Oftentimes chaos ensues when changing a routine and this can be exacerbated during spring break. With all the planned family activities and the unforeseen events that can occur, it can be hard to avoid a last-minute supper at a fast food joint. So why not plan your meals to avoid eating junk food when you’re doing outdoor activities? Here are a few meal ideas that could be useful when you’re planning.
Let’s play outside!
Spring break – the perfect time to take advantage of what’s left of winter. Whatever your favourite winter sport, it’s often planned at the last minute. Outdoor activities with family or friends are part of our daily lives, but sometimes you’re having so much fun, you forget to eat and that’s when you can catch a cold.
Eat something hot – ideas to warm you up!
It’s important to keep warm in the winter and the best way to do that is to eat well. The ideal winter meal is a combination of protein, carbohydrates and a hot drink. A nice Mexican Hot Chocolate with a Cherry-Walnut Oatmeal Bars can be an excellent snack. Or enjoy a delicious Cincinnati tofu chili (in a thermos to keep it warm!) with a broccoli molasses muffin for a complete and nutritious lunch.
Your favourite snack is a muffin and you’re afraid it’ll get hard? Here are two solutions for you. #1: Keep it in an inside coat pocket, but this trick has its limits. For winter sports that require a wider range of movement or where you could fall, this solution isn’t practical. #2: Put it in your bag with a Hot Paw for your hands or feet. Just make sure the food doesn’t touch the Hot Paw itself to avoid cooking it.
Did you know: that most of the time, it’s the water content in food that’s the problem. The more water it has, the harder it’ll get in the cold. That’s why it’s smart to bring dried fruit, nuts and grain products like cookies, crackers, rice cakes and breakfast bars.
Food for outdoor activities
It’s not always obvious what you should eat before or after exercising. In winter, it’s highly recommended that you eat food that’s good for the immune system. Citrus is suitable because it contains vitamin C. To get the energy you need, add some oatmeal which will give you the necessary complex carbs, protein and soluble fiber. And the best part is you can treat yourself to a little dessert with cocoa. This is the best food during the winter season because it’s chockful of antioxidants.
Once you’ve finished your activity, choose a meal that’s rich in protein like chili. The nourishing beans will give you a lot of energy to compensate for what you’ve just spent. A meal with potatoes like our beef stew can be an excellent idea because it’ll not only give you long-term energy, but antioxidants as well. Put your meal in a thermos to go and you won’t be tempted by junk food!
Try not to drink too much coffee because it’ll make you really thirsty. Opt for other hot drinks instead. It’s important not to drink too much fluids because winter sports involve several layers of clothes and you don’t want to be constantly taking them off!
Stay inside!
Warm temperatures aren’t in the forecast? Don’t worry, you’ll find original activities to do in the house!
Make a themed supper
Seeing as there’s lots of time during spring break week, plan a nice family dinner. If you really want to get out of the routine, use these supper themes as inspiration for dinner with your family or friends.
Exotic cuisine
Curious about other cultures or totally in love with their food? Organize a dinner around another country! Plan decorations, costumes and meals that are reminiscent of its atmosphere and culture. It’s an excellent way for you and your family to learn more about other people around the world!
Sugaring off
Early March is the beginning of the sugar shack season. Why not prepare a meal inspired by this theme in the comfort of your own home? Go for the traditional hams, omelettes and baked beans. Want to get out of the routine? Then choose this broccoli and sun-dried tomato frittata and these maple baked beans instead. If you’re like us and don’t want to miss the maple taffy that’s available at the sugar shack, then make this homemade recipe yourself! If bad weather threatens to ruin your project, put clean, fresh snow in an airtight container and keep it till suppertime!
At the beach
If winter seems like it’ll last forever, then why not add a little sunshine to your week by having supper at the beach? Lay out some beach towels on the living room floor, take out your summer clothes and the beach ball, crank up the heat and have a picnic! If weather permits, why not have a barbecue? Try our grilled vegetable and salmon in papillote to get you in the mood for summertime!
Breakfast
We’re not talking about making breakfast here, but more supper with morning dishes! Everyone wearing their jammies will definitely break the bedtime routine. Nothing but breakfast-type food allowed here.
Do you have a raclette set? Make crepe or pancake batter, then top with whatever you want: fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, etc. And why not also whip up an omelette with whatever veggies and meat you’d like? Serve with meaty sides like bacon, ham, sausage wash the whole thing down with a delicious smoothie or chocolate milk!
Make your own snow
Yup, you read right – you can now make your own snow! Even if all the snow melts during spring break, you can still take advantage of winter. You just need three cups of baking soda with half a cup of hair conditioner and voilà, you’ve got snow! Obviously, you can’t eat it, so just keep an eye on the younger kids who play with the fake snow. Make sure to have a large container nearby for messes which could just work out if you don’t like doing housework!
And what would you say if we told you we had a recipe to make snow flavoured ice cream? Yup, the crazy people at Happy Hooligans tried it!
Get a head start on lunches!
Getting a head start on next week’s lunches during spring break is an excellent idea. Whether alone, with the kids or in a collective kitchen, the idea is a simple one: make several dishes to avoid of cooking after work. What’s better than making different kinds of sandwiches in advance?
Here’s what to do:
- If you use bread, spread butter or margarine on the inside so sandwiches don’t go soft when thawed. If you use pita or tortillas, this isn’t necessary.
- Put condiments in between the meat and cheese so sandwiches don’t get soggy.
- Wrap sandwiches individually and identify what kind they are unless you like surprises. It’s important to use airtight bags or containers.
- Take sandwiches out of the freezer in the morning. The good news is you won’t need a cooler because they’re frozen!
- If you or your kids eat early, take sandwiches out of the freezer the night before. No one likes to eat frozen ones!
- When preparing your lunch bag, use a container for ingredients that can’t be frozen: real mayonnaise, salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions. You can add them to your sandwich later.
Sandwiches can be kept for two or three days in the fridge and one to three months in the freezer. Want to add a little something crazy to your sandwiches? Try this Green Olive, Lemon, and Almond Tapenade or these Spicy Pickled Carrots.
Obviously, not everything freezes well. Veggies like cabbage, celery, cucumber, endive, lettuce and radishes contain a lot of water and get soggy or lose their flavour once thawed. Putting boiled potatoes, egg whites, as well as mayonnaise, in the freezer also isn’t recommended.
You can now put your heart and soul into your spring break activities knowing that the menu is set! The only thing left to do is to organize your ideas and make a plan. Tell us, what are you doing during spring break?
