Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Our Favorite Quick Lunches for Kids

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Quick Lunches for Kids

Back-to-school season brings the dreaded lunch prep. If your child doesn’t get a meal at school or you need to pack food for daycare, you know what I mean. Parents should pack a lunch that the kids like, has variety, and is relatively healthy. After a few weeks, getting into a lunch-packing rut is easy. My kids used to go to school, and I remember how time-consuming packing lunches could be. Now we homeschool, but last year, instead of making lunch every day, I started packing our favorite quick lunches for kids so they could pull them from the refrigerator at lunchtime, and it was a time saver!

Time-Saving Techniques

Utilize these strategies to save time preparing lunches:

Get the Kids Involved

Let the kids help you by making sandwiches or filling containers with chips. Kids are more likely to want to eat what they help make because they can make the food the way they want (within reason). For example, my girls split this job. One makes all the sandwiches for the week, and the other fills all the chip containers.

Take Advantage of Dead Time

When cooking dinner, I often have dead time when I need to stir the meal I’m cooking, but I don’t have anything else to do while waiting for the food. I use this time to cut carrot sticks and celery or other fruits and vegetables to add to lunches for the week.

Prepare in Bulk

Another good strategy is if you’re making a few, make many. For instance, if I need four hard-boiled eggs for a meal, I’ll make 12 so that I have extra that I can use for future lunches. Likewise, if I make energy balls with peanut butter and oats, I’ll make a double batch and stick some in the freezer for lunches next week.

Easy Foods to Prep

Some foods are quick to prep and freeze well.

Frozen Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Instead of making one PB & J sandwich, make sandwiches out of an entire loaf of bread. Then, freeze each sandwich. Remove it from the freezer in the morning, and the sandwich will be thawed by lunch.

Muffins

Quick Lunches for Kids

Make a batch or two of banana muffins or another flavor your kids like and pop them in the freezer. Then, you can pull them out individually to put in lunches each day.

Easy Fruits

Some fruits like cantaloupe and watermelon require you to cut them open and chop them into bite-size pieces. These aren’t the kind of fruits I pack. Instead, I choose easy fruits such as clementines or grapes. All I have to do is stick a clementine in the lunchbox or give the grapes a quick rinse and put them in the container.

Final Thoughts

Making lunches can be time-consuming, but the process doesn’t have to be. Our favorite quick lunches for kids are easy, nutritious, and taste good. Plus, you’ll have more time in your day when you’re not spending as much time prepping food and packing lunches!

Read More

9 Healthy and Refreshing Kindergarten Lunch Box Ideas

7 Tips for Selecting the Best Lunch Box for Your Kids

4 Road Trip Tips When Traveling with Tweens

How to Keep Your Kids Healthy On a Budget

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A healthy family is every parent’s pride and joy, and this is why it’s important to do your best to ensure that your children are healthy, even if you’re on a tight budget. Read on to see just how you can keep them healthy on a budget and have them live their best possible lives.

Grow Your Own Greens

Although food crops have to compete with 10,000 species of insects that eat plants, you can start a garden for food crops and have them thrive. Research measures to keep pests off your plants in a chemical-free way and you will get a good harvest. Borrow advice from local people who may also have their own gardens and exchange ideas so you can improve your yield over time. This will end up saving you a lot of money over time, as you will simply harvest what you need from your own yard. Your children will also enjoy taking part in the planting and harvesting, and it will be a worthwhile adventure for them.

Plan Ahead for Meals

To ensure your family eats healthily, it’s good to plan ahead for your meals. Write out a week’s worth of meals at a time so you know what you will need to buy. This way, you will be able to eat healthily without the stress of having to think about what to eat each time it is meal time. You can make the process interactive and have everyone share their ideas on what to prepare and such. This way, your children will be excited to have a meal that they suggested and possibly even help source the ingredients!

Shop Local

There are a number of people who have taken up gardening as a hobby, and sometimes they will harvest more than they can make use of. Shop from them, as they will likely sell their vegetables at a discounted price, and you will know you’re getting good quality. Small local businesses are another good place to shop from, as they will likely have sales every now and then. They will also source their produce from ethically-managed farms and gardens, so you will be helping your local economy grow at the same time.

