Student-parents at CSUN,

Remembering to eat is something that we always forget.  We’ll wait until our stomachs are growling or until a headache starts to set in.  This can not be healthy.  Every time I end up in this situation, I’m scrounging at the bottom of my purse or backpack for loose change so that I can make an attempt to buy something from the closest vending machine.   Somehow I always end up short at least a nickel, and its two minutes before class.

There are solutions to this problem.  Caring about oneself would be one consideration.  I always worried about getting my kids lunches prepared for the next day, until I realized that I can simultaneously make one for myself.  The occasional peanut butter and jelly is better than struggling to get through the next class.  Since I’ve started this regimen, not only do I feel more energetic throughout the day, but I save time, don’t have to rush to class, and I save money by not eating out all the time.

Not only is it important to keep lunch in mind, but dinner is also as significant, and when busy with all the other things on our lists, its dinnertime before we even know it.  When this occurs, I normally end up at a Taco Bell drive-thru.  Fortunately, many fast food restaurants have added healthy foods to their menus.   Most of the common fast food chains offer menus that include the nutritional information online.  This helps to at least make a healthier choice for you and your family when caught in this situation.

It might sound crazy, but most of the time I’m able to cook dinner for my family at home.  I’m not saying it’s always a gourmet meal, but there are several dinner recipes that are easy to cook and take little time to make.  Some of them are available online at www.fastrecipes.com or www.kraftrecipes.com.  Each of these sites offers fast and healthy recipes that also have high quality taste.

When all else fails, there are some great ready-to-make frozen dinners available.  Stouffer’s offers pasta meals that are ready in 18 minutes; they also have a variety of dinners that can be cooked easily.  However are not recommended for their flavor.

Next week, I’ll give tips on helping your child with his/her homework, while dealing with obstacles of your own.