fbpx
Home » Healthy Cooking Tips for Back to School

Healthy Cooking Tips for Back to School

Healthy Cooking Tips for Back to School

 

Back to school season is fast-approaching and it’s time to focus on a new school year as well as set some healthy eating goals. The summer was all about grilling, swimming and eating out a lot but now that we’re getting ready to get back into the school routine, #MyNewGoal is to incorporate a variety of healthy fruits and veggies in our everyday meals.

Back to school season is almost here and it's time set some healthy goals for the school year! Here are healthy cooking tips for back to school! #MyNewGoal

As much as we can control what our kids are eating at home, we still want to be sure they’re getting the nutrients they need to succeed at school –which is why I’m excited to be partnering with Revolution Foods, an amazing company that designs, produces and delivers healthy, affordable meals to students and families throughout the country, including right here in D.C.

Back to school season is almost here and it's time set some healthy goals for the school year! Here are healthy cooking tips for back to school! #MyNewGoal

We all know (and recent studies prove) that proper nutrition and eating well-balanced, healthy meals improve health and help children achieve their true potential. Revolution Foods believes that great tasting, healthy food that is kid-inspired and chef-crafted should be accessible to all. To meet this goal, they provide meals for over 2,500 sites, including early childhood education centers, districts, charters, and community & after school youth programs.Back to school season is almost here and it's time set some healthy goals for the school year! Here are healthy cooking tips for back to school! #MyNewGoal

I also love that Revolution Foods uses fresh local produce, high quality proteins, rBST-free dairy products, and no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. They make well-balanced meals that exceed nutrition guidelines and also partner with community partners including FoodCorps and Share Our Strength to bring nutrition education to the communities they serve.

Back to school season is almost here and it's time set some healthy goals for the school year! Here are healthy cooking tips for back to school! #MyNewGoal

I’m amazed at all the programs, services and products that Revolution Foods offers.  And here in Washington, DC, they offer school meals service serving the greater Washington metropolitan area, and extending to Virginia.

To learn more about Revolution Foods and how to get them into your school, go visit their webpage at: https://www.revolutionfoods.com/.

Inspired by Revolution Foods, I decided to compile some healthy cooking tips to share with you just in time for back to school! My kids are picky so I have to be creative in the kitchen to make sure they’re getting the proper nutrients they need everyday to stay healthy and to meet #MyNewGoal this school year!

1. Secret sauce.  An easy way to sneak in veggies is to grate or puree things like zucchini, carrots, and squash and add them to any marinara sauce. Make a simple lasagna and use this sauce as your base.

2. Go lighter. I love finding recipes that offer a lighter version of a classic, crowd pleaser, like this “lightened up” chicken marsala. It’s a family weeknight dinner recipe that my whole family loves because not only does it taste delicious, it’s also a healthier version!

3. Meatballs galore. Add fresh or frozen spinach to homemade meatballs and serve with whole grain spaghetti one night. My kids don’t even know that there is a nutritious veggie right inside!

Back to school season is almost here and it's time set some healthy goals for the school year! Here are healthy cooking tips for back to school! #MyNewGoal

4. Smoothie time.  One of the best ways to stick to #MyNewGoal this school year is to make some super healthy after school snacks. Here is where I can sneak in some veggies and make it fun for my kids: I just add a little fresh spinach to my strawberry and banana smoothies and they are none the wiser!

5. Snack attack. This is the perfect time of year to use zucchini since it is in season and so abundant.  Make your family a new, healthier version of fries by slicing up some zucchini, then coat them in panko bread crumbs or in reduced-fat grated parmesan cheese and bake for about 20 minutes. Dip zucchini fries into marinara sauce (or ketchup!) for a light, fun, snack for everyone.

It is not impossible to eat healthier any time of the year, but as you start the new school year it is an important time to set some goals and start anew. Why not plan your weekly snacks and meals around some of these tips? Not only will your kids be healthier, but so will you.

*This post was sponsored by Revolution Foods. All views and opinions are mine.  All images in this post were provided by the sponsor.

Follow:
Jocelyn Brown

A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.

Find me on: Web

51 Comments

  1. Trisha McKee
    09/18/2018 / 3:50 am

    It is so important to give children nutritious meals and it doesn’t have to be difficult! Thank you for sharing this. Some great information.

