(Family Features) When it comes to sit-down family meals, one thing is for certain: It feels like you never have enough time. With your hectic schedule – full days at school and work, afternoon sports practices for the kiddos and plans with friends on the weekends – preparing a home cooked meal everyone will love can be daunting.

Busy Families

However, that time together in the kitchen and at the table is valuable. It offers an opportunity to bond through shared meals and gives kids a chance to learn life skills, such as measuring ingredients, simple cooking methods and properly seasoning favorite dishes. Dining at home also promotes healthier eating habits like portion control.

By rethinking your approach to home cooking, you can bring back family meals for those special moments together. Call your loved ones together and plan for fresh, homemade recipes with these easy steps.

Plan the Menu in Advance
Thinking about the week (or two) ahead can help avoid last-minute decisions to hit the drive thru. Pick a day – many families opt for Sunday evenings – you can sit down together and schedule meals for the upcoming week. If you can, try and plan dishes little ones can help with so the whole family can get involved. Make sure everyone feels included by allowing each member of the family to pick a recipe for the week. Be flexible and keep in mind plans may change. Try to plan at least one recipe you can make in 30 minutes or less so you can be prepared for the unexpected, and remember to take advantage of hands-off cooking methods like the slow cooker.

Use Ready-to-Cook Ingredients
With fresh, flavorful ingredients from The Little Potato Company, busy families have more options to choose from for meals the whole family will love. For easy and delicious oven-roasted or grilled potatoes, A Little Garlic & Parmesan Oven or Grill Ready Little Potatoes deliver a classic garlic and cheese flavor. Perfect for those seeking plant-based options, they’re an easy side to serve with your favorite main courses.

Grocery Shop Online
If the thought of hunting the store aisles for that one missing ingredient keeps you awake at night, online grocery shopping can save you the time and hassle. While meal planning for the week, jot down a list of each ingredient you’ll need for those recipes then add everything to your digital cart in minutes. Some stores and services even offer delivery so you can collect groceries right off your front porch. An added bonus: Shopping online means you can mindfully plan your shopping list with groceries you actually need.

Take Advantage of Quick Cooking Methods
On those hectic evenings when you don’t even have time to let the oven preheat, look to the microwave for salvation. Combining the sweetness of honey with a little heat from chili, A Little Hot Honey Microwave Ready Little Potatoes provide a pop of flavor that’s ready in minutes. Simply heat the potatoes in the microwavable tray for 5 minutes, sprinkle on the hot honey seasoning pack and enjoy. Because they come pre-washed, require no peeling and are small enough they don’t need to be cut, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table.

Ask for Help in the Kitchen
Even the simplest of recipes is bound to require a little work in the kitchen. Make cooking at home a family affair by asking loved ones to help set the table, put away leftovers and wash dishes so you can focus on conversation instead of cleanup.

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Visit littlepotatoes.com to find a store near you and more quick, convenient family meal solutions.

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
The Little Potato Company

With a family of adorable otters, a touch of whimsy, and delicious, kid-approved seafood, SeaPak is making meals easier and tastier for parents everywhere.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. /PRNewswire/ — When it comes to picky eaters, parents have tried almost every negotiation tactic to get their kids to eat something new. Now with SeaPak’s help, amplified through their Even the Pickiest Pick SeaPak campaign, there’s a delicious new way to win during meals. This fun and creative marketing campaign from America’s No. 1 frozen shrimp brand makes its debut just as Lent begins and right before the newly established National Picky Eaters Day on April 4.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/seapak/9309951-en-seapak-family-meals-national-picky-eaters-day

“With our Even the Pickiest Pick SeaPak campaign, we’re showing that shrimp and other seafood can be a real game-changer for families with picky eaters,” said Ciera Womack, Director of Marketing, Seafood at Rich Products Corp., parent company of SeaPak. “And with the launch of National Picky Eaters Day, we’re giving parents a reason to celebrate those little wins. SeaPak’s crispy, kid-approved favorites like Classic Popcorn Shrimp and Crunchy Shrimp Poppers are easy and delicious ways to make mealtimes a success.”

The new holiday, created by SeaPak, celebrates small mealtime victories and helps parents find stress-free ways to expand their kids’ food horizons. Backed by a national survey of 2,000 parents of school-aged children, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of SeaPak, the holiday taps into the universal struggle of picky eating — and offers tasty solutions that even the pickiest eaters will pick.

SeaPak’s survey revealed that parents spend an average of 67 hours a year negotiating with their picky eaters. It also highlighted some of the most common reasons behind food refusals:

• 37% of parents say veggies are the biggest source of food meltdowns for their children.
• 33% of kids reject foods based on smell.
• 32% say no just because of how food looks.
• 26% of parents used to be picky eaters themselves — and still are today.

