Back to School Structure

Back-to-school season often brings packed schedules, early mornings, sports or extracurriculars, homework, and a lot less time to think about food. Whether you are a student yourself, guardian of a student or work in a school, some or all of these may be impacting you. When life gets busy, eating can easily fall lower on the priority list, but your body still needs consistent nourishment.

Here are some ways to make eating a little easier during busy seasons:

1. Keep meals simple

Meals don't need to be elaborate or homemade to be nourishing. Sandwiches, frozen meals, leftovers, cereal with milk, or a snack plate can all be perfectly adequate meals.

2. Lean on convenience foods

Keep easy options on hand for days when cooking isn't realistic. Think yogurt or yogurt drinks, mac and cheese, granola bars, cheese sticks, frozen meals, pre-cut produce, smoothies, crackers, or nutrition supplements. Convenience is a tool to help us nourish ourselves, not a nutritional failure. Additionally, you can also utilize the mentality of “nutrition by addition”. A box of mac and cheese or pasta + precooked chicken sausage + frozen peas = a complete meal!

3. Pack snacks

If you're going to be away from home around a typical meal or snack time, bring something with you. Having food available can help prevent accidentally going hours without eating and getting overly hungry, which can lead to being “hangry” and increase the possibility of rebound overeating later.

4. Have a few go-to meals

Decision fatigue can make figuring out what to eat feel harder than it needs to be. Create a short list of easy breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks that you know you can rely on when you're short on time or energy.

5. Don't wait for the “perfect” time to eat

Busy schedules don't always allow you to eat when hunger cues first show up. Sometimes eating requires a little planning and intention, known in Intuitive Eating as “practical hunger”. Regular nourishment can help you feel more energized and better equipped to handle the demands of the day.

6. Let go of perfection

Not every meal needs to be perfectly balanced, and your eating may look different during a busy season. One meal or one day doesn't determine your overall nutrition. Focus on the bigger picture and what is realistic for your life right now.

7. Ask for support

You don't have to carry the responsibility of feeding yourself or your family alone. Share meal prep, delegate dinner responsibilities, accept help, or choose takeout when needed.

The goal during a busy season isn't to eat perfectly. It's to find realistic ways to keep yourself adequately nourished. When life gets hectic, ask yourself: “What would make eating easier right now?” Sometimes the most supportive choice is simply the easiest one.