Organize your kitchen
It's that time of year again – back to school and back to work! Get ready for the food frenzy by setting up a heart healthy kitchen.
1. Stock up. Mornings will be a breeze when you have an assortment of nutritious breakfasts ready to go. Stock up on heart healthy staples like low-fat, whole-grain cereals, breads and bagels, and lower-fat milk and yogurt. Don't forget about seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, like apples, grapes, carrots and peppers – they're perfect for the lunch bag and as a nutritious snack any time.
2. Create a "kid cubby". Dedicate a drawer or shelf in the kitchen to store the kids' lunch bags, lunch utensils and healthy snacks for school. Portion out single servings of nut-free trail mix, low sodium pretzels, plain popcorn, and whole grain crackers so that they're ready to go. In the fridge, find a visible spot to keep heart healthy items like fruit cups, cheese strings and pre-cut vegetables so that kids can help themselves.
3. Fill the freezer. Whether you're stuck in traffic on the commute home or rushing to get your child out to sports practice, there are bound to be nights when you're just too busy to cook. Plan ahead by making meals in advance and freezing them. Defrost the meal in the fridge a couple of days in advance, then just reheat. Try this heart healthy Ham and Shrimp Jambalaya, or team up whole-grain brown rice with a mouthwatering batch of Sweet Curry Chicken.
4. Post it. Pin up a monthly calendar with the all of the family's evening appointments and activities. That way, you can estimate how many freezer-friendly meals you'll need to make ahead of time. Pencil in the dinner menu each week too. First one home can start re-heating supper!