We have put together a few ideas to help your family eat better together! Eating together at any time of day fuels better overall nutrition – for both parents and kids.  You’ll get an “A” for “AWESOME” when you put these plans in motion.

According to a 2017 report by the Hartman Group, differing schedules are the lead obstacle to dinner at home in households with and without children. How to get more #FamilyMeal time? The answer is…breakfast! It doesn’t matter how long the mealtime is, or how perfect the meal is, just that you are eating together.

Sit down for a tasty fall breakfast with Thomas’ Bagels and NEW PICS Pumpkin Cream Cheese. A delicious combination that will remind you of your love for fall! You can also power up with some protein by enjoying our PICS Icelandic yogurt, paired with some fresh raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries or pick up a 6 oz. container of fresh organic blueberries.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders are a tasty option for dinner. Featuring Slow Cooker Market 32 Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Roast with Mini Kaiser or Ciabatta Rolls. Top off the meal with Fresh Express Salad. For some satisfying seafood try Seal and Cook Salmon with Lemon and Dill Herb Butter with a side of fresh veggies. NEW PICS 90 second rice is the finishing touch you need for a complete and healthy meal! Finally, try Fresh Full Circle Chicken Breast pan sautéed and glazed with PICS Orange Juice. Pair it with sheet pan roasted Martin Farms Cut Butternut Squash for a fulfilling family dinner.

In between meals it’s essential to have healthy, super snacks to keep you and your kids energized through your busy schedules. In this week’s ad we provided a few energizing snacks to keep you going strong all day long! Belvita Bars are a great source of energy and they come in a variety of flavors, so you can choose your favorite. They are quick and easy,  on-the-go option for any time of day. Fresh pomegranates are another great way snack to make it through the day. Pomegranates are an excellent source of potassium and fiber. When selecting them, make sure to choose ones that are plump, round, and heavy. Check out the video below to discover three creative ways to enjoy fresh pomegranates!

You strive to eat healthy throughout the day but still struggle with that nagging craving for something sweet. Luckily, we didn’t forget about the chocolate! There are some options that will satisfy your craving, without all of the calories, that the whole family will love. Give NEW PICS Dark Chocolate Hummus a try! It’s a delicious way to fulfill your chocolaty needs. Dip some banana slices, or any of your favorite chocolate-paired fruits for a tasty treat. We also recommend trying with it our PICS pretzels for the perfect combination of salty and sweet!

Well that was fast – in the blink of an eye summer vacation has come and gone. School, work, sports, clubs, and all types of extracurricular activities have resumed and things are already hectic. In the midst of all this, finding time to do your grocery shopping can be challenging. We understand your struggle, and at Price Chopper/Market 32 we are continuously working to provide ways to a more convenient, less time consuming shopping experience.

Our curbside grocery pickup service is a prime example. Available on any device, you can submit an online or mobile order, and complete your whole grocery list with the click of a few buttons. Simply login to your online account, or quickly create a new account, and use your AdvantEdge card for points on every purchase. Select your favorite items and a convenient pickup time for your schedule and just like that your shopping is finished.

Worried about receiving the correct items? Don’t be. Our shoppers are trained to pick out the same quality items that you would choose yourself. In the meantime, you can leave specific instructions for your shopper or contact them throughout the shopping process to clear up any questions or concerns.

Once the order is complete and ready for pickup, park in one of our designated curbside pickup spaces and call the store to let them know you’ve arrived. We will bring your order directly to your car, so there’s no need to leave your vehicle. For more information on curbside pickup visit our website, https://www.pricechopper.com/services/pick-up/.

Try our pickup service today and enjoy your time better spent!

4 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy School Nights

From dance classes and sports practices to clubs and lessons, kids’ schedules can become jam-packed during the school year. With numerous weeknight activities and events to juggle, it can be challenging for parents to get weeknight dinners on the table. When you’re pressed for time on those hectic weeknights, use these quick and easy ideas to whip up satisfying, stress-free family dinners.

  1. Depend on the Pantry

The refrigerator and pantry are the first places you’ll turn to for dinner ideas after a long, busy day. No matter what ingredients you find, get creative with combining kitchen staples and use dressings and seasonings to elevate simple ingredients. If you have salad greens or vegetables, toss them with quick-cooking whole grains, whole-grain pasta or make a salad with fruits, vegetables and your favorite dressing. If canned beans, vegetables and tuna are stocked in your pantry, combine them to create a convenient, nutritious, affordable meal that requires little to no prep.

  1. Rotisserie Chicken to the Rescue

Rotisserie chicken is recipe-ready and helps get protein-packed meals on the table in a flash. Use rotisserie chicken to top salads, pastas, whole grains, veggie noodles, and your favorite soups. You can also incorporate it into tacos, lettuce wraps, roll-ups and quesadillas for filling, flavorful meals. If you have time to plan ahead, try making these Asian Chicken-Jasmine Rice Bowls that feature rotisserie chicken as the main ingredient. Or, add it to this Power Boost Salad or simple Chicken & Mushroom Stir-Fry.