Have Your Children Help Prepare Meals

When children help prepare a meal, they will be more likely to eat it without a fuss. Find a way to have them each play a role in the preparation, ensuring their safety at all times. When you do this, the meal will be an interactive one. Not only will you have fun and bond while cooking, but you will also teach them important life skills that will benefit them for a long time to come. With over 40% of children suffering from dental cavities by the time they’re in kindergarten, eating healthy will help them maintain good oral health.

Always Shop with a List

Finally, while it may be tempting to make a quick run to the grocery store to pick up some essentials, this isn’t a good idea. When you do this, you will likely fill your cart with items you don’t need but don’t want to leave. If some of the things you buy this way are perishable, you may have to throw them out if they go bad before you’ve had a chance to eat them. Avoid this by always taking the time to prepare a list of what you need and sticking to it while grocery shopping.

Follow these tips to keep your family healthy on a budget, and you will be happy that you did so when your kids grow up healthy and strong!

Should You Keep Your Child on a Schedule When School Is Out?

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Most American children are currently home from school and sheltering in place as ordered by their governors.  I’ve seen different advice flying across the Internet about how to handle this situation.  Some give a schedule to follow.  Others say this is a stressful time for kids, so let them relax and just be.  Of course, you as the parent ultimately choose what is best for your child.  But there are some things to consider when asking yourself, “Should you keep your child on a schedule when school is out?”

Should You Keep Your Kids on a Schedule When School Is Out?

Why You Should Have a Schedule

My kids, since they were little, have always done better when they had a schedule.  Now, I’m not saying we had a strict schedule, i.e. get up at 7, eat breakfast at 7:15, do the dishes at 7:30.  Honestly, such a regimented, precise schedule would drive me batty.

However, think of your own schedule.  You likely have a daily rhythm.  You get up at a certain time, you may then work out, then drink your coffee, then make breakfast, etc.  Those daily rhythms give us a sense of normalcy, something all of us desperately need now.

Should You Keep Your Child on a Schedule When School Is Out?
Photo by Trent Szmolnik on Unsplash

When asking if you should keep your child on a schedule when school is out, keep in mind that when they’re in school, kids have a schedule.  They know what to expect.  It makes them feel secure.  That is why I’d suggest having a schedule for your kids now, during these precarious times.  We could all benefit from feeling that at least one part of life is still normal.

How to Create a Schedule

In my experience, having the parent create the schedule doesn’t work well.  Instead, ask for input from your kids, if they’re old enough.  I would advise against making the schedule too strict.  For instance, when my kids first started staying home in March, my youngest, who is 10, went to work making a fairly strict schedule.  We followed it for about a week, but we all felt confined by it.

Should Your Child Follow a Schedule When School Is Out?
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Now, in the four weeks that we’ve been home, we’ve relaxed the schedule a bit.  The kids still get up at the same time they used to when they went to school, so our morning routine is largely the same.  Then, at the time that we would normally take the kids to school, we start school work.  We follow a general routine of which order we do subjects, and that just makes life easier.  We don’t have to take the time to decide what we want to do next.

Allow More Free Time Then Normal

Even though a schedule can help the rhythms of your day, make sure to build in more free time.  We are living in a very stressful time.  That takes a toll on all of us, including kids.

I prefer to have the kids’ schoolwork completely done by lunchtime.  Then we have the afternoon to pursue other interests.  I do let my kids watch TV and play video games, but there is a time limit for these.  I’ve been surprised to find the kids playing more together and spending more time creating art and performing dance routines together.

Final Thoughts

We’re living in an odd time in history, the likes of which our country hasn’t seen in 100 years.  My advice, when considering should you keep your kids on a schedule when school is out is yes, keep a loose schedule.  But also allow plenty of free time.

4 Ideas For Self-Care That Don’t Take Much Time

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How many times have we read an article on self-care and thought, “yea, but I just don’t have the time!”. Guess what? You can probably find a whole minute or two to try something to help you. I know that not all of us can find time for yoga that doesn’t involve cutting into our sleep. However, there are tiny things that no one talks about that can be done. Here are a few of my tips on things you can do now, while you figure out how to get some extra you-time.

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3 Best Health Apps To Keep You On Track

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Keeping healthy is so important to our well-being and our wallets. With some of us working non-stop from morning until night and the ease of convenience foods, we can find that our healthy habits take a backseat to all our other engagements. Unfortunately, we need to learn to put our health first and we live in a society that expects us to give our all, all the time. If you are like me, it just helps to be reminded throughout the day to make sure I am doing something towards my health. I want to share with you my favorite health apps that shoot me a reminder to take care of me. Hopefully, you will find one in this list that can be helpful for you as well.

