New Year's Resolutions: Tips for Healthy Eating for Busy Parents

Picture this: you're on your way home from work and you have just 20 minutes to dash into the store and pick up healthy food for the week before it's time to pick up the kids. Maybe you don't have to picture that moment because you are living it. Here are parenting tips for making smart choices when you don't have much time:

shutterstock_344999000.jpgThink Fresh: Start in the produce aisle and pick out the fruits and vegetables that don't need much preparation. Apples, grapes, bananas and easy to peel oranges can be grabbed on the way out for a snack, packed in lunches or served at a meal. Add some fresh veggies like jicama, celery, baby carrots, and broccoli. Get pre-packaged salad or cut-up veggies you can stir fry quickly. One of the best parenting tips is to serve sides of fresh fruits and vegetables when you need to pick up fast food for dinner.

Think Simple: Try this parenting tip for focusing on family favorites and easy meals. Why not have eggs, turkey bacon, and whole grain toast for dinner? Simple and fun dishes like "breakfast for dinner" can become part of your child's seasonal memories. Simple also means getting some ready-made foods that you can make into two or more meals, like a rotisserie chicken that can be used for chicken tacos at dinner, and for sandwiches the next day. For another simple, easy meal, get whole grain pasta and organic tomato sauce.

Think Time: Your time is better invested in family rather than the kitchen, so don't stress about having to make each meal from scratch like your grandmother did. Your kids will value the time spent with you far more than fancy foods, so choose time-saving meals such as ready-made soup at the deli or sushi for busy weeknight meals, and save the homemade meals for weekends when you can prepare them together with your kids.

Do you have a tips for finding ways to shop for healthy food when you're low on time? Share it with the Kids Konnect family!