While some foods may never fly with certain kids, the survey found that seafood is a real crowd-pleaser: In fact, 32% of parents say their kids always say yes to shrimp.

To help bring these insights to life, SeaPak partnered with creative agency EP+ Co and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop to create The Otterfords, a family of lovable sea otter puppets who know all too well what it’s like to have a picky eater at the table. Sea otters eat 25% of their body weight in food each day, their diet consisting of a tasty seafood medley – that’s about 4 pounds of shrimp daily!  Designed by the legendary company behind the Muppets, these charming, shrimp-loving characters star in SeaPak’s latest campaign, proving that sea otters and humans can agree on one thing: Seafood is delicious.

“Our goal has always been to make mealtimes more fun and stress-free,” Womack added. “With The Otterfords, our Even the Pickiest Pick SeaPak campaign, and National Picky Eaters Day, we’re giving parents a lighthearted way to connect with their kids about trying new foods — and showing that seafood is something even picky eaters will pick.”

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SeaPak is inviting parents to join the National Picky Eaters Day celebration on April 4 by sharing their successes on social media using #PickyEatersDay, trying a “picky eater-approved” meal with their family, and swapping tips with other parents on how to make meals easier.

For more information on National Picky Eaters Day, visit nationaltoday.com/national-picky-eaters-day/, and to explore picky-eater-friendly seafood options, visit seapak.com.

SOURCE SeaPak

PRNewswire

March 4-7, 2025, marks a momentous occasion in the world of innovation at Expo West, and we’re thrilled to share the exciting news about the strategic partnership between two pioneers: Ketone Labs and Blue Pacific Flavors. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the functional beverage landscape with the introduction of goBHB®-powered drinks, combining science-backed formulation with mouthwatering flavors.

What’s Buzzing at Expo West?

Set in the vibrant city of Anaheim, California, Expo West 2025 is the place to be for industry professionals and health enthusiasts alike. Visitors can look forward to an exclusive sneak peek at groundbreaking non-stimulant energy beverages that harness the power of goBHB®. These innovative drinks stand out by delivering clean, sustained energy without the jitters associated with caffeine or taurine.

The Power of goBHB®: Fueling a Healthier Future

At the core of this partnership is goBHB®, a game-changing innovation that promises to uplift our daily wellness routines. Here’s a breakdown of what makes these beverages stand out:

• Brain Health: The cognitive benefits of goBHB® are remarkable! It enhances mental clarity and focus, making it perfect for those long workdays or study sessions.
• Gut Health: With specially designed formulations that support the microbiome, these beverages are as much about feeling good on the inside as they are about revitalizing your energy levels.
• Metabolic Energy: goBHB® serves as a rapid source of fuel, enabling endurance and performance, whether you’re hitting the gym or navigating a busy day.

Meet Our Innovators

Industry veterans Donald F. Wilkes, CEO of Blue Pacific Flavors, and Rob C. Rogers, Founder of Ketone Labs, are enthusiastic about this partnership and the future it holds. With Donald’s extensive experience in flavor science and beverage formulation and Rob’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of metabolic health, this collaboration is set to redefine expectations.

“In my 40+ years in the industry, I have never seen a technology as transformative as goBHB®,” Wilkes stated. “It’s a game-changer in metabolic health, offering a science-backed, clean-energy solution that fits today’s functional beverage landscape.”

Echoing this sentiment, Rob C. Rogers shared, “goBHB® is revolutionizing the industry, and our partnership with Blue Pacific Flavors is pivotal in unlocking its full potential.”

Tantalizing Taste Meets Cutting-Edge Science

One of the most exciting aspects of this partnership is the introduction of several unique and innovative flavored products, all developed by Blue Pacific Flavors. The day is coming when functional health drinks aren’t just good for you—they’ll taste fantastic too!

Will you be attending Expo West 2025? Be sure to visit Booth #4373 for a chance to sample these extraordinary beverages and see firsthand how goBHB® can integrate into your lifestyle. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the experts behind these innovations and learn more about the intersection of delicious flavor and health-conscious formulation.

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Join Us on This Journey!

As we embark on this exciting journey in functional nutrition, we invite you to stay connected and follow along. Together, Ketone Labs and Blue Pacific Flavors are committed to delivering the next generation of delicious, effective, and innovative products tailored to modern consumer needs.

Let’s Change the Way We Think About Nutrition

Join us at Expo West 2025, and be part of the exciting new wave of functional beverages that promote brain health, gut health, and metabolic energy without compromising on flavor. The future of wellness awaits—let’s explore it together! 🥤✨

For more updates, follow us on our social media channels and explore the fascinating world of goBHB® and its incredible potential! See you in Anaheim!

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