A new school year is a great opportunity for new beginnings in the kitchen! It’s a great time to start introducing some variety and some new family traditions. One tradition I highly recommend is the family meal. Sitting down and sharing food and conversation is one of our oldest forms of socializing. Try looking at your family schedule and find a few times a week that you can squeeze in a family meal. Remember, it’s not all or nothing, every effort counts.

We all know that breakfast is important, but morning time is usually super busy for families. Try batch cooking on the weekend. Make some French toast, waffles or berry pancakes and freeze. Then all you have to do is pop them in the toaster in the morning. Add some fruit and you have a yummy (and inexpensive) breakfast! I like to make my French toast using Ezekiel bread; it’s yummy, holds the egg mixture well, and is packed with great nutrients.

Tired of PB&J? Try using almond, soy or sunflower seed butter. Or, try using bento box for school lunches. These are great because they allow you to pack a variety of foods into one lunch. If you’re introducing something new to your child, you might want to make sure there are some old favs in there as well. Remember, repeated exposure (like 15-20 times) is key when introducing new foods.

Practice gratitude and cherish these special moments with your family. Last but certainly not least, relax and have fun…it’s just food!