3 Simple Strategies to Make Back-to-School Cooking Easier
If there is one thing I could encourage you to take into back to school season for your family is this:
Nourishment and convenience can coexist.
Last week it hit me: we are just about a month out from starting school again. Our family does a homeschool hybrid program, which means we are ordering curriculum, school supplies, and uniforms. I’m also trying to simultaneously set ourselves up for success by simplifying what we can.
Back-to-school season has a way of making even the simplest weeknight dinner feel like one more thing on an already full to-do list. Between school drop-offs, activities, homework, and everything else life throws your way, dinner can quickly become a daily source of stress.
The good news? A few simple systems can make a big difference. Here are three strategies that have helped make back-to-school cooking much more manageable in our home. Also, if you are looking for more back-to-school recommendations for healthy, holistic living made simple, make sure to check out my post with a free holistic back-to-school checklist!
1. Let Your Slow Cooker Do the Heavy Lifting
One of the easiest ways to simplify dinner is by putting your meal together in the morning and letting it cook throughout the day. Slow cooker meals require very little hands-on time, and there's nothing better than walking through the door to a meal that's already finished.
I love focusing on nourishing recipes like soups, stews, shredded meats, chili, and pot roast that are filling, family-friendly, and often provide leftovers for lunch the next day.
Personally, we broke up with the conventional crock pot a few years back and instead use a non-toxic clay pot oven.
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Our ClayPot slow cooker is used at least once a week— it is perfect for those busy nights where minimal meal prep is a necessity.
2. Cook Once, Eat Twice
Whenever I'm making a meal that freezes well, I'll often double the recipe without doubling the effort. One pan goes on the dinner table, and the other goes into the freezer for a future busy night.
Lasagna, enchiladas, casseroles, meatballs, soups, and pulled chicken all freeze really well. Future-you will be incredibly thankful to have a homemade meal ready to go when life gets hectic.
This was a strategy I learned back in my postpartum freezer meal days, and I am still using it 6 years later.
3. Create a Simple Meal Rotation
One of the biggest sources of decision fatigue isn't cooking—it's figuring out what to cook every single night.
Instead of reinventing the wheel each week, consider creating a basic meal rotation. For example:
Monday: Slow cooker meal
Tuesday: Taco night
Wednesday: Pasta
Thursday: Sheet pan dinner
Friday: Homemade pizza or leftovers
Having a loose framework makes meal planning faster, grocery shopping simpler, and dinner decisions far less overwhelming. You can still swap recipes each week while keeping the overall rhythm the same.
Back-to-school meals don't have to be elaborate to nourish your family well. By relying on your slow cooker, freezing extra portions, and establishing a simple meal rotation, you can spend less time stressing about dinner and more time enjoying the season with your family.
Wanting to simplify your meal planning? Check out this free guide: Nutrient Density Made Easy 🍋
Kaelyn
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