Back to School Recipes

Crockpots are a cold-weather essential, but if you’re accustomed to putting your slow cooker away from April to September, you may want to reconsider. This time of year can be a challenge for busy parents feeding little mouths during the chaos of back to school routines. These easy recipes guarantee to get your family through the second half of Summer and off to a heathy start this school year.

Quick Family Friendly Recipes

Simple Crockpot Italian Chicken

Ingredients:

6-8 boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, mashed
1/2 cups chicken broth
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
sea salt and pepper to taste
1 (15oz) carton diced tomatoes, drained
1 1/2 cups freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil

Directions:

Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and pour the chicken broth in the bottom of the slow cooker (it should come to just the top of the rack). Add garlic cloves to the chicken broth. Drizzle chicken with olive oil and season with Italian seasoning, sea salt and pepper. Pour drained, diced tomatoes on top and then sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Serve over top spaghetti squash or your family’s favorite pasta. Top with fresh torn basil.

Two-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

All you need are 2 simple ingredients to make this slow cooker shredded chicken — great salsa and chicken!

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs total)
2 cups your favorite salsa
salt and pepper
(optional: fresh lime wedges and avocado for serving)

Directions:

Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker and cover with salsa. Toss until the chicken is covered. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6-8 hours), or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. Shred the chicken in the slow cooker and toss with the remaining salsa and juices until well-mixed. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. (This chicken also freezes well.) Use on top a Mexican style salad, wrap in large lettuce wraps or use your family’s favorite wrap. Top with fresh squeezed limes and avocado.

Back to School Grocery Store Tour

Join Touro Nutritionist Julie Fortenberry, RD, LDN, for a FREE Back to School Grocery Store Tour at Robért Fresh Market in Lakeview on Thursday, September 8 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Learn how to plan delicious and healthy meals for you and your family. Learn how to make better food choices, read food labels, learn about ingredients, and ask questions along the way. Also, learn ideas for fast and healthy weeknight meals. Let us help you make good food choices for you and your family!

To register, go to touro.com/events or call 504-897-8500.

Julie Fortenberry is a registered dietitian at Touro Infirmary. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Southern Mississippi. Julie believes that lifestyle changes and wholesome nutrition are obtainable, and brings real-life understanding to wellness and nutritional counseling.