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Best Shows For 7-10 Year Olds On Netflix

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 The holidays are winding down and if you are anything like us over here we are somewhere in between Winter breaks and an abyss of what-the-heck-do-we do-now. So while we are attempting to slide back into some kind of routine (whatever that means, thanks 2020) there are those days when we need a good Netflix show to get us through the afternoon or wind us down for the night. Here are our picks for the best shows on Netflix for 7-10-year-olds.

Best Netflix shows for 7-10 year olds

Here’s a list of the Netflix shows that my kiddos have been loving lately. They’re super into Ben 10, sci-fi, monsters, robots, and those kinds of things. So if your kids are as well, they will probably love these.

Last Kids On Earth

This one was a huge hit- zombies, monsters, apocalypse, how could it go wrong? “When zombies and monsters invade his hometown, a scrappy 13-year-old orphan teams up with his friends in hopes of surviving the chaos.” Released in 2019 this show has 3 seasons and is TV-7.

My kids always love a follow of books when they find a show they love, as luck would have it, there is a great series of Last Kids on Earth Books. You can buy books 1-3 here and books 4-6 here.

The Hollow

Portals, magic, and beasts, oh my! The Hollow was a really fun watch as well. “Three teens join forces to find a way home after waking up in a strange realm filled with magic portals, perplexing puzzles and vicious beasts.” You can watch 2 seasons of this on Netflix and it is rated TV-Y7.

Glitch Techs

Heavy on the robot, video game, and monster vibe, this was a really fun show for both my 5-year-old and my 9-year-old. “Two teens work at a game store as a front for their actual job: Hunting video game monsters who’ve broken out into the real world. This show has 2 seasons and came out in 2020. It’s rated Tv-Y7. You can check out the trailer for season 1 here.

Hilda

This one we all fell in love with. The story, the animation, it’s all fabulous. “Fearless, free-spirited Hilda finds new friends, adventure and magical creatures when she leaves her enchanted forest home and journeys to the city.” Released in 2018, Hilda currently only has 2 seasons (with a good amount of episodes each season though) and is rated TV-Y7.

There is talk that a movie is in production and possibly a season three on the way as the final episode ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. Thankfully there are some books to hold us over until then.

Legend Quest

This show was a huge hit and both O and S were disappointed that it only aired for one season. Luckily, you have this list to go to a quick follow up before too much angst sets in. “When an evil force threatens his village, a gifted teen who can talk to ghosts puts his skills to good use, one legend at a time.” Legend Quest aired for one season, came out in 2017, and is rated TV-Y7.

Camp Lakebottom

This one was interesting…and definitely satisfies the gross factor sometimes required by 5-10-year-olds in order to make a show “cool”. Despite the gross factor, it is actually funny and creative with its story concepts. “Three 12-year-old kids, McGee, Gretchen and Squirt board the wrong summer camp bus and have all sorts of adventures in a camp called Camp Lakebottom, while trying to protect the camp from McGee’s nemesis Jordan Buttsquat at Camp Sunny Smiles.” Camp Lakebottom has 3 seasons, is rated TV-G, and you can watch it on Amazon Prime. (sorry, this one is not on Netflix but it is a great pick for this genre!)

Gravity Falls

This was probably the first show that sent us hunting for more like it (see list above). “Twin siblings Dipper and Mabel Pines spend the summer at their great-uncle’s tourist trap in the enigmatic Gravity Falls, Oregon.” Sadly, this show only has 2 seasons and since it aired in 2012, there is no talk of any more coming. But there are 40 episodes in all so it’s a good amount to watch.

And as luck would have it, there are books (and Madlibs!! that ended up in Christmas stockings #70smom), YAY.

Favorite Netflix shows for kids

The shows on this list can definitely be enjoyed by a bit older age range as well ( my kids watched Alien so they are not really into “kiddie” shows, if you know what I mean, and these shows were a hit.

best Netflix shows for 7-10 year olds 2021

I am always searching for new shows that the boys will love. Do you have any favorites that you and your kids love? Share in the comments! If you are looking for some Winter book recommendations, you can see ours here.

