After being out of town for a week, I spent the day yesterday meal prepping to help prepare for a week of getting back on track with work, school, and our regular routine! One of the first items up that I prepped was an easy pasta salad. Pasta salads are on of those dishes that I love making ahead of time because they make easy lunches and/or a simple addition to dinner! Another perk is that they just get better in the fridge after sitting for a day or two. I love that I can add a tons of veggies into the mix to bulk up the pasta along with whatever protein I want to add in whether that be beans, chicken, or cured meats! I am currently obsessed with my new favorite pasta salad which just so happens to use one of my go-to seasonings, everything bagel seasoning. My Everything Bagel Pasta Salad is not only easy to make, but your whole family is going to love eating it all week long!
Back to school is in full swing and this week I am all about making your life easier as a parent when it comes to lunch boxes and after school snacks that are healthy and kid-approved! I know it can get old packing the same old lunch boxes every single week and I know that your kids get tired of those same lunch boxes too! I am hosting a back to school series over on my Instagram throughout the whole week to provide recipes, tips, and tricks on how to get your child to actually eat the good food that you pack them that will keep them nourished and energized throughout their day! I have also rounded up my top 25 lunch box and after school snack ideas that are perfect for meal prepping, healthy, and they are kid-tested and approved!
July has been a whirlwind of a month between going on vacation, lots of work happenings, and getting the worst summer cold last week. Sleep schedules have been off, diets have been off, and honestly I am ready to get back to some routine around here as we get ready for back to school in a couple of weeks. I cannot believe that the summer is over and we are already prepping for everything back to school! Where did the summer go? One of the ways I always try to get ready for school is to prep easy breakfasts and snacks because mornings are rushed and after school kids are hangry and need something to eat as soon as they get home! Muffins are one of those things that I like to make it advance and keep in the freezer to pull out whenever I need them most! My whole wheat cherry almond streusel muffins are perfect for meal prepping and more and you are going to love this recipe guaranteed!
I have a love hate relationship with the time change. On one hand I love more evening light, but on the other hand it takes me a week or two to adjust to not feeling behind from the time I get up in the morning! All week i have been feeling like I just can’t get ahead of my schedule and I already know easy recipes are a must this week in order to survive! Fritters are one of those recipes that I love making because you can combine whatever you have in the fridge and make something super yummy that can stand on it’s own or be served alongside your favorite dish. My easy gluten free broccoli cheese fritters with za’atar yogurt dip are perfect to make any night of the week!
Yesterday was one of those days in motherhood where you question your sanity. Maybe you find yourself hiding in a closet for ten minutes so you can have a moment to breathe alone, or maybe you raised your voice and have a bit of mom guilt because of it. Maybe you aren’t a mom, but you had one of those days too where you just couldn’t wait for bedtime so you could wake up to a fresh new day. Either way, I feel you. Whenever I have a day like this, baking is something that brings me happiness in the midst of whatever chaos is going on. There is something so therapeutic about measuring and whisking and then smelling warm sweet goodness enveloping your home like a great big hug. I find that when I involve my son in the baking it instantly changes his mood too, it’s the ultimate distraction with the end result being so delicious. (Win-Win) My whole wheat zucchini tahini bread is our new favorite treat to make whether or not we are having a rough day and you are going to love it too!
Somewhere along the way, my kiddo decided that he HAD to have a donut every time we were at the grocery store. I mean, I am all about a donut every now and then but y'all...I go to the grocery about 2 or 3 times a week! That is too many donuts for anyone in one week, especially because I try to limit the amount of sugar we get! So because of his new obsession with this very unhealthy food item, I decided to make us a healthier version at home! I love creating my own version of foods that are indulgent right in my own kitchen because I can control the ingredients! My healthy carrot cake donuts are perfect to make in advance for all week long and you can feel good about your family eating them!
