Meal Prep Tips for Families Getting Back Into the School Routine
Back-to-school season can throw even the most organized households into chaos. Between school schedules, after-school activities, and trying to remember who needs a lunchbox and who’s buying from the cafeteria, figuring out what’s for dinner can feel like just another stressor. But here’s the good news: meal prep doesn’t have to mean spending your entire Sunday in the kitchen or cooking every meal from scratch. With a few simple strategies, you can feed your family well and still have time (and energy) left over for yourself. Here are my favorite meal prep tips for easing back into a school routine — without losing your mind. 1. Pick 5 Go-To Dinners You Can Put on Repeat Let’s keep it real: you don’t need 30 new dinner ideas every month. What you do need are about five reliable, kid-friendly meals you can rotate through on busy weeks. Think of them as your “Weeknight Lifesavers.” Some of our favorites: Tacos (use gluten-free tortillas, ground turkey or beef, and homemade guacamole) Spaghetti (gluten-free pasta, jarred marinara, ground beef or lentils, plus a bagged salad) Burgers (on gluten-free buns or lettuce wraps, with baked sweet potato fries) Grilled Chicken with Veggie Sides (pair with a microwaveable rice pouch and a salad kit) Breakfast for Dinner (eggs, gluten-free waffles or toast, fruit) The beauty of these meals is how easy they are to customize and make healthier — without the kids even noticing. 2. Stock Up on Shortcuts You Feel Good About Frozen veggies, pre-chopped produce, rotisserie chicken, and bagged salad kits are not cheating — they’re smart. Keep a few of these on hand so you can throw a balanced meal together in 20 minutes or less. *Tip: Keep homemade guacamole, salsa, or hummus in the fridge to instantly boost flavor and nutrients in any meal. 3. Double It & Freeze It When you do cook a full dinner, make double. Freeze half for a future night when you just can’t. Soups, chili, spaghetti sauce, meatballs, taco meat, and casseroles all freeze really well. *Think of it as “Meal Prep Insurance” — your future self will thank you. 4. Prep Just the Components If full meal prep sounds overwhelming, start by prepping the basics: Grill or bake a batch of chicken breasts Chop veggies for snacking or stir-fries Cook a big pot of rice or quinoa Portion out snacks or fruit Mix and match these throughout the week to save time and mental energy. 5. Make a Weekly Menu — But Keep It Flexible Use a simple whiteboard, planner, or app to jot down what meals you’ll make each night. But give yourself permission to swap nights or skip a recipe if something comes up (because it will). The goal is to reduce decision fatigue, not lock yourself into a rigid system. 6. Involve the Kids (Even Just a Little) Let your kids help choose meals from your list of go-to dinners, or let them build their own taco or burger plates. When they’re involved, [...]
Gluten-Free Sourdough Sandwich Bread
I used to happily outsource my sourdough cravings to local bakers because, let’s be real, making sourdough from scratch felt like adopting a high-maintenance houseplant that lived on your counter. One baker used organic flour, the other imported hers from Italy, and I genuinely felt better eating their beautiful, soft loaves compared to the sad stuff on grocery store shelves. But even with all that charm, my stomach still wasn’t thrilled. Eventually, I realized I felt amazing when I went completely gluten-free with breads; like, clear-headed, zero-bloat, forgot-I-had-a-stomach kind of amazing. So, against my better judgment (and with only mild flour-based fear), I decided to dive into making my own gluten-free sourdough at home. I wanted the tang and the chew, just without the gluten backlash. And you know what? I quickly learned that with the right starter and a bit of patience, gluten-free sourdough is absolutely doable — and totally worth it. […]
Back-To-School Stress? 5 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health This Fall
As much as I love the fresh-start energy of fall, let’s be honest — back-to-school season is also a lot. Between earlier mornings, endless forms to fill out, changing schedules, and trying to remember which kid needs what on which day… it’s easy to feel like your brain is in a blender. And while we’re busy making sure the kids have everything they need, like backpacks, lunches, routines — our own mental health often takes a backseat. […]
Gluten-Free Sourdough Starter
Sourdough isn’t just for wheat lovers anymore. With a little patience and the right ingredients, you can create a tangy, bubbly gluten-free sourdough starter that’s perfect for breads, muffins, pancakes, and more. Whether you’re gluten-sensitive, celiac, or just experimenting with new baking methods, making your own gluten-free starter is simpler than you think. In this post, I’ll show you how to build a gluten-free sourdough starter from scratch using King Arthur’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour — one of my favorite blends for reliability and performance. […]
Healthy Lunchbox Ideas That Kids Might Actually Eat
Packing lunchboxes every day can feel like Groundhog Day; the same sandwich, the same snacks, the same uneaten apple that comes home bruised and rejected. If you’re tired of the lunch-packing struggle, you’re not alone. The goal is simple: find food that’s nutritious, kid-approved, and easy enough to prep in real life. Here are some healthy, realistic lunchbox ideas (no Pinterest perfection required) that are simple options that fuel your kids…and maybe even you, too. […]
