Tacoma Boys is here to help you prep school snack ideas plus breakfast and lunch, too! Everyone knows it can be difficult to get started with a new school year full of activities, errands, and meals to prepare. It can especially be tricky to come up with new creative and enticing snacks for the kids throughout the year. Tacoma Boys has a variety of packaged snacks plus fresh ingredients to have on hand and pack in the backpacks.
For some households, the New Year means a new opportunity to learn how to cook more at home! It’s easy to get into the habit of stopping for fast food or takeout on the way home after a long day. But overall, cooking at home is generally more affordable and nutritious. Plus, you can experiment with new recipes and get into a new habit of enjoying home cooking on the regular. When you’re familiar with cooking often, this lends more freedom to eating what you want including more recipes from different cuisines.
Gourmet toast is an easy but flavorful snack or breakfast that can be customized in so many ways! All you need is a base of crusty bread and something to spread it on to start your gourmet toast. Then, toppings like fruit, vegetables, and pantry staples are like a cherry on top. A snack as simple as peanut butter toast can be so tasty, satisfying, and comforting! But gourmet toasts by way of avocado, ricotta, hummus, and more are popular for good reason.
Many people like meal prepping as it saves time and money and encourages home cooking and nutritious eating. Sometimes, it can be difficult to eat nourishing meals when there’s little time to cook throughout the week. Whole foods and ingredients like lean protein, grains, and vegetables have to be prepared in some way to make them tasty and satisfying. And even if you enjoy cooking, meal prepping can be helpful for feeding busy families, especially as the new school year begins.
When the warm summer weather hits, nothing sounds more refreshing than a fruity smoothie? It's both a snack and a drink in one! And smoothies are so easy to make at home. They’re perfect for sunny afternoons and go so well with outdoor activities and picnics. Cool and satisfying smoothies are great for families with kids and toddlers, too. Sneak in some greens like spinach or kale while you’re at it and the kids won’t even notice!
It’s just about that time of year to get started with cooking summer recipes! With graduation parties, holidays like the 4th of July, and time off to vacation, there’s a lot of cooking and eating to be done. It’s a fun time to experiment in the kitchen and cook with an abundance of the local produce that’s available. This season supports a bountiful supply of fruits and vegetables that bring nutrients and freshness to your plate!
Snacks like trail mix and crackers are easy to grab to enjoy on the go when you need just a little bite to eat. Tacoma Boys offers a wide selection of premade snacks like mixes of nuts, dried fruit, and pretzels. Options like these are convenient, but you can also make your own customized versions of snack mixes and snacks with everything you prefer and nothing you don’t! You can shop for a variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, and cheese to snack on at Tacoma Boys. And if you want to try something new, we have a variety of different things for everyone to enjoy.
Sustainable grocery shopping is an important but easy part of eating and cooking. While it’s also easy to look the other way, simple actions like bringing your own reusable bags and shopping seasonally can help: Sustainable grocery shopping includes limiting the use of plastic you take home and making a couple changes when it comes to shopping habits. Simply put, sustainably grocery shopping is all about making your grocery trip less harmful on the planet and also less stressful for you.
Contrary to popular belief, affordable healthy eating is 100% possible. There’s a common misconception about how costly it can be to eat healthy. Fortunately, affordable healthy eating is obtainable no matter the number in your bank account – that’s a WIN. There are a lot of healthy food products on the market that can cost quite a bit more, however, that does not mean you need those products in your pantry in order to eat an abundance of whole foods. The Tacoma Boys guide to affordable healthy eating is here to show that healthy eating is within reach no matter the circumstance!
Affordable Healthy Eating is Accessible
“So you’re telling me affordable healthy eating is within my reach?!” – The answer is yes! Consuming an abundance of whole foods is a crucial part of anyone’s diet. What you put into your body plays an important role in your immune system, energy levels, sleeping patterns, and more. Making your health a priority in regards to food may require planning, but it can be life changing! It’s important to do your own research and avoid possible rumors that may not be true – in this case, affordable healthy eating.
Where Do I Start?
Plan Ahead
Without a doubt, planning saves money. When you plan your meals out for the week and write out the ingredients needed at the store, you’re less likely to purchase goods that you don’t need and may go to waste. Try sitting down and planning out your next week’s meals and creating a detailed grocery list. This is an easy method to set yourself up for success. Afterall, during unprecedentedtimes, planning ahead for the unexpected is crucial!
Produce, Produce, Produce!
There’s no denying that produce should be at the heart of every grocery trip! Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of fresh local produce that works well for any budget.
Tacoma Boys Tip: Try freezing your own produce if it’s about to spoil and use it in smoothies and soups later on!
Shop Pantry Staple Foods
Having pantry staple foods on hand is an affordable way to make food last a long while. There are many healthy pantry staple foods you can stock up on to last – some may even cost less than $1 per serving – yes please!
