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The following post has been brought to you by Canadian Turkey. All opinions are my own

Summer is almost over and before we know it the kids will be back to school! Many Canadians are looking for creative ways to feed their family everyday meals that are tasty, nutritious and easy to prepare. And with parents starting to think about getting ready for back-to-school, it’s more important than ever to find new ways that we can eat well that are budget-friendly, too. Canadian Turkey can help you get back-to-school ready with easy and delicious recipes that will please every member of your family!

Making the transition from relaxed days, later bedtimes, sleeping in and weekend fun to schedules, routines and healthy habits can be a challenge for busy families. Come September, tips and tricks that help you get organized are essential, so you can deal with getting kids ready for busy weekdays packed with school, activities, sports and homework.

Turkey is a protein-packed staple that can be the anchor of any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner. It works to fuel your family with essential protein and nutrients. Turkey packs a big punch with each 100-gram serving providing about 30 grams of high quality lean protein. Turkey is also packed with nutrients like vitamin B12 (important in keeping your nervous system – the body’s electrical wiring – working well), selenium (an antioxidant mineral) and zinc (for a strong immune system).

5 TIPS TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EASY WITH CANADIAN TURKEY

Batch It!

Turkey is the perfect choice for batch cooking. Plan for recipes that are easy to scale and cook extra turkey to provide planned leftovers, so you can cook once and eat twice! Get Healthy! Turkey is a great source of protein, important minerals and nutrients. Power-up your plate without having to compromise on flavour with this tasty ingredient.

Keep It Simple!

Turkey can be cooked ahead of time and freezes well, so you can have an easy meal on hand during rushed weeknights and busy weekends. Versatility Plus!

Turkey adapts to all of your favourite flavour profiles and spice combinations, and with so many cuts to choose from you can find choices that please the whole family. Turkey is a delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can serve it hot or cold, and it tastes great the next day, too! Boost It!

Add turkey to your favourite dishes for an instant protein boost! Salads, soups, pasta sauces and casseroles all benefit from the added nutrients turkey contributes.

Put Canadian turkey on your plate every day and feel good knowing that you are feeding your family healthy and nutritious food that will get everyone through their days filled with energy and good-for-you fuel!

Looking for additional tips, recipes and HOW TOs? Visit canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration. The recipe section is filled with delicious recipes for full meals, snacks, appetizers and kids favourites. And there are WHOLE TURKEY AND TURKEY CUT HOW TOs that provide everything you need to know to get tasty, nutritious and versatile turkey on your table every day!

Even my picky kids love to eat turkey! I often cook a whole turkey and use the meat throughout the week in salads and other yummy dishes the family loves.

A tasty recipe the entire family will enjoy is this Quick and Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders recipe. Give it a try and see how easy it is to prepare a meal that is both healthy and delicious even in the middle of back to school craziness!

Quick & Tasty Honey Lemon Rosemary Turkey Tenders

Prep time: 15 mins.

Cook time: 20 mins.

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

3 lbs. Canadian turkey tenders OR 3 lbs. Canadian turkey breast, sliced into tenders

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp. olive oil

Marinade:

2 tbsp. honey

1/2 lemon, squeezed

3 tbsp. rosemary, chopped

1/2 c. olive oil

Combine all ingredients to make the marinade. Season the turkey with salt and pepper to taste. Combine tenders and marinade in a glass container. Marinate for a minimum of 2 hours. At this point, you can store in the fridge up to 2 days or freeze up to 1 month. If using from frozen, defrost and then follow cooking directions. To cook, heat a non-stick frying pan or skillet to medium heat. Cook the tenders for 6-8 minutes per side, until lightly browned and cooked through. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your cuts, so use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat to check for doneness, 165°F (74°C). Serve immediately.

TIP: Change up the marinade to create different flavours of tenders. You can freeze the tenders in the marinade to have a variety on hand for busy weeknights.

Marinades:

Spicy Peanut

Combine 1/2 c. peanut butter, 2 tbsp. sesame oil, 1 tbsp. thai chili, 2 tbsp. green onion, 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Orange Pepper Lime

1/3 c. orange juice, 1 tbsp. pepper, 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, 2 tbps. garlic, 2 tbsp. lime

Sun-Dried Tomato and Herb

3 tbsp. sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 2 tbps. white wine

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