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Cooking at home may be daunting to those of you lacking in culinary skills and free time, but it can be simpler and easier than you think, and the health benefits are totally worth it. Not only will you be able to get a healthier diet but cooking at home is also beneficial for your mental wellbeing. Start simple and remember to try to enjoy it! There are many advantages to eating at home.

Fewer additives and nasty chemicals

Processed food is often high in chemical additives, hormones and not to mention calories. A shop-bought pasta sauce, for example, has a much higher amount of sugar and salt, plus a lot of hidden chemicals. These all have an adverse effect on your brain and mental outlook. You could show signs of depression and fatigue, and even increased stress and anxiety. The extra calories won’t do much for your waistline either. A homemade tomato sauce is quick and simple and doesn’t contain all that gunk. 

Fresher, more wholesome meals

If you’re feeding a family, friends, or just yourself, don’t you all deserve a decent meal? A fresher, wholesome, homecooked meal with have you looking and feeling better, and give you an energy boost. You’ll be able to control what you put in your body and look after your weight. Try to get a balanced diet, without skimping on taste. There are plenty of recipe suggestions online. 

The more natural, the better

It’s a misconception that cooking at home has to be complicated and time-consuming in order to produce good quality meals. In fact, the most simple and natural dishes are the tastiest. A couple of well-selected fresh ingredients are key. Think about the delicious simplicity of the Mediterranean diet, based on good olive oil, fresh tomatoes, and seasonal veg. Check out what’s in season locally and try shopping at an organic green-grocer. They’ll be able to give you cooking advice as well. 

Cooking can be fun

It’s a great way to get people together and it’s proven that giving people you care about food is very rewarding, it’s like giving them a little bit of love. Get friends and family to cook together, you could have a homemade pizza party, or try out fun desserts like a homemade marble cake, recipe here. If you find cooking stressful, stick to simple recipes and try to get in the mood for it. You could put on some music or have a glass of wine, plan your weekly menu and meal prep plan, order groceries, including making sure to stock-up and order stone crab claws online, and let yourself have fun with it. It’s not a big deal if your recipes go wrong at first, you’ll soon learn new tricks.

How to fit cooking into your busy schedule

There are ways around this. If you work all day, you could invest in a slow-cooker so you can leave your dinner being prepared all day, and come home to it ready. Some of the best recipes are the most simple and there are plenty of delicious one-pot meals, either way, you can just throw things in.

This post is sponsored by NESTLÉ® NESQUIK® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

With the official start to the back-to-school season just around the corner, I’ve been on the hunt for easy to make breakfast and weekday mornings before school goes as smoothly as possible. Especially in the first weeks of school. Because as a teacher’s wife, there’s a ton going on and eventually there will be hiccups in trying to get back into the school year groove at home. Which is why I’m sharing with you today my 5 tips for establishing a working BTS morning routine.

Tip 1: Create a set wake-up time each morning

My family gets up at 5 am each morning. We wake up at this super early time to ensure that we are able to get everything we need to be done each morning. From walking our dogs as a family to getting ready for school, our family needs a full two hours to be ready for our days. We also make sure that we are able to wake up refreshed each morning by keeping a working bedtime as well. Which for us is generally around 7 pm for the little ones and 9 pm for my husband and myself.

Tip 2: Prep breakfasts nightly

Better days start with wholesome nutritious breakfasts at home. So I make sure to stock-up on breakfast-ready foods at home, especially during the back-to-school rush each fall. I am currently loving the NEW NESTLÉ® NESQUIK® Super Breakfast. It is made with real milk and has the delicious taste of Nesquik that kids of all ages love.

What I love about NESQUIK® Super Breakfast:

• Made with 100% real milk
• No artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors
• With 12 g of protein – its a great source of protein
• Contains no high fructose corn syrup
• Is fortified with Vitamin A & D
• Certified kosher
• Contains bone-strengthening calcium

I like to pick up Nesquik® Super Breakfast when I’m at my local Walmart Neighborhood Market. You can find Nesquik® Super Breakfast in the juice or baking aisle. Overall I feel good serving this for breakfast as it helps to make sure my family is getting their daily servings of nutrients, and if we are running late, its a great on-the-go drink that can be consumed on-the-way to school!

