Healthy Eating

2 Tools + 2 Ways = 4 Healthy Eating Hacks for Fall

Story & photos by Ashley Sornsin

Abusy and packed fall schedule often leaves little time for good intentions of eating healthy. There are a few easy hacks that will save you time and energy, while keeping you and your family eating well. These hacks will help you prep easy, nutritious meals and snacks so you’re prepared with meals for the week. All you need are a couple common kitchen tools to get started!

Sheet pans don’t get enough credit when it comes to making quick and healthy meals. Often times they’re credited with long and complicated meals. However, the sheet pan is one of the most under utilized tool in the kitchen for quick, easy meals.

Breakfast is a great time to use a sheet pan. Using a sheet pan for breakfast will save you time and energy, even when it comes to cleanup. Sheet pan pancakes are a great way to make several servings of pancakes in just 15 minutes. By using a high protein pancake batter and topping with fruit and nuts, you’ll have a bounty meal in just minutes. Using parchment paper to line the pan, makes cleanup a breeze!

Sheet pan dinners, which also happen to make delicious lunch leftovers, are a quick and easy way to prepare an entire meal for the whole family (or for your own meal prep for the entire week). Use in season fall produce which will provide a ton of nutrition and flavor. Think sweet potatoes or squash, zucchini, green beans, peppers and tomatoes, cut into similar sized pieces and then add a plant-based protein like canned chickpeas or a lean meat like fish or chicken to the sheet pan. The entire meal will cook in about 30 minutes! Always line the pan with foil, so cleanup is super simple, saving you time and energy!

Mason jars are a tried and true storage container and multipurpose kitchen tool. Their uses are unlimited, they are perfect for easy meal prep and the perfect container for on-the-go lifestyles.

Overnight oats are a popular breakfast or snack that can be prepared in bulk, just grab jars for each day of the week and prepare all at the same time! This is something not only you can make, but your whole family can customize their own! Add oatmeal, a dairy free milk, plantbased protein powder (if you want a protein boost) and mix-ins like seasonal fruit (raspberries or apples are great) and nut/seed butter to a jar. Give each a shake to combine, then keep stored in the fridge for busy mornings, so you can grab-and-go! They also make a great lunch box item or the perfect after school snack that’s not only healthy but easy and fun to make and eat!

Salad jars are a super simple way to prepare your entire weeks worth of lunches at one time. Get creative with the food you use and look for in season produce. Look beyond just seasonal vegetables, you can even add fruit! One tip when making in advance for the week to preserve freshness, choose plant-based toppings like beans or nuts (like the walnut tacos pictured), as these will keep well and don’t require cooking to save you time. Layer in your spinach or lettuce, add your toppings (veggies, fruit, beans, nuts/seeds, dairy-free cheese) and salad dressing (or even salsa) and keep refrigerated for the week. You’ll have the whole week ready in just a few minutes. When it comes time to eat, shake it up and eat out of the jar or pour into a bowl. It’s that easy!

No question that fall is a busy time of year, but your healthy eating doesn’t have to suffer. Using these two tools, two ways, will provide an entire weeks worth of healthy meals that you and your whole family can enjoy. Saving you time and energy in the kitchen while creating container meals, means you’ll be prepared to continue a successful and healthy lifestyle that you can maintain this season and beyond! n

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