Back-to-School Boost: Must-Have Kitchen Tools for Quick and Easy Meals

With back-to-school season right around the corner, it is time for many of us to start meal prepping for our families again. Making breakfast and lunch in the early morning hours can be stressful, so it is important to make sure you have the resources to make it as smooth and quick as possible. Luckily for you, we are here to help.

What are some necessities I need for meal-prep?

1. Cutting Board: To cook and prep meals, you need a high quality cutting board. While plastic cutting boards may seem ideal on paper, due to the fact they can be washed in the dishwasher, they are not a good option. The hard plastic dulls the knife, and it is unavoidable for microplastics to enter your food. Our Acacia Wood, 18-inch Gourmet End-Grain Cutting Board is a great choice for any cook. The natural softness of the Acacia wood is a great surface for your blades, as it protects your edges from getting dull. In addition, the naturally antibacterial elements of Acacia wood make it durable and safe for food prep. 
2. Mason Jars: We love mason jars for storing anything from overnight oats to salad dressings to homemade pickles. These jars are leak-proof, easy to clean, and multifunctional. When you are not using them to prep breakfast or lunch, use them as beverage containers. We like these jars from Amazon. 
3. Paring Knife: Paring knives are perfect for slicing and coring strawberries, halving grapes, cheese, and more. Our Artisan, 3.5-inch Paring Knife is just the right size for all of your small tasks. 
4. Reusable Ziploc Bags: Reusable ziploc bags are a great alternative to the usual single use disposable plastic baggies. This Stasher Reusable Sandwich Bag is BPA-free, durable, and eco-friendly, making it a welcomed addition to meal prep time. And even better, it is dishwasher safe for easy clean-up. 
5. Lunch Boxes: Lunch boxes are a necessity for any k-12 student. We, specifically, like the Williams Sonoma Planetbox Rover Fruits and Vegetables Lunchbox Set. This lunchbox is ideal for children, due to the fact that the box is divided into four perfectly sized sections, as well as one little treat spot in the middle.
6. MultiPurpose Shears: Multipurpose shears are a necessity in any kitchen, but especially during meal preparation. Use multipurpose shears to quickly cut herbs and scallions, cut up tortillas, open cans, and more. Our MultiPurpose Utility Shears can be used as an herb stripper, bottle opener, lid lifter, screwdriver, fish descaler, and as kitchen scissors with sharp blades. 
7. Chef Knife: The chef knife, often referred to as the most versatile knife, is essential for any cook. Use the chef knife during meal prep to cut up veggies, slice sandwiches, and more. Our Artisan, 6 or 8 inch Chef’s Knives are durable, ergonomic, and will last you for years to come. 
8. Mabel’s Labels: There is nothing worse than buying all new school supplies for our children that mysteriously do not arrive home with them. To avoid this happening, we love turning to Mabel’s Labels to create customized name labels for our children. Stick these labels on anything and everything from water bottles to lunchboxes to jackets. With so many different colors and fonts to choose from, there is something for every child. 

We hope you all have an easy start to the school year, and happy meal prepping!