5 Healthy Foods That Make Mealtime Easy

Here's a confession: While most people skip happily into the month of May (hooray for warmer temperatures and more sunshine!), I wake up on May 1 in a state of panic. All I have to do is look at the calendar and count down the number of days left in the school year to be sent into full-fledged "go-mode."

You see, my husband and I work for ourselves and we work from home. Translation: I need to accomplish as much work as possible in the next 30 days before our kids are out of school for the summer. On top of that pressure, there's end-of-school-year activities to prepare for, teacher gifts to purchase, and soccer practices and games to attend. I suspect if you're a parent, you can relate to feeling maxed out.

But there's one part of your life that's about to get easier: mealtime. No more getting tired of thinking about a nutritious breakfast, feeling exhausted at the idea of packing wholesome lunches or getting overwhelmed trying to figure out dinner.

[See: 10 Healthy Meals You Can Make in 10 Minutes.]

Healthy meals and snacks for your family don't have to be complicated. Today's markets are filled with great, nutritious food choices that are equally convenient. Instead of trying to calculate just how long your children can survive on peanut butter and jelly, consider these snack and dinner options instead:

1. Chocolate Milk

Milk is a great source of nutrients -- such as calcium, potassium and vitamin D -- that kids tend to fall short on. Add chocolate to the mix and you have the added bonus of pleasing kids' taste buds, plus some sugar that can help them refuel after lengthy sports practices. Look for brands that make portable servings that don't need to be refrigerated until they're opened. Toss them in a backpack, gym bag or car and your kids can refuel anytime.

2. Cereal

Look for a cereal or granola with plenty of crunch, fiber and at least 6 grams of protein per serving (before adding milk). I love that this type of cereal can be served multiple ways: solo in a snack cup or baggie, as cereal with milk or as a topping on a yogurt parfait. Speaking of yogurt, when you don't have time to make your own parfait, try:

3. Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is a great choice for toddlers and kids because it offers protein and calcium for development along with omega 3s and probiotics. Kids can eat it with a spoon or use it as a dip with sliced fruits and veggies. Look for varieties with no artificial preservatives, sweeteners or flavors.

[See: Unusual Uses for Greek Yogurt.]

4. Rotisserie Chicken

"What's for dinner?" For busy moms and dads everywhere, rotisserie chicken is the answer. Pair it with a bag of microwaveable veggies and you are good to go. The meal doesn't have to stop there, though. I usually pick up a few rotisserie chickens on weekends and remove the meat from the bone. Then, I can make a quick chicken roll-up (tortilla, hummus, veggies, cheese and chicken), chicken salad (chopped with celery, avocado and a little bit of mayonnaise), "chicken parmesan" (chicken meat topped with marinara and melted mozzarella) or as a lean protein for a salad. The options are endless.

5. Eggs

What's better than breakfast for dinner? Scrambled eggs and veggies is one of the fastest meals I can put on the table. If you want to spice it up a bit, consider trying these flavor-enhanced options: huevos rancheros (eggs mixed with tortillas, black beans, avocado and salsa) or "pesto eggs" (eggs tossed with pesto, tomatoes and mozzarella).

[See: High-Protein Breakfast Ideas.]

Meals and snacks don't have to be another stressor added to May's already long list. With a touch of planning, a bit of stocking and an "I've got this" attitude, you can survive May without sacrificing taste or health.

Kara Mohr, Ph.D., has been sweating, teaching, researching and motivating others in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. She is an internationally-known educator in the area of weight loss, behavior change and exercise and is co-owner of Mohr Results, Inc. Prior to Mohr Results, Dr. Mohr was an assistant professor at the University of Louisville, and was the assistant director of the Physical Activity & Weight Management Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree and doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. These days, she fuels her workouts with a mean superfood smoothie, loves to hang out with her husband and young daughters and just might have a Pinterest obsession with all things organization.