      3. Pizza Party

Ordering a pizza always sounds like a perfect solution at the end of a hectic day. Instead of takeout, stock the freezer with your favorite frozen pizza varieties and dress them up with fresh ingredients you have on-hand. Whether it’s peppers and mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach or even a fried egg, there are ways to add homemade touches to this fast family favorite. If you have pepperoni, olives, feta cheese and Italian seasoning in your kitchen, give this Pepperoni, Olive & Feta Pan Pizza recipe a try.

  1. Slow Cookers Save the Day

The slow cooker is an efficient cooking tool that helps transform simple ingredients into delicious, flavor-infused meals. A night or two before, decide on a meal you want to slow cook. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker before you leave in the morning, and let the magic happen! With minimal effort, you’ll have a mouthwatering meal ready for you when you get home. What’s more? Slow cookers are easy to cleanup; consider picking up some slow cooker liners to make the cleanup even more efficient. For a fun, fall-inspired meal, try our Slow Cooker Carne Asada Cubed Steak Chili recipe.

No matter what the schedule looks like for the week ahead, keep these valuable tips in mind to create weeknight dinners that are quick, effortless and satisfy the whole family.

Family laughing around a good meal in kitchen

Family Meals – Fresh and Fast

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist

September is a time the majority of us hit the reset button, pull out the calendar and get back to school and work routines. No doubt, many of us find we are already overcommitted before we even get started! Catching up around the dinner table is a great way to reconnect after these busy days, but getting that organized can be one more thing on that already long list. Don’t worry, we have your back with #TimeBetterSpent solutions to kick off National #FamilyMealsMonth, an annual celebration of all of the benefits every occasion you can eat together with family and friends can bring.

Sunday – Get ahead and power up Monday breakfast with a delicious, easy overnight oats and berries recipe (see below). September is also #WholeGrainsMonth! Give everyone the protein and #wholegrains they need for brain power, and know some morning time eating together will get the week off to a great start!

Monday – Go Can Crazy with a quick family and budget friendly chili recipe. Crunch some #wholegrain chips or fresh baked corn bread from the bakery and get all the news of the day at dinner.

Tuesday – First night for sports, Scouts, homework – way too many things to think about cooking too! Rustle up a fresh Rotisserie Chicken, bagged Fresh Express salad,  and the leftover corn bread. Fresh and fast!

Wednesday – Mac and Cheese please (see below)! Comfort food that connects the dots – time and kid-friendly, make it with #wholegrain PICS whole wheat rotini so they get what they want, and you get what you want – healthy, happy kids!

Thursday – Dinner is in the bag! Seal and Cook fresh seafood meals made daily in stores include cut fresh vegetables, 4 different seafood choices, and are made with or without garlic butter. They can be steamed in the store, microwaved or baked at home. Seafood is brain food, smart families are enjoying more with this no muss, no fuss solution!

FridayRotisserie Turkey (Bonus AdvantEdge points!) or chicken and bagged Fresh Express salad close the week with a fresh family favorite.  

#TimeBetterSpent on #FamilyMeals pays off with a lifetime of benefits for your whole family. Learn more about #FamilyMealsMonth at https://www.pricechopper.com/time-better-spent/. You bring the kids, and we’ll bring you the meal solutions!

Overnight Oatmeal and Berries by Jodie Fitz

 2 1/2 cups PICS Greek plain or vanilla yogurt 

2 cups PICS old-fashioned rolled oats

¼ cup PICS honey

1 teaspoon Full Circle cinnamon

1 cup PICS frozen blueberries or strawberries

In a large bowl, stir the yogurt, oats, honey and cinnamon together.  Divide the mixture among 4 airtight containers*.  Add the frozen berries on top.  Seal the containers and let sit overnight in the refrigerator.  Grab and go in the morning for a quick and easy breakfast!

*Small canning jars work great!

Macaroni and Cheese

8 oz. PICS whole wheat rotini

4 T. PICS unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

4 T. PICS all-purpose flour

2 cups PICS milk

Salt and pepper to season

Pinch Full Circle organic nutmeg

2 cups PICS shredded macaroni and cheese blend

1 cup crushed PICS snack crackers

2 T. PICS melted butter

2 tsp. smoked paprika

Cook pasta until tender, drain and rinse.

Meanwhile, melt 4 T. butter in a sauce pan and add the flour to make a roux. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheeses.

Toss the pasta and sauce together to coat well. Spoon into a lightly greased casserole dish or 4 individual ramekins.

Combine the crackers, 2 T. melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over macaroni and cheese, and place in a preheated 375° oven and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Serves 4.