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Car Seat Recommendations: How To Find The Right One For Your Child

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car seat recommendations

Children of the 70s and 80s rode in the front seat of the car with their parents and sometimes in the back of a truck unrestrained. Nowadays, we know it’s safer to make sure our children are properly restrained. From the time a child is born until the child is between eight and ten, parents need to have a car seat.

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The Key Things to Know About Depression in Kids

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sad-child-1759986_640

Depression isn’t typically an illness that we associate with children, but many mental health professionals believe that it should be. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), around one in every twenty children in the U.S. suffers from depression today. For parents, it’s important to understand the signs and be able to determine whether their child is simply unhappy, or whether their symptoms are a sign of something more serious. As a parent, you will, of course, hope that depression is something that your child never has to go through, at any stage in their life. However, it’s good to be aware of what to look out for, so that you can be there for your child and offer them the support that they need should they ever become depressed.

Depression Can be Genetic

If you or a close family member suffers from depression or has suffered from this mental illness in the past, then it’s worth bearing in mind that depression can run in the family. Studies show that around 25% of children with a parent who has suffered from clinical depression will experience symptoms of their own. If both parents have suffered from depression, then the risk of the child also becoming depressed rises to around 75%. However, bear in mind that even children with no history of depression in the family can become depressed.

It Can Manifest as Other Problems

Many adults who develop depression can find it difficult to manage the feelings that it causes, so for children, it can be even worse. Parents should be aware that depression in children can often manifest as different problems; it’s not enough to assume that if your child is depressed, they will simply be sad all the time. Children with depression may suddenly become more anxious and clingy, their grades at school may suffer, or they may become more irritable with their siblings and friends. It’s also worth bearing in mind that a large percentage of children who suffer from depression also suffer from other disorders, such as anxiety disorder.

Early Diagnosis and Treatment is Important

If you suspect that your child may be suffering from depression, then it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to getting a diagnosis. Taking your child to see a mental health professional who can assess them as early on as possible will help them to recover quickly since treatment can then be provided to help them manage their symptoms and get back to normal health. There are a variety of treatments available for children who are suffering from depression, including counselling, antidepressant medication, and in some cases, TMS therapy such as the depression treatment Los Angeles offered by Smart Brain and Health.

Depression is a mental illness that can affect people from all walks of life, at any point in their life. Although it is not an illness that we commonly associate with children, it’s entirely possible for a child to become depressed. As a parent, it’s important to know what to look out for and what to do to ensure your child enjoys good mental health.

9 Important Values to Teach Children

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important values to teach childrenParents have the greatest privilege in the universe. We have the opportunity to raise kids – to construct important values to teach children and witness the result. At the end of the day, they are individuals – separate from us – who have their own minds, hearts, hands, feet, wishes, and skills. Even so, seeing my kids become the people they were meant to be is a delight.

I love seeing my young daughter spin around in our living room as a ballerina. Then I see my son carefully line up his trains or the way he tends to his stuffed animals when one of them gets “hurt” and needs a bandage.

From a young age, our children show us so many beautiful values they explore. However, kids enter the world with a free will, which means that “Me First” mentality kicks in pretty early. It is our job as parents to start conversations about right living – about healthy values.

Here are a few topics for you to begin the conversation with your child:

9 Important Values to Teach Children

“Making the decision to have a child – it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”
― Elizabeth Stone

Work Ethic

Understanding that money comes from labor is a fundamental lesson that will stay with your child through adulthood. You can employ him or her to do chores around the house, bring up topics to discuss, or simply lead by example in your own field of work.

Giving

Kids are such natural givers. Somewhere along the way, we figure out it’s really fun to just keep what we have and use it on ourselves. Tapping into their young minds and encouraging things like gratitude, contentment, and giving can also stay with your child for life. It may mean letting her see you tip extra for the server or give to a charity or hand

Kindness

This world is full of cruelty, especially on the internet. Our kids are among the first generation growing where this level of connection and advancement in technology is simply a way of life. Learning to offer a kind word or do something nice at a young age will help your children counteract the ever-rampant negativity out there today.

