I know it isn’t the loveliest of images, but flu season is on the way. This month my family has had the flu twice, and the first go around I was caught way off guard. I had a little break in between the sickness to stock up the pantry with supplies.

Even though I was sick I still had to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and believe me, I really didn’t want to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I stocked up the kitchen pantry with easy to prepare meals, and made several homemade frozen meals for dinner.

• Spaghetti, Jarred Sauce, and Black Olives are all staples that keep well, and are simple to prepare when you aren’t feeling too good. Add in a little Garlic Bread and you’ve got dinner!
• My kids love Macaroni and Cheese, and it makes for a very fast lunch. I always serve sliced Bananas too, and lunch is ready to go.
• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Soup is also a quick and easy lunch. My kids would live on Grilled Cheese, if I would let them.
• I often make a double batch of Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Chili to go in to the freezer. All of these dishes keep well, and reheat well at a moment’s notice.
• For Breakfast Pop Tarts were the only thing that sounded good to me and the kiddos too. They keep well, and I lived off them for about a week. They make great snacks too, and who could resist a Chocolate Chip Pop Tart?!?

Of course having a few Get Well Supplies on hand is always a good idea.

• I stock up (buy 10 boxes) at Dollar General on Kleenexes. We have been using 5-8 boxes a week with this cold, and Dollar General has the best prices on tissues.
• Have the Vaporizers ready for your kid’s rooms, and one for your room too, they really help with stuffy noses.
• I also keep on hand Single Symptom Medications, such as; Cough Syrup, Cough Drops, and Sinus Medication. Walgreens is a great place to stock up on these supplies, and our Pharmacists always take the time to answer all of my questions, and give helpful advice too.
• You can never have too much Vick’s Vapor Rub, it truly is the cure all. They even make one for babies, and the scent is great.
• Keep the Chap Stick or Carmex handy too. Thade and I both get chapped lips whenever we have a cold, so I keep Chap Stick in just about every room.

I really hope for all of us that this is a mild flu season, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.