1 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. I'm Kelsey Nixon and this is Kitchen Prescription, 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: the podcast you listen to and you don't know what 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: to make for dinner. Today's episode eighty seven Lunch Ideas 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: to Survive Summer. I am fresh off our first road 5 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: trip slash vacation of the summer and feeling all the 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: feels that come with that. I am genuinely so grateful 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: for the time we got to spend with family, those 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: memories that we made with cousins, and really grateful for 9 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: the things that felt very iconic to summer, like the 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: melti popsicle moments and the midday naps to escape the heat, 11 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: the late night card games. We really had such a 12 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: great time. But I'm also feeling that, oh, shoot, we 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: just got back into town. What am I making for dinner? 14 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 1: Feeling Luckily, I thought about this last week, and I'm 15 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: relying on my pantry to get a few easy, five 16 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: ingredient meals on the table this week. But one feeling 17 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: I'm also experiencing is that there's a lot of food 18 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: that happens in the summer. It feels like I'm going 19 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: through double the amount of food and groceries, and I 20 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: actually might be whether it's my kids friends spontaneously showing 21 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,080 Speaker 1: up and clearing out the Costco hall of snacks I 22 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: just bought, or the fact that my eleven year old 23 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: will show up midday after he's been at the pool 24 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: and skateboarding and playing wiffle ball and remind me that 25 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: he is starving and needs to eat immediately when I 26 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: was just starting to think about dinner and that I'm 27 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: stressed that he's not going to want dinner. You guys 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about. So today I want to 29 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: discuss how we can specifically survive lunch during the summer months, 30 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: because that's where I seem to be getting tripped up. 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: That feels like the newest variable that's a bit different 32 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: from the traditional school year. But before we really dive 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: into that, let's do what we always do on this 34 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: podcast and start by giving you three ideas of recipes 35 00:01:57,280 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: that you could throw on your meal plan for the week. 36 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: These are all super easy, summer friendly meals. The first 37 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: recipe is my summer corn skillet with tomatoes and fetta. 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: This is a combo you're gonna want to memorize for 39 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: the summer. It's so simple, guys, It's five ingredients. You're 40 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: gonna add some corn, You're gonna add some grape tomatoes, 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna add some fetta cheese, some lime, and one 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: other thing basil. Basil is the fifth thing. See, I 43 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: gotta memorize the formula because this is so delicious, something 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: about corn and lime, tomatoes, fetta, and basil. It's like 45 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: a match made in heaven. And I love making this 46 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: alongside some sort of easy protein. So think about salmon 47 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: that you put in the air fryer, think about chicken 48 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: that you threw on the grill, think about a rotisserie 49 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: chicken that came with your Costco order. This is just 50 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: a really nice, fresh, hearty side dish. You could even 51 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: add some bacon to it, or some priscudo if you 52 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: will wanted to, or panchetta if you really wanted to 53 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: kind of add a protein. But it's just my go to, 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: like summerside for a simple protein. We're making it this week. 55 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: I'm very excited because it is like summer on a 56 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: plate to me. Another recipe we're making this week are 57 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: my carnitas tacos. For many years, this was the most 58 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: requested recipe in my family. I think Big ZD has 59 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: now surpassed that. But these are so good. They are 60 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 1: so so so good. They've got orange juice in them, 61 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: which is kind of like the secret ingredient, but it 62 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: caramelizes and makes the meat really tender and sweet. I 63 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: have instructions on an in recipe club for how to 64 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: do these in the slow cooker or how to do 65 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: them mountain stovetop. But they are so good. It makes 66 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: a ton of meat. So we can do traditional tacos 67 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: one night, we can do burrita bowls the next night. 68 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: The meat lasts me for a while. In fact, sometimes 69 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: I'll do I'll throw it on nachos, which is really simple. 70 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 1: You could even do like a breakfast situation with like 71 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: like a little tortilla with some of the carnitas and 72 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: a Frida egg on top, like you can. You can 73 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: go crazy with all the different things you can do 74 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: with the meat. But the carnita's meat is so yummy. 