Family

15 food hacks that will change your life

Published on
March 26, 2024

Introduction

While we’re all about supporting a wholefoods lifestyle and helping parents create healthy food cultures in their homes, we’re also about making things easy and simple. So, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of all the food, kitchen and lunchbox hacks to help your lives run that little bit smoother.

Some of these you might already but doing and some might come as a surprise, but they are the hacks we swear by.

If you’ve got any to add to the list, send us a DM onInstagram or email us at hello@thewholesomebox.com.au and we’ll add them so everyone can reap the benefits.

  • Meal prep: spend an hour or two on the weekend prepping meals and snacks for the week ahead. This saves time and ensures you have healthy options readily available.
  • Grab & Go boxes: if you’ve purchase done of our lunchbox kits you’ll know all about this one – grab and go boxes make lunch prep so easy. Simply cut up your fruit and veg at the start of the week and store them in easy-to-reach containers in the fridge to grab each morning when you’re making lunches. These are also a lifesaver for the ‘witching hour’ snackathon!
  • Batch cook and freeze: utilise your freezer by batch cooking soups, stews, and casseroles. Freeze individual portions for quick and convenient meals.
  • Hidden veggies: sneak extra veggies intomeals like pasta sauces, smoothies, and muffins for added nutrition without the fuss.
  • Homemade snacks: make your own snacks like energy balls, granola bars, and fruit leather to avoid processed options.Check out our recipe section on the website for more ideas.
  • Mealtime rituals: create enjoyable mealtime rituals without distractions by storytelling or sharing highs and lows of the day.
  • Hydration station: keep reusable water bottles filled and accessible for both parents and kids to stay hydrated throughout the day.
  • Kitchen gadgets: invest in time-saving kitchen gadgets like a slow cooker, instant pot or air fryer for effortless meal preparation.
  • Bulk buying: purchase pantry staples in bulk to save money and reduce packaging waste.
  • Food waste reduction: plan meals based on what's in your fridge and pantry to minimise food waste. Create a ‘fridge raid’ dinner at the end of the week to use up any leftovers or roast any produce starting to wilt.
  • Bento box: use bento boxes to create balanced and visually appealing lunches with a variety of fruits, veggies, proteins and whole grains.
  • Freezeable snacks: stocking up your freezer stash is key to making mornings a breeze. All the recipes in our lunchbox kits and many on the recipe section of the website are freezable options perfect for school lunches.
  • Meze plates: create DIY dinners or weekend lunches with whole grain crackers, cheese slices, lean meats and veggies for a customisable and nutritious meal. Keep everything bite-sized and fun.
  • Leftovers: transform dinner leftovers into creative lunch options like wraps, salads, or grain bowls.
  • Post-dinner playtime: the key to a smooth bedtime routine is getting all their energy out before bed. As such, we love to send the kids out for a jump on the trampoline after dinner for 15 mins to really get them ready for bed. This followed by a warm bath or shower really helps settle them down for a good night’s rest.

Conclusion

By incorporating these hacks into your family's routine, you can create a supportive environment that encourages healthy eating habits with ease and simplifies meal preparation for busy days.
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Julie Dann
Founder of The Wholesome Box, mother-of-three, primary school teacher and student nutritionist.
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