Team Cold Lunch

In this house, we are Team Cold Lunch. My son ate almost the same exact lunch every day until wheat and dairy allergies entered the mix. We had to get more creative to keep the less than desirable (at the time) GF and dairy-free options fresh and new.

Mila, too, is Team Cold Lunch though she prefers a hot thermos meal over a traditional cold lunch most days. (This is the child that opted for chicken noodle soup for breakfast most of elementary school.)

I packed a lunch most of my corporate life as well.

Simply Golden Solutions loves reducing cold lunch chaos. These tips and tricks will keep you and your kids’ lunches interesting without a ton of effort.

Leverage the basics (bread, meat and cheese, PBJ combos) for countless combinations. Use bread, bagels, waffles, pancakes, mini naan, or rice cakes; turkey and Swiss hits different than turkey and cheddar; PBJ is VERY different than PBC (chocolate spread).

Think twice about fruit and veggies. Apple wedges have a different texture and mouth feel than thinly sliced ones. The same is true for oranges. Veggies cut into chunks, matchsticks, or coins each have a distinct look, feel, and crunch. Switch it up to keep things interesting and different.

Change up the shapes! A sandwich cut into four squares changes up one cut into two triangles. A rice cake chunked into three for swiping into PBJ dip is not dull.

Think outside the <cold> box.

Incorporate a few key elements that you know your kids (or you) really like. Serve brunch with (frozen) pancakes, a little syrup, a beef stick, and some fruit OR take some of their favorite items and create a charcuterie board with crackers, meat, cheese, nuts, fruit, chocolate yums, etc.

Change up the vehicle.

Hot thermos meal with leftovers or soup. Cut that sandwich into four squares and serve it on sticks with hunks of cheese and grapes in between.

Keep in mind these key support systems to build muscle memory for your Mealtime Support:

• Make a plan and write it down for fewer decision in the moment.

• Review the plan the evening before. Prep what makes sense. Execute in the morning.

• Circle back - Ask for feedback and incorporate when they actually answer you.

• Use variations of a theme - Choose a day or two and anchor it to a theme (squares, charcuterie, hot, etc.)

• Planning ahead reduces grocery expenses when you shop for the plan.

• A planned plate is typically more nutritious

Download our Cold Lunch Survival Guide printable to reduce your cold lunch chaos.

Simply Golden Solutions Cold Lunch Survival Guide.pdf

Download PDF • 193KB

What is your best cold lunch idea or trick?

📍 Serving Des Moines and surrounding communities

📞 515-528-4119

✉️ Sherrie@SimplyGoldenSolutions.com

Back-to-School Chaos? Reduce Overwhelm with Science-Backed Systems

Adults make between 30,000 - 35,000 decisions every day. The majority (90%) are made subconsciously at a rate of about one each 1-2 seconds. The remaining 10% requires us to make the most of our finite mental capacity. The American Psychological Association reports that 64% of parents cite back-to-school season as a significant stressor—largely due to decision overload. 

I’m sending a sophomore to high school. My decisions may be fewer than when she was younger, but it is DEFINITELY more challenging now than ever before to get her input and feedback. That, frankly, is stressful.

The good news is we can reduce stress and mental load by implementing a few key systems that reduce the number of decisions we make while in the thick of it. 

Why This Chaos Hits Hard 

Decision fatigue is real. Research shows your brain’s ability to make quality choices wears down with each decision, kind of like a phone battery. By 7 PM, you’re running on low and overwhelmed at the thought of fixing dinner, solving pop-up problems, and having to schlep a kid someplace else for the evening.

The Fix for Busy Families

Front-load some decisions, and front-load as many as you can. Do this even if you don’t really want to. You’ll gain sanity and clarity, while reinforcing the muscles in your brain around a new habit. 

3 Productivity Boosts to Steal for Back-to-School

1. The Prep – Get Ahead Before School Starts

• Do this: Carve out time to sit down and write a calendar of ALL THE STUFF. Input EVERY deadline, every volleyball and/or football game, every back to school event, pancake breakfast event, networking event, etc. Write them all down. 

• Science says: Physically writing tasks and lists frees up mental RAM. However, if you are a digital calendar guru, go for it!

• Pro tip: Post this calendar where everyone can see it. I like the refrigerator. Do this even if you have to print out your digital calendar.

2. The Meal Matrix – Feed the Family with Fewer Decisions

• Do this: Pick 3-5 “template meals” a week (Taco Tuesday, Brinner – breakfast for dinner, Bowl Night, Leftover Night, Takeout Night, Salad Night) to reduce decisions. 