Until next time,

You can also check out my curated Amazon shop packed with good stuff for kiddos and moms right here

Best Planners For Work At Home Moms 2021

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NO one needs a good planner like a work at home homeschooling mom. I’ve put together a list of my favorites, from tear-off sheets (love these for THOSE days that you kind of want to just crumple up and throw in the garbage) to traditional bound planners- there’s a planner here for everyone’s own brand of “might not get it all done but die trying.” Let’s shop!

Let’s start with tear-off planners. I mean, after this year, I am totally prepared to just rip a day off and throw it in the trash and then be ready to start fresh the next morning- anybody else? All joking (or not really…) aside, I love to use these single-page planning sheets to help me focus on one day at a time. I pair them with a traditional bound planner for weekly and monthly planning and when I use the two together it makes for a somewhat organized system. I have adult ADHD thus the “somewhat” but, hey- I try. I actually use three bound planners and single sheet planners to manage my daily schedule of work, home management stuff, and homeschooling (I’ll tell you my system later in this post-it sounds like a lot but it is actually great for focusing and simplifying each day)

the best work at home homeschool planners for mom 2021 busy parents club

The best tear-off sheet planners for 2021

Productive AF single tear sheet planner sheets from Bliss Busy Parents club planners for WAHM

Productive AF

I love these single sheet planners. You get 50 sheets, a top three of the day section, a spot for meals, a place for time-specific tasks, habit tracker, and a to-do list. Perfect to keep all the parts of your life all in one place but still be able to focus on just today. Grab yours here.

daily plan2021 to do list single sheet planners gold and white for work at home moms from busy parents club

Daily Plan

These single sheet planners have room for tracking your productivity, putting your top 3 for the day into big focus, and a space for timed appointments or meetings. For those of us recovering (or not) perfectionists, you can also rate your performance each day. Grab these from Amazon for $9.

New Goals, New Week

This horizontal single sheet planner is a weekly version and it is AMAZING. With top 3 goals for the week, a column for each day, and spaces for what worked and what didn’t, what to do less or, and what to do next week, this planner is an organized gal’s dream. For $10 on Amazon, it’s well worth it.

Get Shit Done

Indeed. The second weekly single sheet planner on this list is clean and simple with a space for each day and a selection to add in some noteworthy shit from your week. Grab it for $10 here.

Bound Weekly Planners

Now let’s move on to the bound planners. This is where I keep long term and more in-depth planning, plotting, and scheming. And because I really want to share with you what I think is a super-genius planner layout, there is only ONE. I’ll show it in a few styles, but this planner is where it’s at (AND it only costs $14-17).

Weekly and Monthly Planner

This is my absolute favorite bound planner. Features like a month view and weekly calendar with sections for notes, reminders, and priorities make planning ahead really easy to see and organize.

Weekly and monthly planner #2

Another version of the above planner for my floral lovers. Grab this planner here for $16 on Amazon.

My work from home, homeschool planning system

So, let’s talk how I use my planners. I mentioned above that I actually have three bound planners and a set of tear off single sheet planners. I know that sounds like a lot so I’ll tell you why and how I use those, and then if you don’t have a need for all of those planners to be separate, you can definitely opt for one bound planner for more long term planning (weekly/monthly/yearly) and use tear off single sheets to hone down your master plan for each individual day.

Because I homeschool, work from home on multiple businesses, and also am the main person in charge of all of the household management I like to separate my to do’s and planning into three separate planners. Doing it this way just helps keep me focused. I really don’t want to look at my house task list at the same time as my homeschool plans, and my business tasks- frankly, my head would explode (more than it already does.) So, I separate them.

The best planners for homeschooling work from home moms 2021 busy parents club

To stay organized and not feel like I have a million planners coming out of my ears, I keep my homeschool planner with those materials, I keep my work planner in my office, and my household planner in the kitchen usually because that’s my main hub.

