In this episode, Marie gives you 8 tips for feeding your
family during a busy season.

1. Identify you are in a busy season and figure out
   when it will get a little easier.

-Follow
Lisa Woodruff’s advice (Organize365.com)
and if a task can wait until life slows down, let it wait.

2-  Give yourself some
grace. This is not a time for gourmet Pinterest-perfect family meals.

-Use the food in your freezer. You made it for busy times,
plus, now is the time to use up your winter stash so you aren’t stuck eating
beef stew in June.

-Do you need some portable meals to eat in the car or at the
ball park?

-Sandwiches, Burritos, Breakfast Sandwiches all make good portable meals.

3- Do a deep shopping trip. Marie talked about this in her Holiday
Planning episode.

-stock up on basics like toilet paper, paper towels and toiletries in addition to pantry basics.

4- Prep and shop on weekdays if you can. The weekends get
busy and you will want to rest if you have the chance. If you are a working
parent, consider taking a half or whole day off just to prep. It will give you
mental space to face the busy season.

5- Eat Raw Veggies.

-Eating raw veggies saves you time
in cooking and cleaning.

-Consider buying a pre-made veggie
tray to bring out at snack or dinner time. All the veggies are washed and cut
and the dip is ready to go.

6- Stock up on Hearty Snacks

-You will likely have at least one kid eating earlier or later than the rest of the family. Have hearty snacks ready for before or after activities.

-Consider buying individual packages or “compromise foods” if your budget allows. Now is the time for convenience. Or, package homemade foods in single-serving sizes that are easy to grab on the go.

                -Cheese
and nut packs

                -Cheese
Sticks

                -Hummus
(maybe in individual packages)

                -Guacamole
(maybe in individual packages)

                -Granola
(Chai
Spiced Granola Recipe)

                -Veggie
Trays

                -Baby
Carrots

                -Yogurt

                -Frozen
Berries

                -Make a
Breakfast Casserole (Sausage
and Egg Casserole) (Spinach
and Hash Brown Breakfast Bake)

                -Pre-cook
bacon

7- Buy everyone in your family a water bottle that is the
same brand with the same lids and straws.

                -Get each
person a different color so you know where to look if one goes missing. Or,
label each water bottle with the child’s name.

                -Get
your kids in the habit of taking a water bottle with them every time you get in
the car. Do the same for you! I drink so much more water if I have it with me
in the car.

8- Use the Feed Your Family Tonight
Master Meal Planning Sheet and the Weekly Meal Planning Sheet
to list your activities and set a dinner bell. (Listen to podcasts
1-4 if you want to know how to use these free meal planning sheets.)

                -It is
so much easier to plan what kind of meal you need each night if you know how the
evening activities. Do you need dinner ready the minute you get home or do you
need a portable meal to take to the ball park or practice?

Follow these 8 tips to help you recapture a little calm in
the crazy spring sprint.