Meal Prep– School Year Addition

In just four days, my oldest will be starting kindergarten.

The letdown . . . How the heck is she 5 years old?

I have mixed emotions from excited to worried and everything you can imagine in between.

This past week I started to gear up for the upcoming school year with “meal prep.” I have always wanted to be organized enough to know what we are eating a few days in advance; not just a few minutes. The start of kinder is a great time for the entire family to get organized and back on track.

Costco Finds:

Egg Bites; similar to the egg muffins I have been making for my kids but these are already made, which is helpful if you didn’t have time to make the egg muffins. These come 5 in a pack for $9. Great for busy mornings when you can’t make eggs for your kids.

Pre- Made Meals; Costco has an array of pre-made delicious meals under $20 including Stuffed Bell Peppers, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Enchilada, Ravioli Lasagna, etc. Easy to heat up but takes 45 – 60 minutes. I have been cooking the meals while Tabitha naps and then microwaving the amount we need for dinner when the kids are hungry. These meals generally last us a few days.

Sabra Classic Hummus with Pretzels to go packs; Perfect for a healthy yummy option for kids lunchbox. 6 packs for $7.

Kirkland Organic Apple Sauce; 24 squeeze pouches for $9.99; $0.41 each.

Trader Joe’s Finds:

Organic Smoothies; comes in 2 flavors Strawberry and Wild Berry. Perfect size for a lunchbox or after school snack. It’s 4 for $3.29.

Kettle Cooked Potato Chips and Popcorn, great individual packed snacks.

Joe’s Diner Mac ‘N Cheese; found in the freezer section, perfect for a dinner option in a pinch. It tastes yummy and only takes a few minutes to make. As of now, both girls will enjoy one package for 2 meals.

Trader Joes Turkey Corn Dogs; another easy meal found in the freezer section of your Trader Joe’s. They are yummy, easy to make and my kids love them. I heat them in our toaster oven to ensure they are crispy.

Mini Chicken Tacos; a delicious item found in the freezer appetizer section. These are made for apps but a few of these tacos are perfect dinner option for picky eaters.

Organic Roasted Seaweed with Sea Salt; 6 per pack for $3.29 (I believe).

Amazon Finds:

Cheez-It Baked Snack: My kids are currently obsessed with these crackers. I was buying the boxes but they were not staying fresh. These snack size bags are perfect, but are expensive. I found a 36 box on Amazon currently selling for $8.46; $0.24 per pack. That’s a great deal. In the supermarket, 8 box is $5.89 or $0.73 each.

GoGo squeeze Apple Sauce; if you’re not into the Kirkland Apple Sauce, GoGo Squeeze Apple Sauce is $9.48 for 20; $0.47 each.

I would love to know how are you prepping for the school year. Have you started to meal prep? Comment below with your tips especially those parents will older children. I would love to learn from your experience.