Another bonus of having all the areas of my life in separate planners is that it is much easier to stay focused if I am working in a planner dedicated to one single thing.

How to use single- sheet planners

My single sheet planners are my daily “get it ALL done” secret weapon. At night I will sit down with all three planners, look at what needs to be done in each category (homeschool, work, house tasks) and fill them in accordingly into,y daily sheet planner. Most of the single sheets have a top three section and I try to use one of these for each category each day.

Finding balance-ish

The reality is there isn’t always time to get everything finished we want to in a day when we are homeschooling, working from home, and running a household. BUT, I find that if I prioritize a big thing from each each day I fell more well rounded and like I am chipping away.

I hope this post gave you a few ideas to try when you are setting up your planning system for 2021. Do you have a system you love? Or have a question about planning? Reach out in the comments 🙂

You can shop all of the planners on Amazon right here in one spot.

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Meal Planning For Busy Moms

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Meal planning tips for busy moms with a free menu planner.

How many times a week do you find yourself standing in your kitchen, staring at the fridge, trying to muster up a plan of what to make for dinner using the 3 ounces of energy you have left by this point of the day?

If you are like most busy mamas, you probably find yourself in this very scenario a few times a week. What’s the solution? Meal planning. This is the single best thing you can do to make mealtimes more manageable (even enjoyable!) and save yourself a lot of money. Now, you may be saying to yourself, the last thing I need is one more task to do each week, but trust me. Meal planning will actually save you time every day. Read on for my best tips on how to start- and stick to- meal planning.

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Frugal Fun Day Ideas!

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Frugal fun day is the first Saturday in October, so it’s the perfect time to share some frugal fun ideas that would be perfect for family Fall fun! Don’t forget to grab the free printable at the end of the post so you can keep this list handy.

30 Ideas To Celebrate Frugal Fun Day All Month Long!

This year, maybe more than most, we are all trying to soak in every last minute we can enjoying the nice weather outside (especially here in the Northeast!). These ideas, inspired by frugal fun day, incorporate the most outdoor fun as possible- let’s get started!

1.Take a fall foliage drive bring a camera and have a family photo challenge

2. Collect leaves and make leaf people like these from hands on as we grow.

http://handsonaswegrow.com

3. Grab a printable of your local trees or a guide book and identify the different types of trees near you making note of how each tree changes different colors.

4. Go camping. Take advantage of the last warm Fall days.

5. Go apple picking

6. Visit a pumpkin patch

7. Forage for herbs or wild berries. Bring a guide book or download an app like Picture this to help you identify these plants and wild foods in your area

8. Take a road trip

9. Plant bulbs in your yard or garden that will sprout next Spring

10. Start a gratitude journal. You can use any notebook you have, or grab one of these for the younger kids that encourages them with prompts to draw and write about things they are grateful for.

11. Collect pinecones. Decorate them with glitter pens, add them to a nature table, string them into a garland, or simply display them in a bowl.

12. Have a bonfire. Whip out the blankets, s’mores fixing and the hot chocolate or cider and enjoy an afternoon and evening by the fire

13. Go on a hay ride

14. Go on a picnic. Grab some sandwiches or make your own, pack some cheese, meats, and fruits

fall leaf with letter on plaid wool blanket frugal fun day fall edition

15. Make a Fall family bucket list.

16. Have a family movie night- or nights! Choose some Fall classics to watch one night every week- don’t forget the popcorn. On nice nights, you can take movie night outside, or even combine it with a bonfire for an epic Fall family experience. This little projector is budget-friendly, connects to your iPhone with an adapter, and you can use any white wall or sheet to cast the film.

17. Start a family photo album. Sure we have a billion pictures on our phones, but there’s something nostalgic about printing out favorite moments and organizing them into an album.