Back To School: 5 Ways To Reset Your Routine After Summer
I don’t know about you, but the summer is a complete whirlwind for me. It’s a joyful, chaotic rollercoaster of late sunsets, pool days, spontaneous lake trips, and the glorious freedom of not having a schedule. I love being able to run off for a weekend adventure, hang out with family, or sign the kids up for fun camps without worrying about early mornings or rigid routines. But as much as I thrive on that flexibility, I’ve learned that my kids and I do better with structure. After too many screen marathons and pajama-clad afternoons, I start to feel like their brains are slowly melting — and mine’s not far behind. The freedom is fun, but it’s also exhausting. There’s little quiet time, no personal space, and I’m in full-on mommy mode 24/7, listening for any suspicious silence or emergencies that could mean something just exploded. It’s a double-edged sword, which is why I’m more than ready for a fresh routine when school starts. […]
Energy Oat Balls
If there’s one recipe my kids beg for on a regular basis, it’s these Energy Oat Balls. I swear, I can’t make a batch without someone sneaking a few before they even make it to the container. They’ve become a staple in our house, and are perfect for tossing into lunchboxes, handing out after school when hunger hits hard, or even grabbing for a quick, no-fuss breakfast on those chaotic mornings when we’re running out the door. […]
The Sunday Reset: How To Plan Your Week Without Stress
Sundays used to be my least favorite day. The looming “Monday energy” would creep in around 3 p.m., and suddenly I was overwhelmed with all the things I hadn’t done, the meals I hadn’t planned, and the laundry staring at me like it knew something I didn’t. But somewhere along the way, I discovered the magic of the Sunday Reset, a simple, no-pressure routine that helps me step into the new week feeling more in control and less like a human tornado. Here’s how to create your own Sunday reset without making it feel like another to-do list: […]
Gourmet Gluten-Free M&M Cookies (Crumbl Copycat)
What if I told you these gluten-free M&M cookies taste so good, that they might make you question everything you thought about gluten? Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate chips and possibly too many M&Ms (is that even possible?), these cookies are so bakery-level delicious that even gluten itself would wish it was invited to this party. But don’t worry, you won’t miss it. One bite, and you’ll forget gluten was ever a thing. […]
Matcha Latte
When I suspected that I was having an allergic response to coffee (gasp!), I thought my life was over when I had to eliminate it from my diet for a week while waiting for a new batch of mold/mycotoxin-free coffee to arrive in the mail. Okay fine, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but if you drank coffee regularly, would you be upset if you had to remove it?? Good possibility. The first day without, I felt the strong effects of caffeine withdrawal with some major drowsiness going on that I wasn’t used to. I had to think quickly, without actually having to get dressed and go to the grocery store in 24-degree weather to hunt down some organic green tea. Then, I remembered that I had recently bought a pack of matcha powder. Bingo. […]
Chocolate Sweet Potato Bundt Cake
Gluten-Free/Plant-Based/Vegan/Dairy-Free Not a day goes by that I’m not looking for some way to make a healthier version of comfort food…especially since traditional comfort food tears up my system like a mother. So, I have to get creative. Since I started gluten-free baking, there have been many experiments that have been both successful and not-so-great. What I have noticed is that when I can use fruits or vegetables incorporated into desserts, not only do they add vitamins and nutrients, but also add moisture and texture. It’s also a great way to trick your loved ones into eating healthier food, so it’s a win-win all the way around! […]
Strawberry Sourdough French Toast
I haven’t eaten sourdough bread in YEARS because I’ve been too afraid…afraid it would destroy my digestive and immune system like bread started doing seven years ago. I didn’t understand what was happening to my body until I started changing my habits, looking deeper into how different foods affected my health (especially gluten and dairy). Even after my doctor told me to experiment with organic flour to see if that also bothered my system, I was still afraid. So, time went by and I didn’t try it. […]
Maple Pecan Scones
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Plant-Based/Vegan Few things in life are more pleasurable than a hot cup of coffee in the morning, and even fewer things go along well with it. For me, it’s all about pairing that incredible cup of coffee with either a muffin or a scone, my two favorites to break my fast with in the morning. Although I do love the Lemon Blueberry Scones, these particular scones are my favorite flavor with the subtle hint of maple and crunch of the pecans all wrapped up in a tender scone. […]
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Plant-Based/Vegan You know how a lot of people go bonkers when pumpkin season arrives? Well, I am not one of those people. It’s not that I don’t like pumpkin, I actually love pumpkin. It’s the fact that I eat pumpkin flavored items all year long. So when the Fall gets here, I get excited about other people getting excited just because they’re finally getting excited to eat it too. Yes, I’m weird and easily entertained. […]
NEW GLUTEN-FREE COOKBOOK!!
