Connect with us

Illinois

Illinois mother of 5 reveals the secrets of cost-friendly lunches

Published

on

Illinois mother of 5 reveals the secrets of cost-friendly lunches


With inflation hitting each American, making lunch for the children will probably be dear this college 12 months.

Illinois mom of 5 and YouTuber Meghan Birch joined “Fox & Mates” on Wednesday to share her greatest suggestions and tips for trimming down on back-to-school grocery payments whereas additionally staying organized and environment friendly.

Birch’s first tip for at the moment’s dad and mom is to plan out lunch substances prematurely — earlier than hitting the grocery store.

The mom confirmed an instance of a grocery checklist break up right into a desk that separates every meals merchandise, resembling fruits, greens and snacks.

Advertisement

Second, she really useful involving the children within the procuring course of, to make sure dad and mom and guardians are spending cash on meals that received’t go to waste.

“Ask them what they like, so that you’re shopping for issues that they really will eat,” she stated.

Birch additionally advised dad and mom spend money on reusable objects resembling lunchboxes, plastic containers and thermoses.

“You don’t have to purchase plastic luggage which can be going to be thrown away,” she stated.

“Particularly when you have a number of kids — that may actually add up over time.”

Advertisement
Meghan Birch prepping her grocery checklist earlier than going to the grocery store.
Fox Information

Tip no. 3 is to contemplate shopping for meals in bulk, since bulk objects value much less per ounce or serving, Birch stated.

One other method to save — her fourth tip — is to purchase retailer model objects as an alternative of identify model, which might save shoppers cash, in response to Birch.

“The opposite day, I purchased a bag of pretzels for almost $2 lower than the identify model sitting proper subsequent to it,” she stated.

Meghan Birch's third tip to save money at the supermarket is to buy items in bulk.
Birch’s third tip to economize on the grocery store is to contemplate shopping for objects in bulk.
Fox Information

Birch’s fifth tip is to skip comfort meals resembling pre-bagged, particular person snack packs.

“You’re going to get extra. You’re going to avoid wasting extra,” she stated.

For her sixth tip, the mother inspired dad and mom to assume outdoors the field when packing lunches.

Advertisement

This might imply packing leftovers in a thermos to maintain the meals heat, throwing in wholesome pairings resembling apples and peanut butter or carrots and hummus — or freezing baked items and permitting them to defrost on the best way to highschool.

One other simple method to save?

Meghan Birch tells parents to stop buying pre-packaged snacks and be creative when packing lunches.
Birch tells dad and mom to be inventive with packing lunches for his or her kids.
Fox Information

Ship the children to highschool with water in a reusable bottle — as an alternative of juice or different drinks.

“Tremendous cost-effective and also you don’t want to fret about spills with milk and juice,” she stated.

Birch’s ultimate tip is to evaluate what your youngsters are consuming or not consuming — to keep away from losing meals sooner or later.

“Meals waste is at all times going to be cash waste,” she stated.

Advertisement



Source link

Illinois

Illinois' best elementary schools revealed in new report. Here are the top 25

Published

on

Illinois' best elementary schools revealed in new report. Here are the top 25


A number of schools from Chicago and the suburbs were recognized as among the top elementary schools in Illinois, according to a new list.

The “2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools” list from U.S. News and World Report examined more than 79,000 public schools in all 50 states, a press release revealed. Editors used publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze mathematics and reading performance at the state and district levels — while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.

For a school corporation to receive a district-level ranking, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings, according to the website. In all, 47,573 elementary schools and 23,861 middle schools were assessed.

In Illinois, a total of 3,421 schools were ranked. Seven of the top 25 schools in the state were Chicago Public Schools, including the top school, Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center.

Advertisement

Almost all of the top 25 schools were in either the city or suburbs — except for No. 10 – Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Rockford and No. 22 – Congerville Elementary School in downstate Woodford County.

Following behind Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center was Hinsdale’s Oak Elementary School and Naperville’s Meadows Glen Elementary School at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center, a Chicago Public School, and Brook Forest Elementary School rounded out the top five.

Here’s a look into the top 25 elementary schools in Illinois, according to the report.