18. Make listicles of your favorite things

19. Bake Fall treats like apple pie, pumpkin bread, or homemade applesauce

20. Make homemade apple cider

21. Go on a scavenger hunt.

22. Decorate pumpkins- go beyond the jack-o-lantern! Get out the paints, glitter (outside it’s not quite as scary!), Fabric, glue, mix it up!

23. Work on an autumn wreath for your front (and/or back) door. Bonus points if you use found items from nature.

24. Learn a new skill or hobby or craft that you can get into during the colder months.

25. Decorate your front porch for Fall

26. Have theme nights for dinner that incorporate Fall foods

27. Make your own candles infused with the best smells of the season and enjoy burning them through Fall and winter

28.Do a family photo shoot

29. Do a murder mystery challenge. Companies like this will send you everything you need to create a fun night of mystery solving fun.

30. Read books together. Read aloud of Fall favorites for the younger set, and a book club if you have older kids so you can all share the same title is a great way to spend family time.

Grab your free printable list & never be stuck thinking of what to do with the fam again!

Stick this list of frugal fun ideas on your fridge, and you’ll be ready for spontaneous (or planned) family fun all the time.

frugal fu day fall edition free printable list
 

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How To Work From Home With kids

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These tips for how to work from home with kids will help you to be more productive during your day when you are working from home with kids.

Working from home with kids can go from dream to nightmare real quick. You have a client deadline, the kids are giving killing each other their best shot, and suddenly it is 4:00 and you haven’t even thought about dinner yet. Before you let more days spiral out of control here are my top tips for work at home moms that will help you be more productive and less stressed during your day. ( hint it’s not about managing motherhood and work separately, it’s about harmonizing them.)

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TIP 1: IT ALL STARTS THE NIGHT BEFORE

 Look at your work tasks the night before and choose three things that absolutely have to get done that day. If there something that has a deadline for tomorrow I would choose to do that this evening. Leaving a deadline on a day when your kids are home anything can happen. You don’t want to risk it. Next, choose those top three tasks that you really want to get done tomorrow that will move your business forward. Write those down your calendar. Don’t be tempted to add more. If you have extra time you can add more during the day. And you want to leave room on your list for the unexpected, because you know he’s showing his face at some point.

TIP 2: WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE KIDS THE NEXT DAY.

This can be as loosey-goosey or as strict as you like- whatever works for you. I like to make a basic plan of AM and Afternoon activities. You can ruin a work at home mom’s day REAL fast having no idea what to do with the kids that day. I find that if I schedule in a few activities that we do together, they are much happier and content chilling on their own afterward for a bit of time (this pops back up in tip 5!) Plus, I don’t feel bad when I take work breaks because I feel like the kids and my work aren’t fighting for attention.

TIP 3: HAVE A PLAN FOR DINNER! 

I cannot stress the importance of this tip for you if you work from home with kids. I meal plan every Sunday night and make a menu for the week and then I shop for it. I’m not the best at pre-prepping food- washing, chopping etc.- I’d like to be but I just don’t ever seem to do it. But I do schedule meals that are easy to make relatively healthy for the week. Sometimes I give myself a break with pizza and take out- usually pizza Friday and take out either another weekday, or I alternate between take- out and pizza night on different weeks and then I usually have a leftover dinner one night so really it’s only five meals and I am making each week.

When I know I have my meals planned I can make sure I have everything in the morning ready to go and if I need to I can pop ingredients in the slow cooker, AKA mommy’s sous chef, and it just makes life around 4 o’clock so much easier.

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TIP 4:  TAKE CARE OF YOUR HOUSE TASKS IN THE MORNING.

This is another biggie for me.  I like to do these right after breakfast. I finish up breakfast with the kids and let the kids finish eating and have a little bit of free time before everybody gets stressed to start the day while I do these chores. These house chores can be anything you feel needs to be done every day. For me, this absolutely means emptying the dishwasher that was run the night before after dinner, putting all the dishes in the dishwasher that are in the sink from breakfast in the dishwasher,  wiping down the kitchen counters, throwing in a load of laundry, wiping down the bathroom and making the beds.