I would apologize for yelling in the title, but I’m not sorry…BECAUSE I AM SOOO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK!!!! […]
Crunchy Granola (Homemade Cereal)
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Plant-Based Click HERE to watch the video! As a kid, one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast was a ridiculously large bowl of cereal drowning in milk. My favorite brands were Cap’n Crunch (Peanut Butter Crunch), Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Frosted Flakes. All delicious, all loaded with sugar and a bunch of other unhealthy ingredients that massively upset my gut. […]
No-Churn Vegan Ice Cream
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Vegan After writing an entire chapter with over 60 recipes for No-Churn Homemade Ice Cream in my Freezer Pleasers Cookbook, I was hooked on the simplicity of homemade ice cream…and how freaking delicious it is. […]
Fruity Mini Pancake Skewers
I’m a big fan of opening my eating window after a daily fast with something that is considered window-worthy. Ladies and gentlemen, these little babies are definitely worth opening that window with a hot cup of coffee. Pancakes are fantastic enough by themselves, but let’s throw in some added nutrition with fresh fruit and then drizzling them with maple syrup. […]
Stuffed Mushrooms
Gluten-Free While I was working on the updated version of my Party Time! cookbook, it was time to add a lot more recipes. As in, over 100 more recipes, to be exact. The last updated version had over 100 recipes, but the new one got bumped up to over 200! There is no shortage of party food recipes in this updated version, and adding stuffed mushrooms to the list was a must. […]
Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Vegan As a kid, one of the snacks that I loved to stuff in my face was an Oatmeal Cream Pie. In all honesty, any of those packaged sweet treats were sure enough to send me into an excited frenzy, which is probably why my mom didn’t keep our pantry stocked with them on a regular basis. Smart woman. […]
Halloween 5k and Kids First Fun Run
Since hubby and I started doing races, the kids have tagged along for a few events. I’m not sure what it was about these events, but both of our kids have expressed a strong interest in doing a race. Who are we to say no? […]
Quinoa Kale Salad
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Plant-Based/Vegan Fun Fact: Kale has more nutritional value per calorie than any other food. I remember when I first read that, I stopped and read over it again. Wow, no wonder so many nutrition junkies are obsessed with kale. That’s insane. […]
She-Tris Sprint Triathlon
After completing my first triathlon, I got sucked into the vortex of endurance training and wanted to do it again…and again… That seems to happen after every race; I get super pumped and start looking for future races to participate. The first race was in Mount Pleasant, and this last one was in Summerville. Since I learned after that first race how important it is to have a ROAD bike instead of a mountain bike when it comes to speed, I broke down and got a road bike. This time, my husband and kids came along for support, and we made a weekend trip out of it. […]
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Muffins
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Vegan When I switched over to making all gluten-free, dairy-free baked goods at home, hubby was a little less than thrilled. “Wait, does that mean you won’t be making Cinnamon Roll Muffins anymore?” he asked sadly. He’s not big into the lifestyle I’m into, but is willing to try new things…as long as I don’t try to trick him into eating something he doesn’t know exactly what’s in it. That’s our deal, I have to be straight forward about what I ask him to try, and he’ll try it. […]
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free/Vegan A local cake-donut shop in Chapin fired up my cravings for Apple Cider Donuts after posting about serving them at their shop. Even if you don’t live anywhere around here, do yourself a favor and go to Chickenbutt Donuts’ Facebook page and follow them…I cannot stop looking and laughing hysterically at their posts. […]