75 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: And then we are doing for Father's Day, We're gonna 76 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: grow and make my honey mustard glazed grilled chicken and 77 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: or zoto. It's one of our favorites. It is just 78 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: a delicious marinade, super easy to pull together. Everybody loves it, 79 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: from the kids to the dads, and new or Zoto 80 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: just pairs so nicely. It's got peas in it. I 81 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: do a little bit of lemon. It's really simple, but 82 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: it's creamy and delicious and just a great side dish. 83 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: So there are your recipes for the week. You can 84 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: find and print them all in Recipe Club individually or 85 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: in our weekly meal plan with an easy to follow 86 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: shopping list that's always broken down by recipe. The best 87 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: thing by Recipe Club is that it fixes all of 88 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: those problems that drive you crazy about getting recipes online. 89 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: There are no banners or drawn out stories. It's just 90 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: the recipes you need. And our new site that will 91 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: launch into a few weeks also has all of the 92 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: major holidays broken down, so that if you're looking for 93 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: a menu for Father's Day or the Fourth of July, 94 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: I've got you covered. I am such a fan of 95 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: cooking from a printed recipe rather than my phone, so 96 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: whether I'm cooking for Father's Day or Fourth of July, 97 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,559 Speaker 1: I just love having the printed copies of these stored 98 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: in a recipe binder. If you feel similarly, make sure 99 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: you check out our recipe Binder, which is the perfect 100 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: foundational piece for creating a place where you store all 101 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: of the recipes that you make most often. So you 102 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: can find more details about both Recipe Club and our 103 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: recipe Binder at Kelsey Nixon dot com. And don't forget 104 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 1: that you save twenty bucks when you bundle those two 105 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 1: items together. All right, let's jump into the back half 106 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: of the podcast and discuss lunch ideas to survive summer. 107 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: This week, I did some meal math. I had this 108 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 1: thought as I was placing my grocery order in car, 109 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: literally from the car while road tripping back home. I'm honestly, 110 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: what a world we live in that we can even 111 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: do that. But I realized that I have to order 112 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: more food than I usually do during the summer months. 113 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 1: I did the math, and I figured that at minimum, 114 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: you got to make twenty one meals a week. If 115 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: you feed yourself or your family breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 116 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: that's twenty one meals. That's a lot. But I want 117 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: to talk about maybe reframing the way we think about 118 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 1: all of those meals. During the school year, my primary 119 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: focus is on planning what to make for dinner, but 120 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: especially during the summer, dinner doesn't always have to be 121 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: the most elaborate meal. Summer kind of affords you the 122 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: chance to flip the script a little. Maybe this is 123 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: the season of a big, hot breakfast after your kids 124 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: get home from swim team in the early mornings, or 125 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: a lunch that might feel like dinner because you know, 126 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 1: you just have more energy to make an actual dinner 127 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: ish meal at noon instead of four thirty. I don't 128 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: know about you, but most days I feel less motivated 129 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: in the late afternoon, so this might not be a 130 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: great time to cook your biggest meal of the day, 131 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: at least on most days of the week at four thirty. 132 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: It's a reminder that you can flip the script and 133 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: that all meals are created equal. Dinner does not have 134 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: to be the star of the show during the summer. 135 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: It might be a summer of big breakfast or lunch 136 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: and more snacky dinners. So one thing you might do 137 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: if you're feeling stressed about lunch during the summer is 138 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: to consider focusing on making your main meal earlier in 139 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: the day. This is something we were kind of already 140 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: doing in the crazy month of May, as we were 141 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: having so many after school activities. And I'm here to 142 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: tell you, I am a fan of an early dinner. 143 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: You could call it lunch or early dinner, or maybe 144 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: even lenner. But this is one approach that could help. Okay, well, 145 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: let's talk about lunch actually now, because that's an approach. 146 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: But I want to get to the new gritty here. 147 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: One of the biggest things that saved me last summer 148 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: was making a lunch list. This might surprise you, but 149 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: I'm a list person. Probably does not surprise you. A 150 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: list that was visible for my whole family to see. 151 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: It was on our fridge and I actually put it 152 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: on the fridge freezer in the garage as well. And 153 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: this is what my lunch list looked like. I need 154 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: to do this. I'm doing this this week. In fact, 155 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: I literally recorded this episode, so I was like, Okay, 156 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: it's time for the lunch list, Kelsey. But I break 157 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: it down into categories fridge, freezer, pantry, and under those 158 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: three primary categories, I list things that I always have 159 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: on hand to eat for lunch. At the very top 160 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: of this list, I also put fruit, veggie protein please. 