportable" doesn't mean something full of liquid that will inevitably cover your lap.

TWO: Options!

Having different options available for meals that occur before and during school is super helpful when you find yourself hungry and need something tasty. We don't always want the exact same thing, so having some different options on hand is key! For this, we can think about sandwiches, snack items, smoothies, whatever feels accessible and easy to manage.

THREE: Knowing what's available!

Lunch at school or work can be super tricky. What do you have available to you? Will you have access to a fridge or a microwave or a plug? Can you keep things cold or heat them up? Are you able to plug in a small crockpot or other appliance in order to make something a little fresher? Do you have none of those things and need to pack a full lunch or a thermos? These are all things that you should know prior to making your plan for lunches, especially if you are someone with a lot of texture sensibilities.

FOUR: Have a disposal plan!

Are you someone who hates a dirty dish? Do you forget about that Tupperware in your bag for days and then dread opening up a science experiment? Another plan to make beforehand is - what are you going to do about your lunch box after you've eaten?

If you are someone who does not want to deal with dishes or be surprised by them at a later date... maybe you want to think about packing things with plastic bags or tin foil that can be disposed of after the meal.

If you are someone who wants to re-use containers, do you have a limited number of containers? do you have a dishwasher/dishwasher safe containers? Do you have access to enough materials in order to effectively pack your lunches and do you have a plan to make sure that your containers are cleaned and ready to be re-packed for the next day?

FIVE: Have a rough outline for dinner!

Having an idea of what a dinner could be in advance will cut down on your prep time in the kitchen when you come home at the end of the day. You might be feeling tired, both mentally and physically, from your day.. and spending a bunch of time in the kitchen cutting, chopping, and mixing may seem unrealistic. If you can prepare some things ahead of time, like pasta or rice, and then just toss it into something like a soup or a rice bowl... you'll save yourself time and stress!

Can you cut veggies up in advance for a salad or roasted veggies in an air fryer?

Is there something that can be done to decrease your prep time during the week?

If there is a particular day that may be long and energy sucking, can you do a frozen meal or a prepared meal? Can you do some takeout on those days?

SIX: College students in particular - Plan your Groceries! Get snacks!

Have an action plan when it comes to grocery shopping. I am telling you... at least create the semblance of a list. Wandering the aisles and snagging what your heart desires does not always create the best options for meals once you arrive back home. By all means, grab a treat while you are shopping... but be aware that without a list, you may forget some of your staples. A cautionary tale from someone who has experienced that exact problem more than once... TRUST ME. A list also helps you to assess if you are integrating some variety which is a great tool :)

Also, whether you are a commuter or you are just moving around campus between classes... be sure to keep some snacks on hand in the event that you get caught up somewhere longer than you had planned (or if hunger just happens to hit you mid study session).