Prioritizing Family

It’s so easy to take one’s family for granted. As children grow, it’s vital for parents to help them understand the value of keeping family first. There will be a thousand things that will try to take its place – especially when your children reach adulthood.

Integrity

As kids age, they have more and more responsibility placed on their shoulders. Therefore, they have more opportunities to do things when others aren’t hovering over their shoulders. Whether they’re male or female, what they decide in those moments matters so much more than they realize.

For example, Ellen recently tested her audience members by placing hidden cameras at the free gift booth. Before the show, each member was told she could select one free item from the table. One woman was caught on camera taking multiple items and returning to the booth two more times for more! Ellen not only showed the tape to the millions of viewers of her show, but she then called out this audience member and made her sit on a stool in “Ellen Jail” right in front of everyone.

Sure it’s a light-hearted example, but the message runs deep. Check out Ellen’s reaction to the woman who robbed her booth here:

https://youtu.be/Cn3AgNC2TSk

Capacity to Apologize

My kids’ favorite movie is “Moana.” They love the music and love racing around the house pretending to be the demigod Maui shouting “Chee-hoooo!”

One of my favorite parts of the film is actually toward the end when Maui comes face to face with someone he robbed. At first, he tries to laugh it off until he sees the hurt look in the other character’s eyes. I love what happens next. He looks her in the eye and says, “What I did was wrong. I have no excuse. I’m sorry.”

What a great example for kids to see the power of owning up to their actions. To be held responsible for those choices. It’s another life lesson that would likely stay with them for life.

Try Your Best

Could we please dissolve the old adage “Practice makes perfect”? Talk about setting unrealistic expectations for kids. Now hear me out – I’m not a big fan of participation ribbons or removing competition altogether. It’s important to learn how to win AND lose with dignity and respect; however, walking up to the plate with perfection as the goal isn’t going to fly.

Remind your kids to try their best, and then remind them again. And again. Just keep that flag flying!

Money Management

So many 18-year-olds graduate with almost no money management skills. Then, they fill out paperwork for colleges and make the largest financial decision they’ve ever made which typically lands them in debt up to their eyebrows. Being equipped with the head knowledge and habits of handling money while they’re under your roof will make their entire adult life completely different.

Caring for the Environment

Your kids may not grow up wanting to major in environmental studies, but educating them about how to be less wasteful should start in the home. Think about your own habits, like not littering and sorting out recyclables. Your kids will see how you treat the world around you. Taking time to talk through those things or initiate something unique like planting a garden or using compost will help them learn skills to better protect their environment.

Final Thoughts

There are so many more values we could cover. In fact, it may seem overwhelming some days. Just remember these happen one day and one conversation at a time.

What’s on your list of important values to teach children? Is it on this list? Let us know in the comments below.

Blue Apron Review: Is This Meal Delivery Service Right for Your Family?

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blue apron review

Blue Apron’s meal delivery service was just the reboot my family needed to try fresh meals and food combinations we’d never experienced. As a mom, meal planning is a huge part of my week. Sometimes, I get stuck on autopilot with family favorites like pizza, tacos, or breakfast for dinner. Or peanut butter and jelly. We all know how much time and effort it takes to cook a new meal from scratch. So, here is a Blue Apron review.

And, we all know how much free time parents have…

What if someone just handed you a box of ingredients and a recipe so you could finally try out some new, healthy meals?

(That’s your cue, Blue Apron.)

Want to know what goes into cooking a Blue Apron meal? Check out these real families trying it out for the first time in this video.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdvnpdJ7RtE]

My Blue Apron Review: Is It Right for Your Family?

Trying Out Blue ApronBlue Apron - Place Order screenshot

Blue Apron’s user-friendly website made it very easy to get started. I noticed there were options for specifying dietary preferences or restrictions.  They assigned three meals to me:

  • Cheddar Cheeseburgers
  • Spicy Chicken Chili
  • Cajun Catfish

I’ll be honest. My first reaction was a furrowed brow. I’m not a huge spice fan, nor do I care much for cheeseburgers. (I’m so glad I didn’t have a choice with the meal selections, though. Keep reading to find out why!)

A box showed up on my doorstep a week later. My kids could barely contain their excitement. I was psyched, too.

Upon opening the box, we discovered colors and shapes and textures all waiting to be diced, sauteed, and garnished. It was delightful.

IMG_20170220_111257I loved the freshness of it all. It truly was a chance to cook gourmet meals from scratch as a family.

