Busy schedules can bring all new challenges to eating right and healthy. My family has after school activities on four out of the five weekdays. For me, this means feeding my kids a snack prior to soccer or karate to give them the energy they need. Our schedule also brings us home at 6:00 or 6:30 on these nights so I need fast dinner ideas to feed those hungry and tired little mouths.
On most days, I do my best to pack my soft cooler with fresh fruit, crispy raw vegetables, cheese sticks and “homemade lunchables” that I make with cut up pieces of deli meat, slices of different cheeses and crackers. However, some days I simply run out of time to pack my snack spread and my boys are getting a little bored with eating relatively the same thing for days at a time.
Last week, there was a day when I traded my “snack packing” time for a shower. I had taken a class at the gym that morning and couldn’t wait to shower off in the warm, steamy water. Once dressed, I was limited to throwing together sandwiches for lunch in the car. With sandwiches in tow, I gave my boys a speed brushing for their teeth, grabbed shoes and my purse and at 12:30 we were off, knowing that we would not return until 6:30 that evening.
After dropping off my kindergartener and spending the next hour and a half running errands, it was time to pick up my other son from school. I pulled up to school in my freshly cleaned Sienna and welcomed my son with the Star Wars Theme blasting out of the door when he opened it. He gave me a big smile, muttered that “school was good” and exclaimed, “Mom, I’m hungry!” With only 30 minutes to spare before picking up my other son from school, I decided that we could have a fast food snack today.
As we pulled into the welcoming drive-through with the over-sized golden “M”, I saw a sign for “Family Value Meal for $8.99.” I thought, “What a great deal!” We will get 20 chicken nuggets, 2 orders of fries and 2 Powerade drinks, perfect for a pre-soccer snack.
When the small windows opened, I could smell the crispy fries that were inside the bag that was handed to me. I was trying to resist the fried food but the protein smoothie that I drank a few hours before was not providing much willpower. It was a fun snack. Once I parked, the three set out our spread of fries and chicken nuggets, dipping and sampling the different sauces. Despite the voice in my head telling me to avoid eating anything from there, my stomach won and I nibbled on a few nuggets and fries.
We laughed, ate and began to pack up to head back to school when I dropped the box from the chicken. Through the splotches of grease that had soaked through the bottom of the box, I could see that one 10-pack of nuggets was 460 calories. “Are you kidding me?” I said out loud. I thought about my sweaty workout from earlier in the day. I didn’t eat 10 nuggets but I probably ate five, not to mention the fries. My strenuous workout was practically for nothing. The thought made me a little sick but there was nothing that I could but remember the information and know better for next time.
Some family value meal. It will cost you more than you think.