Bob’s Red Mills Steel Cut Oats
Timeless French Green Lentils
Lundberg Black Japonica Rice
Jovial Foods Brown Rice Pasta
Remlinger Farms Frozen Fruit
Pacific Foods Broths & Stocks
Eggs
This popular ingredient deserves its own category because of its versatility. Depending on the type of eggs you buy, a serving of 2 eggs can cost as low as 0.83 cents. Serve alongside some spinach, onion, bell pepper, and you have yourself a hearty breakfast scramble for under $3. Tacoma Boys has a great selection of high quality eggs such as Vital Farms and Stiebrs Farms Organic Free Range Eggs that work great for any meal of the day!
Affordable Healthy Recipes Made Easy
When planning your meals ahead of time, look for recipes that use minimal ingredients that fit within your budget. Budget Bytes provides high quality recipes with budget and ingredients laid out clearly. This is a great tool to use when budgeting your weekly groceries. You may also want to think about using discount codes from Raise (see here – https://www.raise.com/coupons/target) to help you make savings when shopping for groceries at places like Target or you can use them to get reductions on lots of other items from your favorite brands and stores. This way, you can really stretch your budget a lot further!
This guide is a friendly reminder that your local Tacoma Boys is here to help assist you with any of your grocery needs. Although Tacoma Boys does carry a variety specialty food items, the budget-friendly options are bountiful throughout each store. When swinging by a Tacoma Boys near you, keep in mind produce, pantry staples, and products like eggs for cost efficient grocery shopping. (And don’t forget to plan ahead!) For more tips and tricks on saving money at your local Tacoma Boys, check out the following resources:
We get it. The sun is setting at an atrociously early hour, the weather is inclement, and all of the holiday movies are streaming. These are nights for staying in, kicking back and donning your favorite flannel jammies. But you might also be exhausted from the holiday baking and want someone else to make your dinner. Thankfully, ordering off a restaurant menu is not the only way to enjoy a meal without cooking. A quick stop at Tacoma Boys and you can have a delicious, nourishing meal on the table with little to no prep. It’s basically a way to dine out in pajamas!
The “Take Out” Menu at Tacoma Boys
We know a little wander around our store will convince you that we care deeply about carrying the freshest local ingredients for all your culinary needs. Did you know we’ve put the same care into selecting the prepared and prepped foods we choose to carry? We’ve gathered a few of our favorite ready-made foods into a menu for you. Grab some of these menu items for a relaxing night, void of dinner prep.
Tacoma Boys House-Made Pizzas
Oven ready pizzas with a delectably thin crust are here at the ready. While you’re in the store grab your favorite beer and a bag of popcorn and you are all set for a movie night at home. Pop the pizza in the oven and cue up the movie!
Made in the South Sound on Vashon Island, these Tamales are a perfect choice when you’re in the mood for Mexican food and want to support local. Grab some refried beans, corn tortilla chips, and salsa and you’ve got a complete meal that’s gluten free!
International comfort food at its finest, these authentic Russian dumplings, made locally in Auburn WA, are sure to hit the spot on a cold evening. Dumplings take very little time to cook. Simply boil gently for approximately 8 minutes, toss with melted butter, and season to taste.
Beef – Beef and Pork – Potato & Cheese with Bacon
Beecher’s Mac & Cheese
The iconic cheesemaker Kurt Beecher first opened shop in Pike Place Market in Seattle and ever since, people have been craving that unmistakably creamy, Beecher’s Flagship Mac & Cheese. When the craving hits, you don’t need to hit I-5 and travel north, just hop into Tacoma Boys and pick up some Beecher’s from the freezer section.
Mac & Cheese – Smoked Flagship Mac & Cheese – World’s Best Mac & Cheese – Mariachi Mac & Cheese – Cheese Curd Lasagna
These robust, dehydrated soups made in Central Washington are a snap to put together and need very few extra ingredients. They do have a longer cooking time, but since prep is a cinch, you can get this going in the late afternoon, or early evening, and have a bowl of soup in your hands at dinner time. Check the back of the soup mix for any extra ingredients you need to pick up, and grab a loaf of sourdough or dinner rolls by Kalama Sourdough Bakery to complete the meal.
Manini’s Ravioli – Gluten Free
When Italian food is on the menu and you want something with a bit more flair than traditional spaghetti, this gluten free pasta option is a great fit. To make a simple sauce for pasta, toss with salted butter and season to taste. Or to kick it up a notch, saute mushrooms in butter and garlic, toss with the ravioli, and add a sprinkle of fresh parmesan.
Portobello & Cheese – Spinach & Cheese
Don’t Forget Dessert
Of course, to dine out in pajamas, you must include dessert! We’ve got quite a selection of desserts available, but you really can’t go wrong with a little pie and ice cream. Come check out the huge selection of frozen pies.
We hope you take us up on the chance to put those jammies on early and cue up a movie. With the dinner prep out of the way, you can nourish your body with a good meal, truly relax, and dine out in pajamas. For extra relaxation points (don’t worry, we really aren’t keeping score), pour yourself a glass of one of our favorite Rare Red Blend wine.