• Do this: While referencing your event calendar, write the meal plan for the next two weeks. Place it somewhere everyone can see. I use a notebook on the counter. 

• Do this: As you build your meal plan, make a grocery list and shop with it. I keep a running grocery list in that book on the counter with the menu. 

• Do this: Pick ONE breakfast for the week and eat it on repeat. My current favorite is an English muffin with PB FIT, and Greek nonfat yogurt with frozen blueberries.

• Science says: Steve Jobs, Sheryl Sandburg, and many others famously wore uniforms to conserve decision energy. Use this same hack for your meals: make fewer decisions about food each day. You shed a lot of mental load because you know you have a plan. 

• Pro tip: Keep a few fall back items handy (frozen meatballs, pasta and sauce, frozen chicken nuggets, etc.) for moments you need to pivot.

• Pro tip: Because you shopped for the menu you created, you have flexibility when you don’t want to cook according to plan. You can choose something else on the menu plan without worrying if you have the ingredients. Easily make the swap and move on.

3. The Night Before Ritual

• Do this: Set out clothes, pack part or all of the lunches/snacks (including yours!), get the coffee pot ready, and load backpacks and/or your bag and place near the door.

• Science says: A Harvard study found nighttime prep reduces morning stress hormones by 37%.

• Pro tip: Layer hacks when it makes sense. Remember that Greek yogurt with frozen blueberries I eat for breakfast? When I prep the night before, the blueberries are no longer frozen in the morning AND I get the benefit of blueberry juiciness in my yogurt. Frozen blueberries are cheaper than fresh, and they are always picked in season. 

The Bigger Win: Energy for What Matters

These systems aren’t about perfection—they’re about being present. These systems reduce the number of decisions you need to make in the moment and free up mental load. This can help you connect with yourself, your kids, your partner, and your paw-fect four-legged friend at the end of the day. 

You win by spending less mental energy on logistics and more on living the life you want.

Which systems do you already have in place? Which ones will you try?

Activity and meal plan for the first two weeks of school

Learn how our household management services reduce overwhelm, even when you’re not there.

📍 Serving Des Moines and surrounding communities

📞 515-528-4119

✉️ Sherrie@SimplyGoldenSolutions.com

Peaceful Recovery at Home: How Post-Operative Home Assistance Makes a Difference for Families

Why is post-operative home assistance so important?

Because recovery is smoother when the details are taken care of.

After surgery, families often find themselves juggling work, kids, and travel while also worrying about a loved one’s recovery at home. That’s where post-operative concierge services step in, providing practical, non-medical help that keeps the household running and the patient comfortable. For adult children of seniors, having trusted support nearby is the difference between constant worry and peace of mind.

What does post-operative home assistance include?

Small comforts and practical tasks that add up to a safer, smoother recovery.

Our post-operative home assistance in Des Moines and West Des Moines is designed to fill the gaps between medical care and daily living.

Examples include:

• Meal preparation to ensure nutritious, easy-to-eat food is always ready

• Changing linens and keeping the home clean for comfort and hygiene

• Light mobility support around the house (non-medical)

• Help with errands, grocery shopping, or picking up prescriptions

• Coordinating household tasks so the family doesn’t have to step away from work or other responsibilities

How does this service help families?

By taking pressure off when families can’t be everywhere at once.

Adult children often want to be by their parent’s side but can’t always take extended time away from jobs, kids, or other commitments. Post-operative concierge services provide that trusted extra set of hands—so family members can focus on visiting and supporting emotionally instead of stressing about chores, meals, or safety hazards.

How can you prepare a home for recovery?

Think ahead about safety, comfort, and convenience.

Some simple steps before a loved one returns home include:

• Clearing walkways and removing tripping hazards

• Setting up a recovery space with extra pillows, blankets, and easy-to-reach items

• Stocking the kitchen with ready-to-eat meals or prepping simple snacks

• Checking that bathrooms and bedrooms are well-lit and easy to access

When families don’t have time to make these arrangements, Simply Golden Solutions steps in to prepare the home and provide ongoing assistance during recovery.

Real-life example

One client shared how something as simple as baking cookies for her mother after surgery helped brighten her recovery and gave her family comfort knowing she wasn’t alone. These small, thoughtful touches are what make concierge post-operative care so meaningful, not just for the patient, but for the entire family.

Final Thought

Recovering at home should be peaceful, not stressful. With Simply Golden Solutions, families get the reassurance of knowing the details are handled and their loved one can focus on healing.

Contact us today to learn more about post-operative home assistance in Des Moines and how we can support your family’s recovery journey.

📍 Serving Des Moines and surrounding communities

📞 515-528-4119

✉️ Sherrie@SimplyGoldenSolutions.com