The first month of school can be a hectic time for both kids and parents. Between shopping for school supplies and new clothes and preparing for a new routine, it can be tough to plan nutritious meals that the whole family will like. KULAFoods offers delicious and nutritious plant-based options that are perfect for the back-to-school rush.
The Back-to-School Rush: Why Quick and Easy Meals Matter
After a fun, relaxed summer, it can be challenging to get the kids back on a schedule. As you adjust to a new season, help your kids prepare for a new grade, and get into a routine of new after-school activities, it can feel like there is little time left for anything else. Planning tasty meals that meet the nutritional requirements and preferences of your kids can fall to the wayside amid the back-to-school rush.
Meal planning requires thinking ahead and shopping for the ingredients you will need in advance, so it’s understandable that you simply don’t have time during this busy period – especially if you are a single or working parent. Yet, a nutritious diet is essential for the physical growth and brain development of your children.
Meet Kula Foods: A Nutritious Solution for Busy Families
KULA Foods offers delicious plant-based meals that celebrate the diverse cuisine of East Africa with a plant-based twist. Our gluten-free meals offer a tapestry of flavours and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re eating nourishing meals prepared using the highest quality ingredients.
Whether you choose our plant-based Ginger Beef, BBQ Chik-Un or another one of our tasty proteins, you will enjoy the convenience of being able to prepare a quick and healthy meal for your kids that provides the nutrients they need without the copious amounts of added sugar and salt you find in most take-out or frozen dinners.
Stress-Free Lunchbox Solutions
Preparing lunches and snacks for your kids to take to school is yet another drain on your time, especially if you need to go to work! Luckily, KULA Foods offers some convenient additions for lunch that provide the protein your kids need all while tasting delicious.
Heat some plant-based Ginger Beef in the morning and roll it into a whole wheat tortilla with some veggies to make a quick and healthy wrap for your child to eat at lunch. Or, try a twist on mac n’ cheese by boiling some pasta and mixing it with our delicious BBQ Ribz Bites.
Easy Dinner Ideas for the Family
Kula Foods proteins and sauces offer a quick, convenient way to create delicious and nutritious meals for the family. Even if your family eats meat, KULA meals are a great way to incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet – after all, preparing and cooking meat is time-consuming, and time is something you don’t have during the back-to-school season! Here are a few easy dinner recipes.
Chik-Un Salad
When time is of the essence, there’s nothing quicker than tossing together a healthy salad. Grab a large bowl and combine your children’s favourite veggies. You can get pre-chopped or shredded carrots and cabbage as well as pre-washed leafy greens. The more variety, the better. We love spinach and kale because of their high nutrient content.
After you’ve prepped your salad base, add some BBQ Chick-Un to add some zing and protein to your creation. It comes pre-marinated so all you have to do is give it a quick stir-fry and add it to your salad!
Plant-Based Goat Curry and Rice
For those chilly fall evenings when you crave a hot meal, a flavourful curry hits the spot. KULA’s G.O.A.T Curry is an Afro-Caribbean classic the whole family will love. All the flavouring is done for you so all you have to do is heat it and serve with your favourite healthy carb, whether that’s whole-grain rice, quinoa, or chapati.
Convenience Meets Nutrition: Kula Foods is at the Heart of it
All too often, convenient food is unhealthy. It’s well known that fast foods and frozen foods are packed with sodium, sugar, and oils. KULA Foods provides a happy medium by offering a convenient and delicious option for meals that are also healthy and nourishing for your body and soul.
We are intentional about using high-quality ingredients and creating plant-based options that honour traditional recipes. Our proteins are gluten-free and plant-based, making them perfect for kids with food sensitivities to dairy and wheat. You can also enhance your usual recipes with KULA’s mouth-watering sauces, which are crafted with no sugar added.
Tips for Efficient Meal Planning and Preparation
Planning is the key to surviving the back-to-school season. We’ve all been to the grocery store without making a list and know the frustration of spending too much time deciding what to get and then realizing you forgot something you needed as soon as you reach home. You can avoid this by setting aside a bit of time each week to plan your meal schedule and the fresh foods you need to pick up.
Keep your pantry or cupboards organized so that you know where everything is and how much of every ingredient you have. Try to get non-perishable staples like rice, pasta, and canned foods in bulk so that your weekly grocery runs only need to be for fresh ingredients.
Finally, get your kids involved in planning their meals! This helps teach them how to plan ahead and makes them feel that they have some control over their diet. Get them thinking about how to incorporate protein, carbs, and fresh veggies or fruit into every meal.
Final Thoughts on Back-to-School Lunch Ideas
Everyone has their go-to recipes they can make quickly, but we recommend changing things up so your kids get to try new foods from diverse cultures. KULA Foods’ range of plant-based proteins and sauces is a convenient way to introduce new flavours and whip up easy back-to-school meals. Visit our website at KULA Foods for more recipe ideas and to learn more about how we are creating delicious, nutritious food and building inclusive communities through food.
