Do you feel like your kids are eating down your kitchen and house? Or, do you feel like you’re constantly making food and hearing “I’m hungry” even before you finish cleaning up after making the last meal!

My hands are raised!!!

 

Summer break just ended for our family. Our girls are back in school and we are all readjusting to the school routine.

Our oldest, Kennedie is now in second grade and our youngest,
Kendall is in Pre-K.

When people tell you, “enjoy them when they are young as it goes FAST”,
it’s an understatement.

It goes to lighting speed. Usain Bolt (the fastest man in the world) type of SPEED!

How do I feed my kids when they’re home on summer break!

I felt compelled to write a post to help you with Conquering the Overwhelm of feeding kids during the summer.

They were several posts on social media of moms reaching out asking for tips and pulling their hair out – because their kids seem to have a bottomless pit of a stomach.

I know exactly how you feel mamas. This is not only my summer dilemma, but it’s also my dilemma all the time.

How do I feed my kids food that is healthy, filling, affordable – that they like!

Since the time I found out that my first baby was growing inside of me, I have been having some type of overwhelm about nourishing the baby – till this day.

Preparation is the KEY Mamas!

Preparing mentally, physically and psychologically – along with any other form of preparation YOU need.

Have you ever experienced a hurricane or storm that you just had to prepare as best as possible and wait and see what happens? It’s similar!

You know what? It’s not just my kids – It’s also my husband! He turns into another person when he’s hungry! I learned this during the first years of our marriage. I can’t wait until he’s hungry to start preparing or figuring out what to feed him. He will start eating every and anything in sight and he’s not a happy hungry person.

Similar Results When You Prepare in Life & Work

I soon realized the similarities when my firstborn was a baby. You must learn the eating patterns and have a bottle ready or be prepared to nurse. Or the baby would wail!

No matter the overwhelm and stress of life, I have found that – when I prepare the best I can and accept that I can’t control everything – my shoulders relax, my heart rate comes down and I am able to remain calm and handle the challenges. With more clarity.

As a Career Coach, I have planned, organized and hosted many events over the years.
I learned very early that not everything will go according to plan. I must prepare as best as possible and be flexible.

 Different, but very similar to feeding growing kids that taste and likes are constantly changing.

 

How can you Conquer the Overwhelm of feeding your tribe –
in all seasons?

By preparing for your tribe!
I wrote a post on Taking the Overwhelm out of Meal Prep that has some relevant tips that can help with meal prep in general.

These are some of the steps I take to prepare: 

• BUDGET. It helps when you know how much you want to and can spend.
• PREPARE / PLAN out your meals for the week.
• GET YOUR KIDS INPUT.  Ask your kids for suggestions or take them grocery shopping with you.
• MAKE a SHOPPING LIST.
• BUY ON SALE & BULK.
• Put some of the food out and “HIDE /STORE” some away in the pantry or fridge.
  Be creative depending on the storage space you have.
  I have to do this to make the food last or my kids will eat everything
  like there is no tomorrow.
• FRESH FRUITS & VEGGIES FOR SNACKS. Have a lot of fresh fruit out to snack on. Depending on the age of your kids. We had to talk to our kids about this. My then three-year-old would get fruit without asking and “taste it” and put it back or throw it in the garbage.
• MAKE HOMEMADE FOOD INTO AN ACTIVITY. Have fun making “homemade cookies, cakes, smoothies, popsicles, drinks” with the kids. You kill two birds with one stone here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Get the kids outside to play.
  Having the kids outside of the house makes them not do as much mindless eating. Let them just have fun being kids. Reintroduce them to a ball, bike or game they have.
• Make or get some outside games to keep them busy.
• Plan activities that are fun and will keep the kids busy – outside the home.
  

  No Cost or Low-Cost Activities:

  Park Hopping – Visit and explore different parks in your area.
  
  YMCA Hopping – YMCA family memberships are low cost.
  Some YMCA Metro’s have several locations in their network. You can take activities together with your kids or drop them off in the childcare center and go to a class.

  Water Balloon Fights – Our family had some of the most fun doing these activities this summer. We include sprinklers and different water spraying devices as well.

  Library Visits & Events – We love our local library. We not only read. We play, do crafts, and listen to storytelling.

  Local Free Community Events – Most cities send out their program guides each season. They list all the upcoming free and paid community events.

  

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Please Note: Do take into consideration the age and maturity of your kids, where you live, etc.

  Example: I did not feel comfortable having my kids play outside by themselves. Our yard was not fenced. We were new in the neighborhood and you never know what kids can get into.

  Make these suggestions work for YOU and Your Family’s unique situation. Take some time to think about the season you’re in. Whether it’s summer, back-to-school, new job, winter, new baby, etc…

  Each of Our Norm looks Different.
  If you’re a working mom, stay at home mom, working from home or a self-employed mom…

  Our Common Denominator – We’re Moms

  We all must eat and feed our families. By preparing ahead of time you can overcome the overwhelm. As your kids grow their needs and likes will change.

  Take some time to think about how you can best prepare to feed your tribe.

  Oh, and remember that you can order food –  take out or delivery!

  

Take the Opportunities to Make Someone Else Feed the Family

I was getting ready to make Sunday dinner this weekend. My husband reminded me that we had our final summer fun event at church. We could buy dinner from several food trucks.
To my pleasant surprise, all the food was free! Including ice cream!

We had burgers, hot dogs, chips, lemon aid and ice cream for Sunday dinner.

The best part, we got to eat in fellowship with our friends and our daughters ran wild playing with their friends.

Summer break may be over, however, summer is still here! It was 94 degrees today. Our girls had a “pool party”. With their little pool, water balloons, and various water toys.

They were too busy having fun to ask for food. They ate well and asked for seconds at dinner.

Please, share how did you feed your tribe when they were home for summer break.
What are some of the tricks you use, to take the overwhelm out of feeding your kids?

I can’t wait to hear from you.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the summer!