Friends, you can try Nesquik® Super Breakfast with your family and save money using this ibotta offer.

Tip 3: Layout your clothes each evening

Each evening I lay out my families clothing. School uniforms for my husband and daughter, my workout and clothing for the day, and leashes and/or sweaters for our dogs, depending on the weather. It’s a quick step that helps me to make sure my family looks their best when going back to school.

Tip 4: Pack lunches each evening

Just like with breakfasts, I pack my family’s lunches each evening. One of my favorite ways to do this is by using small plug-in crockpots for my husband to take leftovers to school and bento box style lunches for the little one. This helps me stay within my weekly grocery budget, maintain zero-waste lunch options for my family, and to cut down on food waste at home. This is a step that only takes me a few minutes each evening after clearing away the dinner dishes and it helps me sleep better at night knowing my family we be well fed for lunch the following day.

Tip 5: Pack all bags the night before

One the best ways I stay on top of my morning back-to-school routine at home is to make sure my family’s bags are packed each evening at home. And by checking I mean, school folders are looked through, papers that need to be signed are signed, notices that require my attention are moved to our family corkboard, homework is finished, and graded paperwork my husband needs for school is neatly back in his messenger bags too!

I also make sure the electronics my family uses at school are properly charged each evening as well. All laptops, Chromebooks, power sticks, headphones, my husband’s phone, and drivers are charged and ready for the next school day. Subsequently, one of the first things I do each morning is to place those gadgets in their respective bags too!

Friends, those are my 5 tips for perfecting your back-to-school morning routine. Tips that help keep my family organized, on-time, and on-the-go during the back-to-school rush each fall. And to help keep you more organized at home, be sure to save or pin the tip sheet below. Also, be sure to check out the NEW NESTLÉ® NESQUIK® Super Breakfast at your local Walmart. It’ll help to keep you organized and nourished all season long!

Now I want to ask, what helps keep your early mornings running smoothly at home? Let me know your tips in the comments below!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KidfreshFavorites #CollectiveBias

Even though it’s May and the weather is (hopefully) starting to get warmer, school may be out for parts of the country, which means that kids may be home a lot more (eeps!), yet some kids are still in school for a while and Kidfresh is the perfect solution for every family’s mealtime occasion!

Kidfresh’s frozen kid’s meals and sides can be used for many occasions throughout a busy parent’s day. They are best in kids nutrition, without any artificial ingredients, plus every meal includes hidden veggies. They come in some of the kids’ favorite foods and are made with simple ingredients so it’s something you can trust and your child will love to eat. These meals are so convenient for those busy back-to-school weeknights and are ready to eat in just minutes!

All Kidfresh meals and sides are made without artificial flavors, ingredients, synthetic colors, preservatives, and are made with Non-GMO ingredients. All foods with short and clean ingredient lists, with meals all under 400 calories, that make them a go-to meal or snack option during my family’s upcoming summer break from school later this month!

For a limited time at Kroger and Kroger family of stores, you can save at least 15% off the everyday retail price at Kroger!

To find the Kroger or Kroger Family of Store nearest you visit this site.

Here’s to saving at home, 

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #SaveOnChef   #CollectiveBias

With the back to school season approaching, my family is looking for easy weeknight meal solutions. By spending less time in the kitchen, we can enjoy other after-school activities together. Now through August 29, 2016, each 14.5 to 15 ounce can of Chef Boyardee is on Rollback at Walmart for only $0.80! Purchase five cans for $4 in a variety of flavors that include: Mini Ravioli, Beefaroni, and Spaghetti and Meatballs. You can enjoy a week’s worth of quality meals at an affordable price.

Be sure when you stock up on Chef Boyardee at Walmart to look for the Chef Boyardee cans that feature NO artificial flavors, NO preservatives, and NO artificial colors. With quality ingredients since 1924, Chef Boyardee has been a pantry staple for many families.

While shopping at Walmart, be sure to look for the Rollback signs for Chef Boyardee in the Canned Food aisle!

Here’s to savings,