It usually takes me about 15-20 minutes to buzz through these. Each week I usually have an extra task I throw in there that I sometimes do at the end of the day, but those are my top morning to tasks that when they are taken care of I feel like I’m a clean space and I can work and take care of the kids. It just feels really good in my brain space. You can sign up for our organizing newsletter below and get weekly tips for keeping your house in order in a way that is actually possible for busy moms to achieve.

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TIP 5: INTRODUCING, NINJA WORK. 

Now I am going to introduce you to a technique I like to call ninja work. You may all have your own version of this, here’s how mine goes. I used to have this idea in my head that if I planned an activity out for my kids and set them up with that I would have a set amount of time to work. This may work for some people, but it has not worked for me.

Believe it or not, this “set planned work time”  has actually worked in the reverse. I have talked to a lot of work at home moms who say the same exact thing. It usually goes something like this: You set your kids up with an activity. You think said activity will take about 20 minutes to half an hour for them to complete. You are ready to get a complete work task finished in this time.

But, what happens more often than not looks more like this: your kids half-ass do an activity and then ask you 500 questions, need a snack, and must go outside immediately. Oh and I forgot to mention you completed zero tasks.

This is where the next tip for how to work from home with kids comes in. Ninja work is here to save the day. Here’s how it goes. Instead of setting them up for me to work, I observe my kids and see where they are at in the day.  At some points they are very happy playing with each other, or involved in a task individually, or watching a show or playing a game on their iPads- it doesn’t matter what, I can just tell they are engaged. I also like to make sure they have just eaten. When I see this sweet spot I just sit on my desk, I open my computer, I look at my top three tasks for the day (that I have written down the night before),  and then begin to do a task. This has always given me at least 20 minutes to half an hour of solid work.

I don’t know if kids instinctually need to ask a question when I say I have to do some work or not, but when I just do it unannounced, they don’t seem to notice or have a burning urge to interrupt. I think the key is in your observing your kids. Instead of preparing them to be ready for mom to do some work, you can observe and pretty much know that they are in a place where you can give work a green light for a few. This is really a big part of harmonizing work and motherhood rather than “managing” them as two separate parts.

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TIP 6:  CREATE AN EVENING CLOCK FOR YOU AND YOUR KIDS TO FOLLOW.

In its simple form,  this is an analog clock that you color code to time block different parts of your day. Ours is color-blocked from 4 PM until 8 PM. Ours includes time blocks for make dinner (for me, and free time for the kids) eat dinner, cleanup, family time,  bath and shower time, kids’ free time/bedtime snack, and then our bedtime routine. This helps everyone to stay on track- parents and kids included- and makes for a much smoother evening and morning. Having a clock that even younger, pre-reading kids can follow is a great way to incorporate individual accountability for each family member.

As a work at home and homeschool mom I often remind my kiddos that in order for our family unit to function as it does, everyone must work together to make sure everyone’s needs are met. Here is a good example of a color-blocked time clock- I bought this simple clock to use for this.

CONCLUSION

I hope these tips for how to work from home with kids that I swear by will help you have smoother and more harmonized days. Let me know if you try any of these and if they work for you. I’d love to hear any tips you have found that really work for you as well!

Don’t forget to pin this post so you can reference it later!

Easy Lunch Ideas For Kids

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Many of us are working from home now and have our kiddos with us all day as well. Add to that 24/7 short-order cook and we officially have way too much to do…before we even star o talk about #allthelaundry. We have always been homeschoolers, so I am very familiar with the non-stop eating schedule of growing kids. As such, I have acquired some serious skills for coming up with healthy and easy lunch ideas for kids.

Bentos

Bento boxes can be very elaborate, but they can also be super simple. They are an easy way to prep lunches ahead, so I always prep at least 3 bento boxes at the beginning of the week so they are ready to grab on those days where I just don’t want to stop what I am doing to make lunch.
These are my favorite bento-style lunch boxes. They are dishwasher safe, no BPA, and hold up really well.

