Meal Prep & Other Ways To Reduce Stress This Holiday Season
December 18, 2024
Meal Prep Do Reduce Stress This Holiday Season
The holidays are filled with excitement and activity. One way to help calm the crazy is to create structure and routine where possible. Preparedness is the name of the game. Here are 5 quick tips to help you out:
- Don’t forget to eat and drink: It may help to meal prep and plan on the weekend. Be sure to plan for 3 meals and a couple of handy snacks each day (try not to graze). Look to see what is on your calendar for the week ahead and adjust your meal planning accordingly. Even if it is take-out, mark it on the calendar that that meal is accounted for. Staying hydrated is just as important. Having a water bottle to sip on throughout the day is one way to help keep you hydrated. Forgetting to eat often leads to over eating at the next opportunity, or not thinking about what you are really hungry for and grabbing anything and everything, usually not satisfying your taste buds. Whatever you do, don’t forget to eat and drink.
- Pre-plan: If you are headed out to holiday gatherings, especially with children, be sure to provide them with a mini-meal ahead of time. This way, they can play to their heart’s content with friends and family and you don’t have to worry about them sitting down to eat a full meal. Hungry kiddos can be unhappy kiddos. Fill those bellies before the fun. Possible options:
- A homemade charcuterie plate with deli meats (low sodium is best), low-fat cheeses, whole grain crackers, carrot sticks and cucumber slices
- A yogurt bowl with low-fat Greek yogurt, fresh fruit slices, and granola
- A bowl of whole grain cereal with low-fat milk topped with banana slices
- A bowl of soup (low sodium is best) with whole grain crackers and low-fat cheese slices
- Leftovers
- Eating healthy is the goal, but be sure not to overwhelm yourself with one more thing to do. Enjoy the festive foods, just do so in moderation and be sure to plan to get your body moving each and every day.
- Enjoy the sunshine! It may be brisk in your neck of the woods, but getting out and getting some fresh air will do your body some good. Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, and in addition to physical activity has so many benefits. Moving our body reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, improves mental health and clears your mind, helps with healthy sleep, helps with weight, and is great for muscle strength.
- Have easy to grab, filling foods readily available. Or maybe it is making sure there are grab-and-go lunch and snack options available. Maybe it is preparing a smoothie to throw in the blender in the morning. Possible items to stock your fridge and pantry with:
- Low-fat Greek (or regular) yogurt cups
- Pre-washed and ready to eat carrot sticks, snap peas, broccoli florets
- Pre-cut and wash apples or celery slices with pre-portioned peanut butter
- Ready-to-pop popcorn
- Pre-portioned hummus and pretzels and carrots and/or guacamole and whole grain tortilla cups
- Cheese sticks
- Individually packed trail mix bags
- Prep and have ready-to-eat hard-boiled eggs
- Bean and cheese quesadillas
- Cottage cheese topped with frozen strawberries

Getting a selective eater to try new foods is a process. Keep in mind that the goal is to provide your child with the opportunity to be exposed to new foods. Continue to introduce them to unfamiliar foods, have them see that you eat and enjoy them, all the while making sure they have safe foods that they know they can count on. Giving your child permission helps to reduce anxiety around new foods. Inviting your child to be around and try new foods is a very different experience than forcing them to try new foods.

With summer here, your kiddos are likely on a constant hunt for snacks. To help them develop healthy eating habits, try spacing meals and snacks about two hours apart. This gives their little tummies time to feel hungry, enjoy a snack, and recognize when they’re full. When kids “graze” throughout the day—eating small amounts here and there—their bodies have a harder time learning to recognize hunger and fullness cues. Grazing can also lead to more frequent choices of less nutritious, grab-and-go snacks. Let's Support Healthier Habits To support healthier habits, pre-plan snack options and post a visual snack “menu” on the fridge. This gives kids structure, helps them feel independent, and encourages better choices. And why not make snack time fun and educational? Try simple food crafts together—it’s a great way to bond with your child(ren), have fun in the kitchen, and explore possible new foods at the same time! UNDER THE SEA: Shark Snack Cups from Mommy's Fabulous Finds Festive treat made with yogurt, jello, cool whip, graham crackers and optional gummy shark Shark Week Bait from Alex Daynes A lighter treat that includes popcorn, white chocolate chips, f ood coloring/sprinkles, Sixlet Candies, gummy sharks, and pretzel goldfish Candy Sushi from Happy Family Recipes Themed snack made with Rice Krispie Treats (butter, marshmallows, vanilla, Rice Krispie Cereal) Fruit Roll-Ups, large Swedish fish, mini Swedish Fish BEACH + ANIMAL THEMES: Beach Bear Dirt Cups from Made To Be A Momma Celebrate summer with pool inspired lounging! Ingredients include: Teddy Grahams, white chocolate pudding, milk, cool whip, graham crackers, gummy life savers Curious George Snack from Mess for Less (tip, Read a Curious George book to go along with this one!) Enjoy a book and a snack with this Curious George inspired snack! Ingredients include: Nutella, s liced bananas, b lueberries, r ice cakes Animal Tracks Snacks from Loreen Leedy Great snack for the outdoorsy kid who enjoys animals! You can use a variety of ingredients including: cheese, crackers, pretzels, cream cheese, almonds and pepperoni FOR THE NATURE LOVER: Nature Snacks : Edible Crafts for Kids - Parties With A Cause A large variety of snacks for nature lover of all kinds including all sorts of flora and fauna options! POPSICLES: Fresh Fruit Popsicles from One Little Project How to Make Fruit Popsicles with Real, Fresh Fruit Strawberry Breakfast Popsicles from Fraiche Living We can imagine all sorts of variations of this recipe! Start with the following simple ingredients: yogurt, fresh strawberries, milk (or your choice) lemon juice and granola Frozen Yogurt Banana Pops from Kalejunkie Such a simple, yet festive recipe that uses ingredients commonly found in the kitchen such as bananas, yogurt and sprinkes! FOOD IMPOSTERS: Pancake Donuts from Balanced with Babies Made with just two ingredients: pancake mix and milk! You will need a fun donut shaped mold for this recipe Breakfast Banana Split - Art From My Table Ingredients include: banana, yogurt, blackberries, raspberries, granola, mini chocolate chips Fruit Cracker Pizzas from Sunshine & Hurricanes Crackers + cream cheese + fruit! Watermelon Rice Krispy Treats from My Heavenly Recipes Festive treat to be shared! Made with butter, marshmallows, R ice Krispies, food coloring and chocolate chips

Think your child is "just" clumsy? They may have Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD, an infrequently known, but very treatable condition that affects 5%-6% of school aged children! Medical specialists, such as pediatric physical therapists, pediatric occupational therapists, and neurologists can help address the underlying nervous system and muscular issues contributing to DCD.