Chipotle

with a. kid who plays football in the fall it’s just a focus on getting a big meal on the table each night. School lunches are almost always as chicken rickets and broccoli, sometimes beef and another veggie. I grill about 8 chicken breasts each week.

School doesn't really change much for our dinners because the kids (MS/HS) get home before me anyway, but the start of fall sports a week later gets nuts. One kid has practice 4x/week after school and doesn't get home until 6pm, the other kid has practice starting at 7pm 4x/week, 20- minute drive away. So family dinners are definitely scrunched, if they happen at all.

I've spent the last couple of weeks making double batches of things that'll freeze and reheat quickly, having one for dinner and putting the second half in the freezer. Taco meat, chili, white bean & chicken chili, pasta sauce, meatballs, empanadas, farro, short grain brown rice, black beans. Going to try and make a few more things like lasagna or enchiladas that the kid who gets home earlier can pop in the oven when I leave my office.

Then, lots of bagged salad and quick-cooking vegetables like green beans or sliced zucchini.

We have sports practices kicking off as well so I try to start the week by cooking 2-3 grain options to have on hand. Rice, farro, etc. I pre-chop some veggies that will stay good for a few days like celery and peppers, and grill some chicken. That way when we have limited time between homework, practice, shower and bedtime we can throw together ingredients with different sauce, or add tortillas and beans, without spending 30 minutes doing it. We just do cut up veggies and fruit on the side, our kids are young and prefer that.

No need for transition. Same stuff as always. Produce changes with the seasons.

When does school start for you?

If you have time, make this week a two for one week: make two of whatever you're having that night, stick one in the freezer

What are your favorite recipes, tips, meal prep ideas, etc. to help with the back to school transition?