  1. Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
  2. Oak Elementary School – Hinsdale
  3. Meadows Glen Elementary School – Naperville
  4. Lenart Elementary Regional Gifted Center – Chicago
  5. Brook Forest Elementary School – Oak Brook
  6. Elm Elementary School – Burr Ridge
  7. Forest Hills Elementary School – Western Springs
  8. The Lane Elementary School – Hinsdale
  9. Eisenhower Academy – Joliet
  10. Thurgood Marshall Elementary School – Rockford
  11. Skinner North Elementary School – Chicago
  12. Greenbriar Elementary School – Northbrook
  13. Westmoor Elementary School – Northbrook
  14. Ellsworth Elementary School – Naperville
  15. Prospect Elementary School – Clarendon Hills
  16. Walker School – Clarendon Hills
  17. Lincoln Elementary School – River Forest
  18. Highlands Elementary School – Naperville
  19. Bronzeville Classical Elementary School – Chicago
  20. George B Carpenter Elementary School – Park Ridge
  21. Madison Elementary School – Hinsdale
  22. Congerville Elementary School – Congerville
  23. Decatur Classical Elementary School – Chicago
  24. Lincoln Elementary School – Chicago
  25. Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy – Chicago



Source link

Continue Reading

Illinois

No I-Pass Sticker Yet? Illinois Tollway Extends The Deadline

Published

on

No I-Pass Sticker Yet? Illinois Tollway Extends The Deadline


Even though the Illinois Tollway would really like it if you would make the switch soon from the plastic I-Pass transponder you have over to the new I-Pass sticker tags, they understand that it’s going to be an ongoing process for Illinois drivers to make the switch. That’s why they’ve decided to extend the deadline for replacing your soon-to-be-outdated plastic transponder.



Source link

Continue Reading

Illinois

Northwestern wins dual season opener 29-8 over Northern Illinois

Published

on

Northwestern wins dual season opener 29-8 over Northern Illinois


Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Dedrick Navarro’s gutsy decision win over No. 27 Blake West set the tone for Northwestern’s statement 29-8 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday. 

NU entered its dual season opener with a point to prove, having lost to Northern Illinois 18-17 to start last year. 

“After dropping a match to them that stung for a whole year, it was nice to go out there and not just win, but to really put it on them and win in dominating fashion,” coach Matt Storniolo said.

The night got off to a flying start as Navarro pulled off a stunning upset over West. An escape and a takedown by West put Navarro in a 0-4 hole entering the third period, but he battled back, scoring a takedown of his own before a trip with seconds left vaulted him to a 7-6 decision win. 

Advertisement

Navarro said he tried to push the pace in the moment, and it felt good to get his first win of the dual season.

“We’ve only got a few years of this, so I’m just soaking it in and being grateful, having fun and putting on a show,” Navarro said.

The Huskies notched their first team points of the night in the 133-pound bout as redshirt sophomore Markel Baker won by major decision over sophomore Massey Odiotti. Three Baker takedowns in the first period cemented his 14-3 victory. 

Graduate student 141-pounder No. 10 Chris Cannon made his NU homecoming with a 9-3 decision win over NIU’s Charles Curtis. 

A two-time All-American for the Wildcats, Cannon transferred to Michigan before the 2024 season but missed nearly all of it after suffering a head injury in his dual season opener exactly one year ago Sunday. Storniolo said Cannon was not back to full strength yet, but that didn’t stop him from competing and winning.

Advertisement

“It was good for him to know that he’s still got that fight inside him,” he said.

No. 20. redshirt freshman 149-pounder Sam Cartella’s 15-0 win by technical fall put the ’Cats in the driver’s seat, and they didn’t look back from there. Dominant decision wins by No. 12 graduate student 157-pounder Trevor Chumbley and No. 16 redshirt senior 165-pounder Maxx Mayfield ran up the team score. Then, redshirt sophomore 174-pounder Joseph Martin secured his first dual meet win of his career, lasting nearly a minute underneath NIU’s Jake Evans without conceding a takedown and holding onto a narrow 4-0 lead.

Graduate student 184-pounder Jon Halvorsen secured extra team points by scoring a late takedown in his match, upgrading his victory from a decision win to a major decision win. He said his feelings after the win were unexplainable.

“The guys around me believe in me, and the coaches I have believe in me,” he said. “It’s just a reflection of my team and how awesome these guys are.”

A professional 19-4 win by No. 25 redshirt junior 197-pounder Evan Bates put the finishing touch on the NU rout.

Advertisement

Redshirt freshman 285-pounder Dirk Morley lost his match with NIU’s Jacob Christensen to end the night. An initially strong defensive performance unraveled in the third period, ending the night with a 12-2 loss by major decision.

In its return to the mat nine months after posting a 1-9 record, NU matched last season’s win total in one night. Storniolo attributed the team’s improvement to Cannon’s return to Evanston, Cartella’s continuing dominance in the 149-pound weight class and new faces like Navarro entering the lineup.

“Guys are hungry this year,” Storniolo said. “They feel like they really have something to prove after last year. They want to let the rest of Division I wrestling know that we’re a strong program, and last year doesn’t represent who we are as a team.”

The ’Cats are back at Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. to take on Little Rock.

Email: [email protected]

Advertisement

X: @sidvaraman

Related Stories:

Wrestling: Northwestern starts season with three second-place finishes at Michigan State Open

Wrestling: Northwestern earns first win before conference championships

Wrestling: Winless Northwestern drops weekend matches to Wisconsin and Minnesota

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending