Charcuterie-inspired school lunch ideas for kids and teens
With all the anxiety surrounding back-to-school, the last thing I need to be worrying about is coming up with 180 days of school lunch ideas, especially for my sandwich-averse teen. (Seriously child? What's wrong with sandwiches?!?) But as I was pondering what the...
9 healthy breakfast ideas kids can make themselves | Back to School Guide
We're big proponents of empowering kids to take responsibility in the kitchen, so of course we're sharing healthy breakfast ideas kids can make themselves. Whether we're tasking our children with making their own school lunches or stocking up on our favorite cookbooks...
Favorite family recipes for the end of summer rush: Weekly Meal Plan Ideas #31
It feels like life comes at us fast and hard at back to school season. The lazy days of summer are winding down, and there is an amped up level of stress as routines start back up. One thing that helps make things way less stressful for me is to take some time to meal...
The essential school lunch shopping list: Everything you need in your pantry + fridge | Back to School Guide
This past year we all spent a good amount of time and thought into prepping our pantry for an emergency - but now as we head back to school our pantries may not be stocked very well for every day snacks and packing lunches. So we have updated of one of our favorite...
Lunch bags for teens and big kids who are too cool for lunch boxes now | Back to School Guide
As my kids have gotten older, I've shopped more for lunch bags for teens, because the lunch box has gotten less and less cool. Which is really kind of sad because, holy cow, there are some super cute lunchboxes out there. My high school kids were always so happy that...
5 meals that feature the summer bounty of zucchini | 2021 meal plan ideas #30
A few months ago, I decided to join our Cool Mom Picks WeTime project and plant my own vegetable garden. My rookie mistake was planting 6 mounds of zucchini seeds. I truly do not understand the remarkable ability of this little plant to pump out so much fruit (yes,...
The best way to clean your kids’ lunch boxes in the age of Covid: It’s easier than you think.
In the past, we've written about how to clean our kids lunch boxes safely, say if a banana gets left in there over the weekend or a container of spaghetti somehow gets tossed back in without a lid. But this year, we may be pulling out a lunchbox that hasn't been used...
Sweet and celebratory allergy-free birthday cake ideas for kids with strict food restrictions
I've had to navigate the world of food allergies with my kids for almost two decades, but not eating eggs and dairy seems like a walk in the park compared to some families whose kids have to avoid eating all major food allergens to be safe and healthy. And that can...
5 dinners featuring the best of August produce | 2021 meal plan ideas #29
It's already August and my youngest child starts school tomorrow—gasp!—but I'm holding on to summer a little longer with these meal plan ideas that use August produce. Because fresh, light dinners with loads of veggies in them are going to power us through this hot,...
10 craft canned mocktails for easy summer (or anytime) entertaining
As more of us, like Kristen, are thinking about drinking less these days, I've been looking for some festive canned mocktails (or, hey, bottles are fine too) I can add to the drink offerings when we host. For our friends or family who don't or can't drink alcohol,...
10 of our most popular summer-themed recipes, tips, tricks, and more!
Summer is in full swing, and we're enjoying a bit of time with our families this week. We're sharing the 10 most popular recipes, tips, tricks, and ideas that you may have missed. From lemonade stand tips to tasty store-bought popsicle recommendations to watermelon...
5 fantastic dinners featuring summer veggies | 2021 meal plan ideas #27
We've been grilling a lot this summer and eating our fair share of tacos, too. But after my mom called, raving about the absolute perfection of the fresh veggies she got at the farmer's market this week, I wanted to focus on summer veggies for our meals this week....
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I took my son to occupational therapy for his picky eating, and here’s how it went
Does anyone remember Jan's evaluation of Michael from The Office? "I've run out of carrots. I've run out of sticks. Michael has one again proven himself to be an unmanageable employee." After years of trying to feed my picky eater, I started thinking about that...
5 kitchen organization tips for those of us who need to refresh our space
After so much time at home with the kids this past year, let's just say that my kitchen is not its best self right now. (Neither are the parents here, but that's another story!) So I've been gathering tips, tricks, and products for reorganizing my workspace, and I...
The best way to clean your kids’ lunch boxes in the age of Covid: It’s easier than you think.
In the past, we've written about how to clean our kids lunch boxes safely, say if a banana gets left in there over the weekend or a container of spaghetti somehow gets tossed back in without a lid. But this year, we may be pulling out a lunchbox that hasn't been...
How long can food be left out in the summer before it spoils (and ruins the party)? Here’s a handy list.
Summer’s here! That means I'm thinking about all of those picnics, beach parties, and backyard barbecues — and also food safety. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but the CDC estimates that 48 million people get sick from food borne diseases each year in the United...
We found the easiest new way to recycle old cookware, bakeware, and cutlery, right from home
When I found out that Terracycle and Calphalon have partnered on a new, absolutely free program to recycle old cookware, bakeware, and cutlery, I immediately joined. We've been talking about somme of the increasingly eco-friendly changes we've all been making in...
Recipes
Easy, family friendly dinners for busy nights | 2021 Meal plan ideas #36
It's been a busy week at my house: kids coming and going, appointments, schooling...my energy level for cooking has been (ahem) low. In fact, I'm currently testing different, exciting ways to tell my family, "Leftovers, again!" So, with that in mind I've looked up...
12 savory apple dinner recipes for fall
Whether you spend a day apple picking in the orchards or just can't resist the bags of apples at your local farmer's market, it's easy to get overrun in apples at this time of year. And after making pie, crumble, crisp, and even trying all these twists on apple...
Need school lunch ideas for older kids? Grab a mason jar!
This school year, along with tossing lunchmeat, cheese, and crackers into a container for a quick charcuterie-style lunch, I'm also going to use some of the mason jars I have for work and school lunches. But rather than just throw a bunch of stuff in a jar and hope...
5 meals featuring September seasonal produce | Weekly Meal Plan Ideas #33
Do you remember? All of the produce in September? (My apologies to both you reader and to Earth, Wind and Fire, but I pretty much sing everything to the tune of "Do You Remember" for this entire month). September is one of the greatest months for produce IMO. The...
3 challah recipes to help celebrate Rosh Hashanah with a little extra sweetness
Shanah tovah! So, let's talk challah recipes, shall we? Rosh Hashanah begins this year at sundown, Monday, September 6, lasts until sundown Wednesday. This two-day Jewish celebration of the New Year will be extra special this year for families and friends who may...
