By Taylor Sutton, MS, RD
United Supermarkets’ Lifestyle Desk
Routines might get a bad rap but we’d like to offer you a different perspective. Routines can be helpful. Hear us out — routines can help create habit patterns, set expectations, a sense of normalcy, and so much more. The big picture question is: How do you want to create a routine that works for you and your family? It’s a pretty loaded question, so let’s break it down into some tips that you can use to create your routine.
Make a running list of “loves.” You and your child’s palate can change daily, but the favorite items you love to have stashed away in the pantry probably don’t have too much versatility. However, let’s say something does change or someone in the household wants to try something new. Keeping a running list of items you love on hand can help create a sense of anticipation that the lunch, or snack, will be a good one with items your kids are sure to eat.
Too many times, we’ve seen parents buy what they think their child loves and it ends up in the trash or back in the lunchbox at the end of the day. If you can get in the habit of this you may learn something new about your child or your child’s friend’s lunch and get some ideas the next time you are at the grocery store.
Create a lunch outline. We would like you to humbly suggest the “MyPlate” app here. Its a great way to round out your lunch without having to think too much about “getting all the nutrients.” The components of “MyPlate” are a fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, and dairy. Now again, this is a rough outline of what it could look like, so be flexible with how you and your family like to eat.
For example, you may avoid dairy because your child has an allergy or your family may chose a vegetarian lifestyle. “MyPlate” is just a jumping point. Tailor it to your needs. This outline doesn’t have to just be for the adults to create the meal. Once you child is old enough to pick foods that fit into these categories, have them create their own. This not only gives them permission to start honoring their ability to choose but also can help you in the long run with time and setting up a successful relationship with food.
Pack lunch ahead of time. It’s no surprise we suggest this option since mornings can go by fast. With that said, packing lunch the night before offers a bit more time in the morning and can be an activity for the children at night.
As you start to shift your mentality to build a routine around the lunch meal, there are so many other options too. You can prep your fruits and vegetables in bags once you bring them home from the grocery store or start a snack station or even make lunch part of the dinner conversation by asking how their meal was so you can learn. Try incorporating one at a time and find your flow. Create the plan that works best for you and your family.
Make Ahead Breakfast Pancake
What you need
2 cups Kodiak Cake Pancake mix
1/2 lb pork sausage
1 1/3 c. fairlife skim milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. canola oil
1 cup fruit of choice (blueberries)
How It’s Made
1. Brown sausage
2. Mix together pancake mix, sausage, milk, eggs and oil
3. Grease a 13×9 baking dish
4. Pour mixture into baking dish
5. Top with fruit
6. When you’re ready to bake it preheat the oven to 350 degrees and let the casserole sit on the counter uncovered while the oven comes to temp
7. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until set