161 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: It's like fruit plus side, veggie plus side protein please. 162 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: Because now that my kids are getting a little older, 163 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: really just my oldest is the only one who's independently 164 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: making lunch for himself. But it's just a reminder that, like, 165 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: if you're gonna have something, if you're gonna have a meal, 166 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: try and just have one fruit and one veggie and 167 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: some sort of protein, like the most basic building blocks 168 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: of a sustainable meal. Under fridge, I want to give 169 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 1: you some idea. So the ide yeah, I mean it's 170 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: pretty self explanatory here is that there are different things 171 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,559 Speaker 1: either in the fridge, freeze, or pantry that you can 172 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: have for lunch, and by seeing them written out, it 173 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: eliminates that decision fatigue of well, I don't know what 174 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: to make, I don't know what do we have, And 175 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: these are all things that I generally can have on 176 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: hand at all times. So I want you to notice 177 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: that there's not a ton of things under each of 178 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: these categories. You don't need ten things for each category. 179 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: That just contributes to the problem of trying to decide 180 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: what to make. So start with maybe I don't know 181 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: three to five things under each category. So under my 182 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: fridge category is case I is, I've always got some 183 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: sort of tortilla, some sort of cheese, and I usually 184 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 1: have some sort of shredded chicken in the fridge, usually 185 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: from rotisserie chicken. That's an easy one. Hummus peda with cheese, 186 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: salami and fruit. That's kind of a long one, but 187 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: that is like a snack, a snacky lunch that really 188 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 1: can be quite filling. We buy these things at Costco 189 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: called California Snackers. I don't know if they have them everywhere, 190 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 1: but they're essentially like salami and prolo and cheese and 191 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: that with hummus and peda. That I'm okay with that 192 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,319 Speaker 1: if you want to have that for a hardy lunch, 193 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: knock yourself out leftovers, always reminding everyone that you can 194 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: have leftovers for lunch and deli sandwich. I usually have 195 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: deli meat on hand, you know, mustard, mayo, lettuce, tomato, 196 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:50,479 Speaker 1: stuff like that. Under our freezer category, I have frozen burritos, 197 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: frozen tiqutos, protein smoothies, because that can be great for 198 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: a nice midday lunch after you've been at the pool 199 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: and it's a hot day. Pot stickers, pizza nuggets, and 200 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: rice bowls. Now, I'm going to tell you a lot 201 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: of those things come from Trader Joe's or Costco or 202 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: whatever you can focus on how clean you want those 203 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: items to be, but I'm also just want to be 204 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: very realistic, like those are things that I rely on 205 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: during the summer to keep my people fed. There are 206 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,359 Speaker 1: things that all eat, there are things that are delicious. 207 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: I'm hoping that this little reminder at the top of 208 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: the fruit veggie protein goes into play, because if you 209 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: are gonna have some frozen tiqutos for lunch, knock yourself out. 210 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: But you know what would be really awesome is if 211 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: you grabbed a couple of strawberries and a couple of 212 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: baby carrots as well and round it out that meal pantry. 213 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: Peeb and Jay my girls in particular Big Fan Peep 214 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: and Jay, I've got pasta with sauce, ramen, and mac 215 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: and cheese. So those are when Ollie comes to me, 216 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 1: because he's the one who most offs and does and says, 217 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: I'm so hungry, what's for lunch? I say, look at 218 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: the lunch list, what do you want? And then he'll say, oh, 219 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: I think I want to do a sandwich or a 220 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: deli sandwich. Then I say, okay, make it. And that 221 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 1: is where we're trying to really lean into this idea 222 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: of independently making food for yourself because I've only got 223 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: him a couple more years, and when he leaves the house, 224 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: I want him to at the very least feel confident 225 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: and making himself a sandwich. So it's never too early 226 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: to start. Remember, do not make that list too long, 227 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: because we all hate having to make decisions. You do, 228 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: your eleven year old does your seven. Everyone hates having 229 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: to make decisions. But as you're placing your grocery order 230 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: for the week or writing at your shopping list if 231 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: you still like to shop in person, review your lunch 232 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: list because you will likely need to buy more food 233 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: as the summer progresses. You'll notice that some of these 234 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: things aren't as big as of a hit as others, 235 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 1: Like maybe your kids will decide they hate peanut butter 236 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: and jelly. This has happened to me before. You can 237 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: take them off. You can take them off the list, 238 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:07,560 Speaker 1: but it helps you and your kids at home with 239 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: that decision fatigue during the middle of a hot summer 240 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: day when you know they need a meal. Let's talk 241 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 1: about snacks for a minute, because I feel like snacks 242 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: can be a pain point during the summer. It's very 243 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: easy for the snack situation to get out of hand 244 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: really quickly during the summer months. So I want to 245 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: offer up a few suggestions. If you have a disappearing 246 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: popsicle problem like I do, consider setting a limit and 247 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: making it visible when they've used up their daily allotment. 