Back to School Meal Prep
That school bell means the one thing we’ve all been craving is back: routine. Sweet, orderly, delightfully predictable routine. Now’s the time to reset yourself for success: we’re here with the tips and tricks to get you back into meal planning mode as you go from lazy summer to a busy back-to-school season.
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Set Yourself Up for Success
- Plan for a Great Morning. Meal prep and planning is way less stressful if you get it out of the way early in the day. Pick a day of the week that works and make meals you and your family love ahead of time. That sense of accomplishment — and having dinner figured out — goes a long way.
- Order Essentials Online. Restock the pantry with basics so you’re always ready to get cooking. Ordering pantry staples like pasta online and having it delivered to your door cuts down on grocery store trips and time scouring the aisles.
- Take Care of the Cook. This means you. Back-to-school routines are a welcome change of pace, but it’s a different kind of busy. Take advantage of a kid-free house by taking a 15 minute coffee break or walk around the neighborhood after dinner. This is the time to set a new routine for you, too. Seize it!
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Simplify Your Meal Planning
Choosing to eat healthier and meal planning go together like penne and parmesan. But you don’t need to go overboard or overthink. Make a large batch of low net carb pasta ahead of time to use in different dishes like cold pasta salads, hearty soups, or simple pasta with veggies and the protein of your choice.
And don’t feel like you have to reinvent the wheel every week. If you find a recipe you really love, save it and put it on repeat whenever the mood strikes. Having a rotation of good meals you like is all part of the fall routine reset.
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Freeze Your Favorites
Yes, you can freeze pasta. If you don’t have the time or patience to wait for water to boil, you can still have a delicious meal ready to make at home. Here’s how we do it:
- Cook your pasta just until it's al dente (it’ll soften when you reheat it). Drain the pasta, then toss it lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Allow pasta to cool completely before portioning it into airtight containers or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible.
- When you're ready to use the frozen pasta, reheat it in a pot of boiling water for a minute or two or just warm it up directly in your favorite sauce on the stove. Avoid that microwave splatter!
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Savor Your Favorite Comfort Foods
Fall isn’t just back-to-school time, it’s back to comfort food time. Think family soups or traditional spaghetti to make satisfying dinners for the whole family. Forget making multiple meals for everybody — make classics everybody loves.
Here’s a few of our favorite low net carb recipes for inspo:
Turkey Bolognese With Fettuccine
This is a recipe the whole family loves that reheats really well. It’s a satisfying go-to meal when cooler fall days arrive.
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Revisit Your Health Goals
Why wait for January? We say the transition to fall is an even better time to make changes for the better, without all that New Year’s Resolution pressure. From tweaking your current routine to kick starting a new healthy habit, setting clear, achievable goals is key.
- Plan Your Meal Schedule. As your family settles into the school year, now’s the time to establish a regular meal routine. Delicious back-to-school meal prep recipes that also support your health goals is totally doable.
- Get Moving Again. If regular exercise has taken a backseat during the summer swirl, now’s the time to get back on track. Try mixing it up with brisk walks, a yoga session, or a simple in-home workout.
Enjoy the ride, we’ve got you.
Ready or not, another school year is upon us. Welcome the return to routine and know that Carbe Diem’s high-fiber, low net carb, real wheat pasta is at the heart of delicious meals the entire family will love. Shop all five of our pasta shapes and explore our recipes page for more meal prepping ideas.