This Month's Fare

Lose Those Back-to-School Blues with a Little Help from Kikkoman

Let Kikkoman get you ready for back-to-school with these useful tips:

• Make sure to get the school's list of supplies well ahead of time so you can shop early and avoid the crowds. Go through closets before you shop for fall clothing, and see what needs to be mended, discarded or passed along to a younger child. Don't forget to check the papers for back-to-school sales of clothes and school supplies.

• To keep everyone coordinated, why not post a calendar in a central location so family members can enter their activities and see what everyone is up to at a glance? The refrigerator door is a spot no one will miss. Make sure the squares are large, and hang a pen close by.

• If your kids have a hard time deciding what to wear in the morning, get them in the habit of laying out their clothes the night before so that mornings are calm rather than rushed and chaotic. This gives the whole family time to eat a nourishing breakfast.

• Prepare lunches the night before, too, to avoid last-minute rushing. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be frozen, so make a big batch. Then pop a still-frozen sandwich into your child's lunchbox. It will thaw out in time for lunch, while keeping the other items in the lunch box nice and cool. Kikkoman knows that you're always looking for recipes your kids will enjoy and that you can make in a jiffy. Visit the recipe section of this site for more ideas.

With after-school activities like soccer and band practice filling up your kids' schedules, easy dinners for families on the go are a must. Kikkoman understands that your time is limited, but you still want to serve your family meals, lunches and snacks that are quick and delicious. Think differently. What can you put in your kids lunchbox that is a healthy alternative to a sandwich? How about some tasty Chuck Wagon Pasta Salad featuring Kikkoman Soy Sauce combined with roast beef and sautéed vegetables. Its easy and versatile. For a great quick-fix snack, you can throw in some Teriyaki Picnic Mix which is filled with pecans, toasted oat cereal, raisins and shredded coconut, sweetened up when baked with Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce.