No more 5pm panic. We're Rachel & Polly--your guides to freezer meals, menu planning, and wholesome recipes that make family dinner easy. Subscribe below to get your free 1 Hour Freezer Prep Session instantly.
A Better Summer Starts With This Email
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Goggles? Missing. Boredom? Settling in. Summer mode? Officially activated. If you’re currently in the thick of the seasonal transition, today’s email is for you. We’ve rounded up our best family-tested activities and survival tips to help you navigate these sunny months with ease, no matter what stage of life your family is in. 1) Outdoor Games, Toys, and MoreFun outdoor toys and games can help motivate kids to get off the screens. We've got you covered with our list of lawn games, outdoor toys, goggles, and more. Rachel's Pick: Hacky Sack: My teens' current obsession. Polly's Pick: Giant Bubble Wands: Every age loves these gigantic bubbles!
2) Indoor Games, Activities, and Puzzles​For hot or rainy days, be sure to stock up on some new indoor activities. Here are our favorite board games, puzzles, learning activities, and more for all ages. Polly's Pick: For preschoolers, Spot It has been super fun. For younger elementary kids, Monopoly Junior has been a favorite. Rachel's Pick: For ages 10+, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and Colorku are just a few of our faves.
3) A Stocked Freezer​Probably like you, I don't have much motivation to cook in the summer. Do your future sun-tanned self a favor and stock the freezer with 1 Hour Freezer Prep. In just 1 hour, you can have six freezer meals ready to pull out! We suggest starting with prep session 5 or 6 which can all be thrown on the grill.
4) Grilling Recipes​This round-up is full of easy, family-friendly recipes that you can throw on the grill in no time. Polly's Pick: Smash Burgers - The secret is in the sauce! Rachel's Pick: Southwest Chicken Tenders - I use them in wraps, on salads, or as a stand-alone main dish.
5) Freezer Meals to Take on Vacation​Ready to save money and time in the kitchen while on vacation? Check out this list. Polly's Pick: Turkey Pesto Paninis Rachel's Pick: On-the-Go Chicken Burritos - Great for lunches or dinners.
6) Healthy On-the-Go Snacks​Having healthy, on-the-go snacks is essential to keep the “campers” happy and full of energy this summer! Polly's Pick: Powerball Cookies - These make a great snack or grab and go breakfast for my crew. Rachel's Pick: Banana Breakfast Cookies - My daughter's favorite. She makes and freezes these regularly.
7) Smoothie Pack Recipes​Take advantage of great summer produce by making freezer smoothie packs. Polly's Pick: Green Machine Smoothie - So fresh and tasty! Rachel's Pick: Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie - It's like a healthy chocolate shake.
8) Thriving Meals AppStop the 5:00 PM "what's for dinner" panic and reclaim your summer evenings. Includes customizable weekly meal plans, auto-generated grocery lists, freezer prep resources, and 450+ trusted, ad-free(!) recipes. It’s the ultimate shortcut to serving real food without the daily stress.
Weekly Menu PlanOur free Weekly Menu Plan is here to help you save time and money, eat healthier, and bring your family together around the table.
Have a great week! Polly & Rachel |
Thriving Home: Your Freezer Meal Side-Kicks
No more 5pm panic. We're Rachel & Polly--your guides to freezer meals, menu planning, and wholesome recipes that make family dinner easy. Subscribe below to get your free 1 Hour Freezer Prep Session instantly.
Hi Reader, We're celebrating two holidays this coming week--Juneteenth and Father's Day--and have some great ideas to get you started below. Also, if you still need a gift for your dad or husband, check out gift ideas from our own husbands. Austin's shorts and Nathan's sneakers have been the most popular so far. Let’s get planning,Rachel Weekly Menu Plan * = A freezer-friendly meal that you could consider doubling a batch and freezing one for later. Monday: Caesar Pasta Salad with Chicken –...
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or aunt/uncle/friend to younger kids...this email is for you. My (Rachel's) three kids are all teenagers now, but I spent many, many summers with preschool and elementary kids at home. Why Read Aloud to Kids? As a trained English teacher and former children's ministry director, I could see first hand the positive impact of reading from early on. So, I always wanted to use summer months to help my children's minds stay stimulated and read even more books...
Father’s Day is creeping up fast! If you’re struggling to figure out what to get the dad in your life—trust us, we know how notoriously hard they are to buy for—we’ve got you covered. On top of our ultimate Gift Guide for Dads, we’re sharing five things our own husbands swear by, along with a few of their absolute favorite recipes. Austin (Polly's Husband) Austin's Top 5 Recipes: Ground Beef Quesadillas Turkey Pesto Paninis Chicken Fried Rice (but made on the Blackstone) Smash Burgers with...