Wow. Did back-to-school totally sneak up on anyone else? I thought I was pretty prepared, and I am in some ways (uniforms, supplies, teacher's gifts & prep meetings with other moms, check!) but all of a sudden school is starting in less than 2 weeks and I still have so much I want to get done! Luckily I have one kid starting preschool after labor day so I'm going to give myself some leeway and try to get things done by then. One of my goals is to fill my freezer up with a variety of healthy prepped foods. Prepping now will save time and make things so much easier throughout the year. I will aim to have another prep session after New Years and throughout the year as needed. Here are some links to my top recipe picks. I'll be in the kitchen a lot these next few weeks!
Breakfast
Green Smoothies
Crunchy Raw Protein Balls - These could be in the snack category too, but these are a great option to power pack your kids with protein in the morning, and perfect if you need to grab them on the go!
French Toast Sticks - Note: I am keeping these whole so when I stick take them out of the freezer they are easier to reheat in the toaster. These are also a good breakfast on the go food.
3 Freezable Breakfast Bites
Breakfast Casserole - I know I will need to make at least 2 hot dishes for my MOPS group this fall, so whipping up this dish and sticking it in the freezer will save me a lot of time! I'll be using my favorite vegan sausage, Field Roast.
Crock Pot Freezer Jam - This just sounds so delicious so I'm going to try it! It would pair wonderfully with some scones or even just on whole grain toast.
Lunch
Check out how this mom preps on Sunday for the weeks lunches:
School Lunch Project: Organize Your Fridge to Save Time and Money and Feed Your Kids Better.
I've got one kid I need to pack lunch for and one that will be with me for lunch. I am going to try and pre-make my lunch and the preschoolers lunch ahead of time too. If you have a busy weekend & don't have time to pack ahead, another way to tackle the prep is to make or package a few things per day.
Here are some more great pack ahead tips over at Happy Money Saver.
Homemade Yogurt Squeezes: I like the idea of yogurt squeezes you can freeze, but I wanted a healthier non-dairy version. I found these BPA free silicone ice pop molds on Amazon which work wonderfully to customize your own yogurt squeezes. I simply took some plain (or vanilla) coconut milk yogurt and ran it in the Vitamix with some frozen mangoes (use the frozen fruit of your choice). I then filled the molds up, leaving some room for expansion, and voila! A healthier and more environmentally conscious yogurt squeeze! Kids loved them too!
Lunchbox Smoothies - I love this idea!!
Snacks
Apple Fruit Leather
Crunchy Roasted Chickpea Snack
No-Bake Granola Bars
Mango Chia Popsicles - Who says popsicles have to be summer only treats?! I'm going to try these for after school snacks. Need a popsicle mold? Here's a great one you can order along with the yogurt molds.
Dinner
Black Bean Veggie Burgers
Vegan Crock Pot Freezer Meals
Dessert
Cinnamon Ice Box Cookies - Great to have on hand for those last minute parties or evening get togethers (Mom's Night Out anyone?!)
A little bit of prep work goes a long way! Enjoy!
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