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It can be difficult to feed your family well when you're on the go or on the road, but a few simple steps will help you keep your family well-fed:
At Home
- Plan your meals for the week in advance. When possible, double your recipes and freeze half of the meal for use during a busy day. Alternatively, have your children create their own "meals" using the food items left-over from dinner.
- Encourage your children to participate in the preparation of daily meals, especially breakfast.
- As a family, create a list of "thirty-minute favorites" —meals that will be easy to prepare with ingredients on-hand. For example, pasta with a vegetable tomato sauce and grilled chicken makes a great meal in under thirty minutes.
- Pack your children's lunch (or even better, have them help!) the night before. This will help you, and your children, make healthier choices instead of faster choices.
- Try buying nutritious bulk items such as granola, raisins, nuts, and dried fruit. Keep them on hand in separate containers so that your kids can create their own trail mix recipes for a snack.
- Host a "dinner exchange" where participants bring in several family-size portions of their favorite freezable meals (e.g., chili) to trade with other participants.
- Prepare a snack bin of pre-packaged snack bars, baked chips, pretzels, etc. so that your children have quick and easy access to wholesome and nutritious snacks.
On the Road
- Keep plenty of nutritious snacks in the car or in your bag. The following are simple,filling, and tidy snacks for those trips around town.
- Whole grain pretzels
- Dried fruit
- Quaker Granola Bites
- Nuts
- Small bottles of water
- Granola bars
- Multi-grain crackers
- When on a long road-trip, plan your meal stops in advance. Use the Internet to find local restaurants with nutritious food choices.
- Stop for a snack at a local produce stand instead of a fast-food restaurant.
- Instead of stopping at a restaurant, find a local grocery store and select some picnic items. Then, ask a store employee to direct you to the nearest playground or park for a fun and active picnic.
- Most convenience stores now carry a variety of nutritious snacks including fresh fruit, salads, yogurt, and whole grain snacks.
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