Each meal comes with clear instructions. The kids loved looking at the step-by-step pictures and matching the foods with them.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Blue Apron

With any review comes the honest observations of pros and cons. I feel it’s only right to share both sides of my experience with you.

BENEFITS

Blue Apron completely transformed my kitchen. The aroma of Cajun rice with red peppers cooking next to two catfish fillets with sauteed collard greens was a thrill for my senses. Also, the food was delicious. I’m so glad I didn’t get to decide what meals arrived because I would never have braved these new flavors. They weren’t kidding when they said food from scratch is best!

IMG_20170220_110659Blue Apron also gave me the gift of education. I was able to teach my children about the meals, the seasonings, the nutrition in each food, and so on. My daughter bragged to her friends, dolls, and everyone in earshot that she tried a radish for the first time (Blue Apron sent a recipe for a kale and radish salad). I love that my kid took pride in eating healthy food.

Note: My kids are too young for using a knife, but if you have older kids, this is a great opportunity to teach them some important food prep/kitchen safety skills they can carry into their own lives down the road.

DRAWBACKS

Every recipe had something spicy which didn’t work so well for my 2-year-old. If you have younger kids, you may need to keep leftovers handy or whip up something on the side. That did take more time and effort.

Also, the prep time before meals is fairly time-consuming. That makes sense with meals from scratch, but the estimated prep time on each recipe card was much shorter than what it took me to wash, dry, mince, and chop everything. With both kids hovering nearby and no sous-chef, it simply took extra time. Make sure you factor that in when you plan your evening so that you’re not serving dinner at 8:30 PM (that may or may not have happened on Day 1…).

The most obvious potential drawback is the expense. Family meals per week are between $70 and $140. That’s a significant investment many can’t afford to make. The health benefits could, however, be worth it in the long-term.

Blue Apron Review: My Conclusion

IMG_20170220_111456Blue Apron has become my unofficial culinary school. Since trying it, I’ve branched out and purchased new ingredients at the store like fresh salmon and, yes, catfish fillets.

Although my husband and I agree that Blue Apron isn’t something we can afford continually, I’d love to try it out with the kids when they’re a little older. What a great way to make some memories, learn an awesome skill, and eat healthier.

If you don’t think this is a good fit for your family, consider it for when the kids get older or give it as a housewarming or wedding gift.

Ready to give Blue Apron a try? Click here to get started. That link is also good for $30 dollars off your first order.

Full disclosure: I obtained three free meals for the purpose of reviewing Blue Apron. However, the opinions and thoughts shared below are entirely my own.

If you enjoyed this article please leave us a comment below or share it on social media.

Here are Blue Apron reviews from our friends, Budget and invest, Thousandaire and Cleverdude. And for a more holistic view on all the current meal kit vendors, be sure sure to check out top10.com!”

P.S. Are you a stay-at-home mom? Make sure you bookmark or pin some of these resources for later!

7 Easy Recipes Kids Can Make Themselves

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easy recipes kids can make themselvesDue to the busyness of life, it’s not always feasible for moms and/or dads to be at home when the kids need to eat. Helping them learn to cook for themselves will help them understand responsibility, self-care, and a new way to have fun. Therefore, here are some fantastic and easy recipes kids can make themselves.

7 Recipes Kids Can Make Themselves

1. Salad Bar

Not only are salads healthy, they’re easy to make for kids of nearly any age. The ingredient possibilities are endless. If parents keep a variety of fresh ingredients on hand, kids can put together a salad that fits their differing taste preferences. Some ideas for ingredients to have on hand include:

  • Bagged, pre-washed salad
  • Cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Green pepper
  • Green onion
  • Cucumber
  • Deli meat
  • Hard-boiled eggs
  • Avocado
  • Chopped walnuts, sliced almonds or sunflower seeds
  • A variety of dressings

As long as your child has been taught how to safely use a serrated-edge knife, there’s no limit to the ingredients they can include in their salad bar.

2. Sandwiches

As with a salad bar, sandwiches have endless possibilities and don’t have to be limited to the traditional PB&J. A variety of deli meats, veggies, cheeses and spreads such as mayonnaise, mustard and guacamole will add an extra boost to the plain sandwiches of yesteryear.

For example, tuna and chicken salad are quick and easy sandwiches that can be spiced up with simple ingredients. Here’s an easy recipe kids can make themselves.