  2. Carrie Lancon
    09/16/2018 / 1:07 pm

    I always try to have healthy meals for my kids and have healthy snacks on hand for them to graze on.

  3. Samantha Cox
    09/16/2018 / 2:32 am

    excellent recommendations! I will try them with my nieces!

  4. Calvin
    09/15/2018 / 6:12 pm

    Empowering health with these nice tips. Follow them to become a better well being

  5. Janet W.
    09/14/2018 / 11:32 am

    These are all great tips and ideas! I feel like we get in a rut during the school year and find ourselves not eating as healthy as we should.

  6. Treia
    09/13/2018 / 3:53 pm

    Great ideas. I haven’t thought about doing the zucchini fries, but I do plan on doing zucchini ranch chips pretty soon. I’ll have to give the fries a try next.

  7. Danielle Menard
    09/11/2018 / 8:48 pm

    The tips are great and the food seems healthier. Schools should definitely incorporate this into their lunch menu.

  8. Deborah Cochran
    09/11/2018 / 3:50 am

    With busy school and work schedules, it sometimes can be tough staying on track eating healthy. But it is super important to maintain a healthy balance.

  9. Robin Abrams
    09/10/2018 / 3:05 pm

    I have been trying to cook healthier for my grand kids. These tips are great . I will be using them.

  10. Theresa A.
    09/08/2018 / 10:18 pm

    Sometimes it is a challenge to give them something ‘healthy’ that they will want to eat. There are some great options here, thanks for sharing.

  11. Chrystal D
    09/06/2018 / 4:09 am

    Smoothies are always a tasty, healthy snack!

  12. Alyce Poalillo
    09/04/2018 / 11:31 pm

    Always looking for healthier snacks, thanks for the good tips.

  13. sandra
    09/04/2018 / 3:37 pm

    oh! i like the idea of hiding spinach in meatballs

  14. Starla
    09/03/2018 / 4:20 pm

    So many helpful tips, which seriously makes life easier. I love the smoothies one, in fact, I want to make some smoothie packs for this week for the little ones. Also , that lightened chicken marsala sounds SO good!

  15. Lori Pierce
    09/03/2018 / 12:33 am

    Very good food choices definitely help the kids be more productive.

  16. Lisa L
    09/03/2018 / 12:20 am

    These are great ideas. I especially love the secret sauce one because we love sauce and we got a pretty good blender that I could put to good use.

  17. Blair Villanueva
    08/29/2018 / 10:01 am

    Those veggie burritos would be a great meal! And lots of fruits 😀
    I bet your kids would be more motivated knowing that their lunch boxes are full of healthy foods!

  18. 08/28/2018 / 6:18 pm

    Revolution Foods sounds like a great option for kids!

  19. 08/28/2018 / 12:30 am

    I forget sometimes you can sneak veggies and other delicious and healthy items into meatballs. My daughter would definitely love that. And including it in marinara would help a lot as well.

  20. kim
    08/27/2018 / 7:55 pm

    Love all of these ideas! Can’t wait to try some of the recipes too!

  21. Jennifer Prince
    08/26/2018 / 11:51 pm

    I like the idea of going lighter. Not changing everything but swapping out for a few healthier options. Hope the kids don’t notice. Ha!

  22. 08/26/2018 / 11:11 pm

    These are some brilliant healthy cooking tips! My kids love homemade food

  23. 08/26/2018 / 8:49 pm

    I love these healthy ideas, especially adding the spinach to a smoothly of veg to a sauce! Very clever! I’ll have to try some of these tips out!

  24. Ruth I.
    08/26/2018 / 4:39 pm

    We try to be more strict with my niece’s snack but the grandparents are a little spoiler. lol! These tips are helpful! I will share this with my sister.

  25. 08/26/2018 / 10:49 am

    I try to apply the healthiness quotient to my food everyday. Thank god for a greak cook that my mother is. Hope the kids become less troublesome haha

  26. 08/26/2018 / 9:51 am

    These tips are great especially for mothers out there struggling in finding new and healthy lunch recipes for their kids. This is a very nice and well-said read.

  27. 08/26/2018 / 5:17 am

    Oh, this is amazing! Something to keep in mind when I start a family.

  28. Jackie
    08/26/2018 / 3:16 am

    I often grate veg into meals at night for my son to sneak veggies in there, its just much easier than the stress of convincing them to eat them!! Such great tips all together for sure.

