1. Schedule Meals and Snacks
Children need to eat every three to four hours: three meals, two snacks, and lots of fluids. If you plan for these, your child’s diet will be much more balanced and they’ll be less cranky. I put a cooler in the car when I’m out with my kids and stock it with carrots, pretzels, yogurt, and water so we don’t have to rely on fast food.
2. Plan Dinner Menus in Advance
If planning a weekly menu is too daunting, start with two or three days at a time. A good dinner doesn’t have to be fancy, but it should be balanced: whole-grain bread, rice, or pasta; a fruit or a vegetable; and a protein source like lean meat, cheese, or beans. I often make simple entree soups or chili ahead of time and then freeze it; at dinnertime, I heat it up and add whole-grain bread and a bowl of sliced apples or melon to round out the meal.