Maycember: How to keep everyone fed and nourished

Maycember is real! I didn’t have kids until several years ago and my kids were not actively involved in many activities until a few years ago, so I just learned about the term “Maycember” recently. My friend thought it meant snow in May as we used to live in Syracuse, NY, but it doesn’t. For those of you who are wondering, Maycember describes the hectics happening in May, due to social and school-related events, mimicking the pace and chaos during the holiday seasons in December. 

I know it’s still a month until summer vacation officially starts, but many parents have already felt like they are drowning in end-of-school-year events, sports tournaments, dance rehearsals, and ice skating spring shows. The list goes on and on. My eight-year-old son has several events lined up at his school and is in multiple extracurricular activities. We haven’t even started our three-year-old daughter in any sports or other enrichment programs. I can’t imagine what our life would be like once we have to drive two kiddos around.

It is important to make sure the whole family is fed and still meets everyone’s nutritional needs, especially if your little ones are gearing up for some sports events, although it sometimes drops down to the bottom of the priority list. Here are some tips I would like to share to make it easier for any parent who is in the same boat. 

1. Teamwork makes the dream work

It is absolutely overwhelming for any parent to take the sole responsibility to feed the whole family. Make sure you assign tasks to every one in the family. Start with a family meeting to discuss the needs and contributions. Older kids can help cook meals, run errands, do the dishes, and clean up after meals. Younger kids can help with simple tasks like washing produce, snapping a broccoli, or setting the table. Coming up with a schedule can be helpful so each person takes on a few jobs every day. It also minimizes the possibility of unattended house chores. 

2. Ask for help – Don’t be afraid to use pre-prepared ingredients

I know it has been in the spotlight for years to discourage people from eating ultra-processed foods or pre-packaged meals. Some of them are safe, nutritious, and most importantly, convenient! I have shared previously some of my kitchen hacks to use pre-made ingredients in quick, balanced meals. Read my blog post on processed food for inspiration. While I do tell people to focus on produce and other minimally processed ingredients, it is perfectly fine to incorporate some ultra-processed foods into your meal planning. 

3. Get a head start – Meal prep in advance

My biggest nightmare is to prepare multiple meals for multiple people while getting ready for work in the morning. I find it super helpful to plan ahead. It doesn’t need to take long. You could create a shopping list the week before while waiting for your kids at their after school activity or gather dinner ideas from all family members while eating a meal together. To make meal prep on weekdays or days when you are tied up with activities easier, you could consider spreading the tasks out over two days. For example, I sometimes cut the vegetables and marinate the meat the night before so I can quickly 

4. Technology to the rescue 

I am a big fan of refrigerating and freezing! It allows me to cook in bulk and serve the food safely over a longer period of time. During my busiest time, I cook twice a week. Each time I cook, I make enough food for three to four days. Also, many ingredients and dishes freeze really well. If you have ample freezer space, this comes in handy if you want to rotate the meals you have prepared. 

This chart here provides guidelines for how long you can possibly store a food in the fridge or freezer, depending on the type, shape, and doneness of the food. It is definitely important to examine the food before you eat it. If there are any suspicious changes to the color, texture, or smell of the food, discard it! 

5. Fuel on the go – Grab nutritious snacks between activities

Snacks are a great way to get more nutrition into your little ones, as long as you know what to choose. Kids need constant fueling from carbs, protein and fat, especially those in sports, to support their growth and being physically active. My recommendation is to start with protein. Look for a snack that is high in protein. Options are dairy, beans, nuts, seeds, meat and eggs. Sometimes a little label reading will help you find the one that also provides fiber, unsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals while low in sodium and added sugars. Some of our favorite staples are peanut butter, cheese sticks, cheese crisps if ice packs are not an option, beef sticks, and trail mix. 

6. Prioritize sanity without guilt 

We are our own harshest criticizers. Don’t feel guilty for not serving three-course meals every day. Tell yourself how proud you are as you keep everyone safe and fed while getting everyone to the right place where they need to be. Yes, we eat breakfast cereals for dinner on some days. So what? It is still a nutritious meal. And yes, we eat at fast food restaurants or food courts at the mall sometimes. So what? My kids are full and satisfied when they go to bed. Parenting is hard. You are doing a great job!

In the end, your overall well-being is vitally important. Choose whatever works best for you and you got this!