  • 1 5-ounce can of tuna or chicken breast, drained
  • 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise or salad dressing
  • 1 green onion, sliced thin
  • 1/2 stick of celery, sliced thin

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and spread on your choice of bread. Add a slice of cheese and/or pre-cooked bacon if desired.

3. Taco Bar

With only seven easy-to-prepare ingredients, your kids can whip up a taco bar that will please the masses.

  • Browned hamburger (seasoned with premade taco seasoning)
  • Bagged, shredded lettuce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • A jar of salsa
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Sliced green onion
  • Hard and/or soft taco shells

Want to do your taco bar a bit differently? Substitute the taco shells with tortilla chips and have your child put their nacho creation in the microwave for one minute.

4. English Muffin Pizzas

This recipe can be made in the microwave or in a toaster oven. For each child, have:

  • 1 English muffin, sliced in half (toast in the toaster first if you’re using the microwave)
  • 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce from a jar
  • ¼ c. of shredded mozzarella
  • Additional toppings such as pepperoni, sliced olives or other sliced veggies as desired

Place the two halves face up on a plate or toaster-oven-safe baking sheet. Spread one tablespoon of pizza sauce (I like Chef Boyardee) on each muffin half. Add desired toppings. Cover each half with some of the mozzarella cheese. Cook the pizzas in the microwave or toaster oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.

5. Homemade Mac & Cheese

This is one of the most popular easy recipes kids can make themselves due to its tastiness and simplicity. Not to mention the health benefits for making it from scratch rather than from a box.

Ingredients:

  • 1 c. of dry macaroni
  • 1/3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 slices American cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 c. milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare pasta as directed. When finished, drain and return pasta back into pot. Mix in all ingredients. When all of the cheese is melted and the ingredients are thoroughly mixed it’s ready to eat!

6. Creamy Fruit Dip with Fresh Fruit

This healthy and easy-to-make snack is great for after school or after dinner. It makes a terrific breakfast meal as well.

Fruit Dip:

  • 1 c. vanilla yogurt
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a medium-sized glass bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and beat until combined thoroughly. Serve immediately or chill until ready to eat. Serve with your choice of fresh fruit, such as strawberries, bananas or apple slices.

7. Banana Parfait Dessert

This simple dessert can be modified to satisfy a variety of different taste preferences.

Ingredients:

  • 1 -3.4 ounce package of Jello instant banana pudding
  • 1 8-oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed but still cold.
  • 1 medium banana, sliced
  • 4 vanilla wafer cookies

Prepare banana pudding as directed. Add sliced bananas. Place one cup of mixture in a medium-sized bowl or sundae dish. Garnish with vanilla wafers and a dollop of whipped topping.

Substitutions:

  • Vanilla pudding with strawberry slices
  • Chocolate pudding with bananas or chocolate chips

Even though these are easy recipes kids can make themselves, they’re also great for making with your child. Snag a few of these ideas as you plan your next grocery trip and get ready to make some memories (and a few messes) together with your children in the kitchen.

Finally, if you are a parent you know that children can be really expensive to feed.  If you are interested in possibly cutting down on your expenses, consider something like Amazon’s subscribe and save. Subscribe and save is good for things like Z-bars, coffee and laundry detergent. If you use a lot of dry staples like these, it might be worth your time to sign up for it.

If you want to read more about kids in kitchen check out our articles on:

What recipes did you learn to make as a child? Share one with us!

Image Credit: lunar (MorgueFile)

P.S. Are you a stay-at-home mom? Make sure you bookmark or pin some of these resources for later!

5 Homemade Baby Food Hacks

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If you're just getting started in the world of DIY baby food, here are some homemade baby food hacks that will help you get started.I once saw a hilarious depiction of the five types of moms you meet: The PTA mom, Parenting Expert, Crunchy Mom, Hipster Mom, and (my favorite) Hot Mess Mom (see the video below). Despite my best efforts, I identify with the Hot Mess Mom racing to the meeting with stains on her shirt and yesterday’s hairdo going in every direction – which is why you need to know these homemade baby food hacks I’m going to share AREN’T just for the uber-crunchy, hipster, always-put-together moms.

