![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.jameswhelanbutchers.com\/info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/blackberry_crumble.jpg\" "\\"Apple")
<\/a><\/p>\nWith all of us on the cusp of this change it might be a good time to take stock of our eating patterns which also need to fall in line with our new routines.\u00a0 The kids\u2019 systems need to adjust also.\u00a0 During the summer they have free access to the fridge all day.\u00a0 At any time during play they can stop and announce \u201cI\u2019m hungry\u201d and food of some sort will be provided.\u00a0 School isn\u2019t as relaxed and those little bodies will need enough fuel in them to take them from breakfast, through to lunch and on through the day.<\/p>\n
While the kids face the routine of school we must also be a little more disciplined in our food preparation.\u00a0 Once again we are working with both the clock and the body clock, both equally demanding.\u00a0\u00a0 My first bit of advice is to keep it simple and the second is to plan.<\/p>\n
As students work out their timetables for school work and all the various extracurricular activity that seems to be the norm these days, it\u2019s no harm for us to take a leaf out of their homework diaries and work out our own schedules.\u00a0 How about stocking the larder first and then the freezer with quick meal basics?\u00a0 What about sorting out a month\u2019s worth of recipes and seeing where batch cooking, bulk buying and the clever use of leftovers for consecutive day cooking might just save you time and real money, not to mention stress.<\/p>\n
While we are all well aware of the ills of long life foods, you should have a good supply of tinned tomatoes, beans, pasta, cous cous, quinoa, stock cubes, spices and the like to hand at all times.\u00a0 With a well stocked home larder and a few fresh items a delicious meal can be whipped up in minutes.<\/p>\n
I also think that the internet is your friend.\u00a0 The inspiration and food education at your fingertips is immeasurable.\u00a0 Check out the James Whelan Butchers website for some great recipes, \u2018how to\u2019 videos and you can even order your meat there and have it delivered to your door.\u00a0 After a certain point in the order the delivery is free.\u00a0 By all means pop in store too where you will see our range of ready prepped meals that are family winners in quality and value every time.<\/p>\n
I mentioned it briefly earlier but getting ahead is really the best way to save time and more importantly, money.\u00a0 You don\u2019t even have to cook full meals, just prep the main ingredients and pop them in the freezer.\u00a0 You can also make all the freezer friendly winter favourites like stews, pies and homemade burgers for example.\u00a0 And it just seems so much easier making them at your leisure during time off rather than at the end of a busy day.<\/p>\n Finally where we prepare our food and eat is just as important as what we eat.\u00a0 Study after study has proven the clich\u00e9 that families who eat together just do better!\u00a0 The why is unimportant, but in these crazy, madcap days of the technology centric 21st<\/sup> Century, human contact is more important than ever.\u00a0 At least a few times a week, if not once a day, sitting together to break bread and create some great food memories can be very nourishing.\u00a0 Talking through the day, sharing the good moments and the bad, is important for our mental health as much as food is for our physical well being.\u00a0 Sitting in a lovely space to eat with family together with natural and healthy home cooked food and it\u2019s a great foundation for a very happy new school year.<\/p>\n We hope you enjoyed reading this post by Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers. Pat is a 5th generation butcher, cook book author and the director of \u00a0James Whelan Butchers with shops in Clonmel, the Avoca Handweavers Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt, Rathmines and Swords in Dublin.\u00a0Sign up to our newsletter for more updates from James Whelan Butchers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The kids and I did some blackberry picking at the weekend.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to believe that it\u2019s that time of year again.\u00a0 And where there are blackberries there are new school bags, packed to gills with new books and virgin stationery waiting to fulfil their very purpose.\u00a0 In nature the schoolbag would be seen as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[25,1],"tags":[566,134,302,757,763,759,99,761,768,766,48,760,72,47,767,758,764,98,104,765,762],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/a>A good kitchen clear out before the kids go back to school is another good idea.\u00a0 The work in the kitchen changes come school time.\u00a0 Lunches have to be prepared once more and so the supplies for that should be handy and plentiful.\u00a0 Setting up a proper lunch making station (a cupboard or even a shelf in a cupboard \u2013 just to mind the lunch stuff is really handy and stress relieving.)<\/p>\n