248 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 1: Now this might be specific to the age of my 249 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: especially my girls who are seven and four. They if 250 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: I'd let them, they'd eat ten popsicles a day each. 251 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: So last summer, what we had to do is I 252 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: got these little popsicle magnets and they would ask for 253 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: a popsicle, and when they had a popsicle, they could 254 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: have two a day, so really generous. Here. I would 255 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: take that popsicle magnet move from the side of the 256 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 1: fridge to the front of the fridge, so they had 257 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: a visual queue I've already had my popsicle, my morning, 258 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: my mid morning, and my afternoon popsicle or whatever it is. 259 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: That is one thing I've done. It worked pretty well. 260 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: You know, they still asked for more, but still it 261 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: was something like some sort of visual queue that oh wait, 262 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: I've already had one of those, and this is how 263 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: many I get a day. Another thing I've done in 264 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: the past it didn't work quite as well as my 265 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: kids had like a chor chart during the summer and 266 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: I had put on their like sweets or something like that, 267 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: and I checked when they'd had it. But there's something 268 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: that that popsicle magnet really helped my younger girls when 269 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: it comes to bulk snacks. This was huge. I had 270 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: to make this adjustment last year because like many of you, 271 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: I'm sure you guys want to be the type of 272 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: household where kids gather, right we all. I don't think 273 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: that that's something that a lot of us share in common, 274 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: but it can be demoralizing when you have just it's 275 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: been to Costco and spent three hundred dollars on snacks, 276 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: and you know, the bike gang pops over and they 277 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: go through your beef jerky in about seven minutes that happens, 278 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: and you're like whoa, whoa, whoa wait wait wait wait. 279 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 1: So I had to do this thing last year where 280 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: when I would come home with the bulk snacks, I 281 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: could not keep the bulk boxes in the pantry. I 282 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: would have to put smaller amounts in the pantry and 283 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: keep the bulk boxes elsewhere in like my laundry room. 284 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: And then as needed. I would kind of refill the 285 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: smaller baskets, but there's something about containing them in a 286 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: smaller container that reduces the amount of free for all 287 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: that can happen very quickly. And I am happy to 288 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: feed my kids friends snacks, but you know what I'm 289 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: talking about, Like, you can have a whole box of 290 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: twenty four mini chips and they are gone like that, 291 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: So having six out might make people be like, oh, 292 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: maybe I'll get something else. Anyways, that's something to consider 293 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: if you're a bulk snack buyer. Another huge thing for 294 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: that really helps me with snacks is to make healthy 295 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: snacks more visible, mainly fruit in the center of the 296 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: kitchen island, like a bowl of clementines or apples, or 297 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: if I pull grapes out. I swear if it's there, 298 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: kids are more likely to eat it. And it just 299 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: comes down to making it more easily accessible. So consider that. 300 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: So as I wrap up just a few thoughts on 301 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: feeding your kids lunch during the summer, remember that summer 302 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 1: cooking is just a season. It's okay if it looks 303 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 1: a bit more different than the school year. I still 304 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: like to aim for connecting with my family once a 305 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: day over a meal. It's really what I aim for, 306 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: but that might be more realistic in the summer at 307 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: breakfast than at dinner. Be willing to be flexible and 308 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: accommodate works what works best for your face. All right, 309 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: let's finish with the weekly Gimme five. These are five 310 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: things that made my life easier or more enjoyable this week. 311 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: First on the list is Skull King. This is our 312 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: favorite family card game to play when we get together 313 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: as an extended family. We look forward to busting it 314 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: out every time, and we have so much fun. We 315 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: get very competitive. I still am not totally sure I 316 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: totally understand the rules. I always lose, but it is 317 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: a blast. It's a Grandpa Beck game. If you know 318 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: that brand. They make the funnest games, and Skull King 319 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: happens to be a family favor for us right now. 320 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: Another thing that was so great this week was my 321 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: sister bought this almost like a portable karaoke machine. It 322 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:45,959 Speaker 1: was like very packable, very small, but we used it 323 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: for the cousin Talent Show and it was such a hit. 324 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: Super easy to pack, two mics, the sound quality was great. 