You and me, on our worst days, can pull these DIY hacks off, mama. I guarantee it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOQViEZOwGk]

5 Homemade Baby Food Hacks

When my daughter was born in 2013, we were slightly broke. We let go of my full-time income and benefits after my transition to a part-time position, and our health insurance plan went through the roof.

My husband supported us while I supplemented our income doing childcare, consignment sales, and eventually, launched a career from home as a freelance writer. Throughout that journey, frugal living became a mandate in our home. When I began researching ways to cut costs with an infant, I realized even a “Hot Mess Mom” like me (which, I’m convinced we’re all a hot mess on any given day – which makes us fabulous) could start doing DIY hacks in my home.

Baby food was a huge win. Besides breastfeeding for a full year, making homemade baby food was probably the largest money saver we unearthed (cloth diapers are also a great way to save money – but we rented our home and didn’t want to ruin the landlord’s washing machine…).

Here are five ways you can hack your way into the homemade baby food scene:

1. Don’t rush.

I’m no pediatrician, so please don’t assume this will be the case for you, but when the doctor says to start feeding your child solids when she’s six months old, you may do well to wait. Babies have their own timeline, and as long as they’re receiving full meals via breast milk or formula, they have the nutrients they need before their first birthday. “Food before one is just for fun,” as they say.

You could save tons of money by simply following your baby’s lead instead of forcing her to eat solids too early. When my son spit out every morsel of baby food I offered at six months, I got the hint to chill out. He was in the 98th percentile for height and weight entirely from consuming breast milk and refused solids until he was 11 months old.

The doctor’s only concern after I explained my son’s lack of interest was that he continue learning his motor movements with a spoon or fork. So I gave him plastic ware to tinker with in his high chair during our meals, and he loved it.

Every baby is different, though. When my daughter turned six months old, she watched my plate of food like a shark. I introduced her to solids shortly after that and she devoured them, happily.

Don’t feel the pressure to force your baby to eat solids if he’s not digging it, yet.

2. Start with an easy “superfood.”

Making homemade baby food feels like a huge undertaking at first with cooking, pureeing, freezing, and labeling everything. It can, however, begin more simply.

Try some superfoods that are basically ready to eat, like a banana, avocado, or peach. You don’t have to start with peeling, gutting, and broiling a gigantic butternut squash (although, once you’ve gotten your feet wet, it’s extremely healthy for your baby and not as harrowing as it sounds!).

3. Introduce one new food at a time.

To avoid the risk of allergies, it’s wisest to only introduce your baby to one new food at a time. You may think Tiger needs more variety and that you aren’t being kind by feeding him any other solids except softened carrots, but he’s doing fine.

Babies’ taste buds are developing and each new flavor, no matter how bland, is a vibrant experience to them.

4. You don’t have to use the fancy, expensive equipment.

Sure, companies have produced the perfect gizmos for homemade baby food hacks, but you don’t have to have them. Go ahead and register for a brand new Ninja or Magic Bullet, as well as baby food freezer trays that come with a lid.

If, however, you don’t receive them or don’t have the money to buy them right now, your existing blender, some ice cube trays, tin foil and a Sharpie did the trick for me.

5. DIY when it makes sense.

I started to get pretty good at making all sorts of baby food, but I finally reached my limit when it came to snack pouches. If you browse your grocery store’s baby food aisle, you’ll find a huge selection of pouches that are often organic with two to four healthy ingredients in puree form. The pouch is designed to be mess-free, can be stored anywhere before it’s opened, and exposes children to healthy foods they might not otherwise eat. All for $1 to $2 each. With coupons, I can easily get each pouch for less

The pouch is designed to be mess-free, can be stored anywhere before it’s opened, and exposes children to healthy foods they might not otherwise eat. All for $1 to $2 each. With coupons, I can easily get each pouch for less then $1.50.

The thing is, you can do all of that from home if you want. You can buy reusable pouches that look extremely challenging to clean, as well as those unique ingredients like organic purple carrot or amaranth.

Then, you can cook and puree each one individually and fill your snack pouches with any combination you want.

I need a nap just from typing all of that. For a $1, it’s worth it for me to simply buy the snack pouch (sorry, environment).

Do the DIY thing when it makes sense. Don’t beat yourself up if your friend serves her family home-grown, organic rutabaga, kale and goat cheese for every meal. Start where you can and remember: Fed is best. Simple as that.

What are some homemade baby food hacks you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments below!

Image Credit: thesuccess (MorgueFile)

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