Even though we are technically still in summer mode, back to school is just around the corner. For some, that’s a blessing (parents) and for others (your kid) a curse. So back to school for me means getting my pantry/fridge organized. My son will be starting high school this year so the days of filling a lunch box with brightly coloured juice boxes and individually wrapped snacks are long behind me.

Starting a new school brings new challenges and many adjustments, so giving him one less thing to worry about can only help. Stocking the fridge for easy lunches and letting him fend for himself (fyi no teen wants their Mom around at lunchtime - or any time really) is always a safe bet. Already washed and cut fruit, veggies, yogurt, bagels & cream cheese, stuff to make your own subs... Basically anything grab and go works for us. And if you didn’t know already, teens tend to eat A LOT! For a while, I was convinced that Houdini lived in our pantry because boxes of cereal simply disappeared when they’d come home from the grocery store.

I loved coming home for lunch in high school to get a break from it all. My down time would consist of an hour of back-to-back rerun episodes of cartoons. Coming home for lunch as a teen isn’t all about the food (but it helps). It’s about recharging your batteries in a safe environment that’s accessible and low maintenance. If you get organized and stock up on quick and easy food your teen will actually eat, they will be more likely to come home instead of eating a bag of chips on the fly or grabbing fries and gravy from the cafeteria everyday. Balance is the key.

Good luck with your back to school quest, a little organization goes a long way in the kitchen and hopefully it can be one more piece in the teen puzzle and help you all stay a little more sane during these crucial years. Just remember the old adage ...you are only as happy as your unhappiest child!

If you have any organizational tips to share, I would love to hear them!

Happy back to school shopping!

Jack

Keywords : back to school, lunches, school

Comments ( 1 )

diymom

Submitted on 09/08/2010 at 8:13

My teens loved coming home for lunch. I usually had sliced meats/buns, frozen entrees, homemade soup or leftover supper in the fridge for them to quickly heat up. My daughter's favourite was "taco" salad using the leftover taco dinner items. My organization tip is; I would have a basket on the kitchen table. In it I would have 4 of everything we need for a meal; plates, forks, knives, glasses, napkins. Salt/pepper. When the table needed to be set everything was right there already. After dishes were washed they would go right back into the basket each night and put back on the table. Great way to have one of the kids set the table and not be in the "working" part of the kitchen in the way of food prep. Loved your old show Jack and love this new one. The timing is a little hard to be able to catch a show but sometimes I do manage to see it. Aim for weekday mornings and I'm in. Keep up the good work. Teena

Post a comment