325 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,119 Speaker 1: It syncs up with Bluetoothed and my kids had a 326 00:17:55,200 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: blast with it. Roll on sunscreen application. Okay, so at 327 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 1: pools every so often that have a policy for no 328 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,720 Speaker 1: aerosol sunscreen, and I think it's because it makes the 329 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: water really murky, do you know what I'm talking about. Regardless, 330 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: sometimes I just feel like my kids get better coverage 331 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: when I'm using more of a lotion based sunscreen. And 332 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:24,240 Speaker 1: my sister had this roll on sunscreen applicator. I swear 333 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 1: I saw it floating around Instagram last year, but she 334 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: had it and I got to use it for the 335 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: first time. So cool. So you take your favorite lotion sunscreen, 336 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: you squeeze it in and it rolls on really good coverage, 337 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: the easiest way to apply non aerosol sunscreen. My kids 338 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: aren't screaming and it are resisting at least. Really cool product. 339 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 1: So I came home and bought one immediately. Number four 340 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: is a grilling basket. So we are moving into grilling 341 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: season and I love to grill veggies on the grill, 342 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: but it can be a little cumber if you're trying 343 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: to grill small veggies like mushrooms or asparagus, even like zucchini. 344 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 1: And I finally invested in a grilling basket at the 345 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: end of last summer, and it's the best, even small 346 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: pieces of meat. It's a great way to kind of 347 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: get that a little char and heat them up without 348 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: making a mess in your girl so loving my grilling basket, 349 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: was so happy to pull it out again this week. 350 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: And then the last thing I want to mention forgive 351 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: me five is a super easy last minute Father's Day gift. 352 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: So we have done this in the past. My kids 353 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: what they really want is one on one time with us. 354 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: That's when it comes to like an experience based gift. 355 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: They love spending one on one time with meat or 356 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:48,479 Speaker 1: their dad. So my kids are each giving their dad. 357 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: I'm recording this a few days before Father's Day a 358 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: gift card for a daddy date and I let them 359 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: pick where they got the gift card too, and it 360 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: was really fun. So like, for whatever reason, my daughter 361 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 1: Nora thinks that Olive Garden is the greatest restaurant in 362 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: the world. She loves the breadsticks, They've got this cake 363 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 1: she likes, and she is going to go on a 364 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: daddy date with Robbie to Olive Garden. So we got 365 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: an Olive Garden gift card. She's making a homemade card, 366 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: and that's what she's going to give her dad. Penny, 367 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 1: my youngest, loves a movie. Loves a movie, the popcorn, 368 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: the whole thing. So we got a little gift card 369 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: to go see a movie with just her and dad. 370 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: And then Allie, my eleven soon to be twelve year old, 371 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: he's like, let's just get I just want to get 372 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: something for Dick sporting goods. I want to go. He 373 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: loves to shop with his dad, mostly for baseball stuff. 374 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: So we just did that and what it really represents 375 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: is one on one time with dad, and I know 376 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: that that will mean a lot to him, and it's 377 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,439 Speaker 1: a great thing for our kids to give him, you know, 378 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: as opposed to a hat that says World's Greatest Dad. 379 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that's what 380 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: we decided to do. So hopefully that gives you some ideas. 381 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: If you're looking for a last minute Father's Day gift, 382 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: you can run to Target or even on Amazon. You 383 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:10,360 Speaker 1: can buy gift cards and that can be a sentimental, 384 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: thoughtful gift that works in a last minute situation. All Right, 385 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: that's it for today, you guys. Make sure you're subscribed 386 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: to the podcast so that you never miss an episode. 387 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: This podcast is always meant to be just a quick 388 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: twenty to thirty minute listen while you map out your 389 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: meals for the week, and support helping you set up 390 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: a simple dinner system. Next week, I'll be diving into 391 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 1: a summer birthday party menu. Allie's turning twelve and we're 392 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: getting ready for that. I'm excited to tell you what 393 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: we'll be making. I want to thank you so much 394 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: for listening today. I'm so glad you're here. Until next time, 395 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: happy cooking. I'm Kelsey and look forward to chatting with 396 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 1: you all next week.