This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ReimagineYourRoutine #CollectiveBias

 

We are in the thick of summer, but while I’m enjoying pool time and warm evenings outside, I know that fall is right around the corner and with fall comes back to school. Once the school year starts, schedules become hectic. Which is why it’s important to plan ahead.

One of the best ways I can think of to plan for a hectic time is to stock my freezer. Having a bunch of options ready to pull out really helps out on nights where plans run late, and you are walking through the door with hungry kids and very little time between dinner and the other nightly routines. Here are some tips on keeping a freezer ready:

Buy in Bulk

My local grocery stores constantly do meat sales. Every summer one of my stores does a massive sale where you get a box full of meat. Chicken, burger patties, hot dogs, etc. We usually buy that and just load up the freezer to keep on handy for when it’s needed.

Keep Kid Friendly Options Ready

I make sure my kids eat a variety of foods but I also like to keep some of their favorites ready to pull out for those nights where the adults aren’t hungry or we have plans which equal not eating together. I run to the Walmart frozen aisle and stock up on State Fair® Classic Corn Dogs and Tyson® Chicken Nuggets, two favorites. Having those always on hand helps keep my kids happy and stops the argument over what’s for dinner.

Make a Plan and Stay Organized

Having a stocked freezer also helps you plan your grocery shopping for the week. You can keep costs down by planning meals around what’s already on hand. If I know that I have a package of chicken breasts frozen, I can plan my entree and sides around that and know to pull it out in the morning so it’s ready for dinner. I also try to remove as many boxes as I can to make room for more in the freezer. I line up the corn dogs in plastic bags and cut the cooking directions off the back of the box to save space.

With these tips, you should be able to make it through those first few hectic weeks of school with your sanity still somewhat intact. You can find more information about getting back to a routine here.