Here are some of our favorite combos to fill up bento lunch boxes for kids:

You can also see below in the mix and match section for ideas on how to hit all the food groups when you are packing your bento box.

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • short, shaped pastas
  • breads, crackers, pretzels, pita, popcorn
  • seeds and nuts
  • nut butters
  • dried fruits
  • cooked meat, lunch meat, cured meats
  • hard boiled eggs

I love to prep these ahead for a few days and they are ready in the fridge. That short order cook life struggle is so real right now.

easy kids lunch ideas kids chicken nuggets busy parents club

Chicken Nuggets and ….

If you kids are anything like mine, they eat 1.5 million nuggets in a year. I’m pretty much ok with this as long as they have a side of fruit or veg with it and the nuggets don’t have a bunch of fillers. You can also switch it up with veggie nuggets.

My kids are not dippers, but if yours are, add a side of a dip of choice, nuggets, a side of preferably two fruits and/or veggies and this is not really a bad pick for lunch.

easy kids lunch ideas kids quesadillas busy parents club

Quesidillas

Tortillas are a great staple to have on hand. Here are some ideas you can use to stuff them with. Brit & Co share some creative ideas for quesadillas here as well.

  • Chicken and cheese
  • just cheese
  • chicken and thin sliced apple
  • sausage and cheese
  • ground beef and cheese
  • cheese and rice
  • Leftover mash up (shredded chicken, ground beef, sliced steak, pot roast, pulled pork…) pair with cheese, and melt!
  • Chicken, peaches, cheddar (this sounds weird but it is sooooo good)
  • bacon and cheese (serve with some lettuce and tomato if they like it)
  • Sauce and cheese, optional pepperoni

You can make these in a regular pan, but I LOVE using a press for making quesadillas. It’s super quick for impatient little people, and they come out perfectly crispy and melty. You can find my favorite quesadilla maker here. (it’s actually a panini maker so you can use it for sammies, too. I am all about the double-duty appliances that make my kitchen life easier.)

easy kids lunch ideas kids charcuterie plate busy parents club

Kid-Friendly Charcuterie

Similar to the mix and match idea below, but a little different in presentation. This is a kid friendly version of your date night charcuterie. Here are some kid favorites you can add to yours.

Fruits and veggies: grapes, apple slices, clementines (peeled or whole), strawberries, blueberries, frozen mango chunks, melon, cucumber, celery, carrots (bonus points if they are multi-colored), broccoli, pea pods, cherry tomatoes, edamame.

Meat and cheese: sliced cubed, or rolled, depending on the meat. Prosciutto, ham, turkey, chicken (nuggets can even work here), salami, pepperoni. Cheese sticks, marinated or plain fresh mozzarella balls, chunks of cheddar or parmesan.

Carbs: crackers, pretzels (rods, sticks, twists- play with shapes!), chips, tortillas, bread or toast, granola.

Dips: Choose these based on what you have on your tray. Mustard, ketchup, honey, bbq sauce, guac, hummus- whichever dips your kiddos like.

Tip: use different size bowls on a large platter to make it interesting. It’s fun to find a tiny ramekin of popcorn because it’s usually served in such a larger portion. I also like to use muffin cups to hold different nibbles. Kids love food that seems like a little surprise.

easy kids lunch ideas kids sandwich ideas busy parents club

Sammies

Whether your kids like PB&J, grilled cheese, or classicham and cheese sandwiches, these are always on he lunch menu. Easy o throw together nad perfect with a side of fruit or carrot, celelery, or cucumber sticks, sammies can be made out of prety much anyhing you like.

Tip: Do you have a kiddo who needs some enticing when it comes to eating lunch? Whip out the cookie cutters and cut their sandwich of choice into a fun shape. These dino cookie cutters are so cute, my kids love them.

easy kids lunch ideas kids pizza busy parents club

Pizza!