  29. Peter
    08/26/2018 / 12:54 am

    We too are trying to incorporate healthier school lunches and snacks. Your tips and ideas will be put to good use over here

  30. Rosey
    08/25/2018 / 11:37 pm

    My son doesn’t like lasagna but he likes everything that goes in it, lol. I will never get it. 🙂 I use veggies in our pasta sauces.

  31. 08/25/2018 / 10:24 pm

    You have very lofty goals for your school year! I do agree though, that even if you did this for 50% of the days, you are well ahead of the rest of us.

  32. 08/25/2018 / 2:20 pm

    You’re right…while kids go to school, they may not get all the necessary nutrients as they get from eats at home so for sure, your tips will really come in hand. I’d love the meatballs galore.

  33. Elizabeth O
    08/25/2018 / 1:37 pm

    This is a really helpful post indeed. I really like the tips you gave and he idea for a secret sauce is so creative. I know a few people who would definite benefit from that tip.

  34. 08/25/2018 / 3:23 am

    I like the idea of the secret sauce! I have one child that really does not like vegetables so I do have to get creative with ways to make sure he is getting what he needs. Thanks for these healthy tips!

  35. 08/25/2018 / 2:08 am

    My kids love smoothing and that’s always a great way to get a boost of nutrition, but I love the rest of your tips too!

  36. sara lafountain
    08/25/2018 / 12:06 am

    These are some great tips! I make a marinara that has tons of veggies in it. I puree it and the kids have no clue that it is really healthy!

  37. 08/24/2018 / 8:42 pm

    These are some great tips – it is amazing the healthy spin you can put on things when you think about it (hands up I’m not very good at it myself). Plus it’s a great way to kick off the school year on the right foot.

  38. 08/24/2018 / 7:54 pm

    I will have to keep your tips in mind. We do try to eat pretty healthy when we can. Wraps are a big hit in the house!

  39. 08/24/2018 / 7:35 pm

    Great tips for healthier food. My kids come home from school starving and want to raid the fridge each day. I need to make sure I am fully prepared for that come September!

  40. 08/24/2018 / 6:01 pm

    This line killed me: My kids don’t even know that there is a nutritious veggie right inside!

    Some really good ideas here, I have a one-year-old and I’m already obsessing over nutrition. I really think more emphasis needs to be put on teaching kids about nutrition in schools. This sounds like a great project. Good luck.

  41. 08/24/2018 / 5:08 pm

    The tips are great and the food seems healthier. So I guess it is good for kids and parents shall go for it.

  42. 08/24/2018 / 4:54 pm

    My kids are into smoothie bowls. They even have a yogurt and toppings bar at school so they can make their own smoothie bowls.

  43. 08/24/2018 / 4:17 pm

    School lunches are always a chore and to keep them tasting fresh is always great. Your ideas and lunches look amazing and your kids are lucky

  44. 08/24/2018 / 4:14 pm

    These are great tips. I have a recipe for zucchini sticks that I’ve yet to make. My zucchini is gone for this year but I’ll make some next season.

  45. 08/24/2018 / 4:13 pm

    I needed ideas for the school lunch! I am already bored with what goes in my kiddos lunch! This gives me a lot of great ideas! Thanks for sharing this!

  46. 08/24/2018 / 4:06 pm

    Love these healthy tips! We do a lot of meatballs and smoothies around here. And Revolution Foods sounds awesome! Much better than the school lunch I had as a kid! 🙂

  47. 08/24/2018 / 2:34 pm

    Healthy eating is always on my radar but especially now. I just bought a skinnytaste cookbook and will hope my family loves the recipes.

  48. 08/24/2018 / 2:30 pm

    We should be doing this healthy meal and snacks all the time. I am always searching for snacks and meals to make for the family that are healthy and good.

  49. 08/24/2018 / 2:22 pm

    I’ve been looking for healthier snack ideas for when the grandkids come over. You’ve given me some great ideas, including the zucchini fries.

  50. 08/24/2018 / 12:34 pm

    Some of the good tips you have mentioned are really worth mentioning. Proteins are the most important part of our nutrition life and it should not be avoidable. By the sounds of it, Revolution foods are really doing a good job. If I was a child, I would have been part of Snack Attack and Smoothie Time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

129 Shares
Share13
Tweet
Pin116
Share