Who doesn’t love pizza? Keep a few packages of pizza dough on hand and this is a fun and easy lunch to throw together, and the kids can help. Start with your basic sauce and cheese and then put out some toppings that your kiddos like.

You can also do bagel pizzas, using mini or regular size bagels. Don’t have any dough on hand? You can also use tortillas as a crust in a pinch.

I like to keep small cans of tomato sauce on hand for this lunch. This way I don’t have a huge can of sauce opened that I then have to freeze or make something else with

Mix and match easy lunch ideas for kids

This is an idea I borrowed from what is probably my favorite cookbook to have on hand. It’s a real problem solver in a busy moms kitchen. I recommend it to all of my mom friends, and I recommend it to you, dear reader, and virtual mom friend.

Healthy mix and match goes like this: Pick a protein, pick a veggie, pick a complex carb= healthy lunch (or dinner!) Here’s the trick to this one: Keep a list of what you have in each category on the fridge. This way you know what to grab and what to keep stocked. Tick items off as you run out to make grocery shopping all that much easier.

Here is a chart I made with a is of foods in each group, as well as a blank one you can use to fill in with the items that you are going to stock from it.

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easy kids lunch ideas kids deconstructed salad ideas busy parents club

Salads- Tossed for you, Deconstructed for them (no touching food, please!)

I don’t know about your kids, but mine are not into salads. I mean EVERYTHING is touching. But, they are fans of many of the ingredients I use to make up the salad. Ener the magical world of deconstructing. I do this with whole dinners as well as with salads for lunch.

To make your life easier in the kitchen and put an end to at least some of that short-order cook action, simply leave out some of the ingredients that you are making your salad with and arrange them on a plate (not touching, obvs) for your kids. It’s a healthy and time-saving way to have adults nad kids eat basically the same thing for a meal.

Cobb salads work great for these. Bacon, tomato, lettuce, some avocado, maybe some chicken, and sliced hardboiled eggs. Delish for all involved!

Tip: Moms, don’t forget to feed yourselves! I find that if I skip lunch I am suddenly super stressed and have zero patience around 3pm. What I really am is hella angry and a bit dehydrated. Eat some lunch that you have prepped for yourself while you prepped your kid’s and drink a big ol’ glass of water. You will feel refreshed and energized, and a bit more ready to tackle the approaching dinner/witching hour (s…)

Before you go, grab our free busy mom meal planner right here. It also has a list for what to keep stocked in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to make mealtimes less stressful.

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Want some more easy lunch ideas for kids?

Let’s face it, we all get tired of the same ol’, same ‘ol. Mixing in a few new things with old classics keeps it all fresh. From cookbooks to Pinterest inspo we’ve got you covered.

My fave cookbooks for kids lunches

  1. Time For Dinner: Strategies, inspiration, and recipes, for family meals every night of the week. This is a must-have for a busy mom’s kitchen. So much more than just recipes, Time for Dinner offers creative, healthy meal solutions, lists of what to keep stocked in your fridge, freezer, and pantry, and so much more. You can get it on Amazon here.

2. Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunch Box with More Than 160 Happier Meals (Weelicious Series). So many ideas for healthy lunches in this cookbook from the super popular Weelicious brand. You can grab this on Amazon here.

3. Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook. This has healthy and cute ideas for nibbles to make with and for your toddler. Definitely a great buy for lunch inspiration for your littles. You can buy it on Amazon here.

4. Real Simple the Best Recipes: Quick and Delicious Recipes You’ll Use and Love for Life. This is one of the most-used cookbooks I have ever owned. Every recipe comes out perfect and the ingredients are those that I usually have on hand. You can grab this staple cookbook here.

Our Pinterest board for easy family meals

Our Pinterest board is pinned to daily so you always have fresh ideas for easy family meals- breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks- right at your fingertips. Follow this board on pinterest here!

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easy kids lunch ideas from busy parents club image of kids lunches