Make back-to-school dinners stress-free with these quick, healthy recipes using rotisserie chicken. Perfect for busy weeknights!

Hi hi! How are you? I hope you’re having a lovely week so far. It’s a crazy week around here with practices, basketball, and volleyball games, so I’m trying to be as strategic as possible with meal planning and prep.

One of my favorite things to use during busy weeks like this: the good ‘ol rotisserie chicken!

(I know it’s hot and covered in plastic but what can you do? You can totally make your own chicken but we’re talking about fast hacks today!)

Back-to-school dinner hacks using rotisserie chicken

Back-to-school season always sneaks up fast, and suddenly weeknight dinners feel like a juggling act between homework, after-school activities, and the usual bedtime rush. It’s funny because summer felt SO chill and now that we’re back in school… it feels like pure chaos.

One of my favorite secret weapons for fast, healthy dinners? A store-bought rotisserie chicken. It’s already cooked, tender, and packed with protein, so it cuts prep time in half while keeping your meals wholesome and satisfying.

Back-to-School Dinner Hacks Using Rotisserie Chicken

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite back-to-school dinner hacks using rotisserie chicken, plus a few quick recipe ideas you can keep on rotation.

Benefits of Cooking with Rotisserie Chicken

Time saver: No need to roast or bake. Just shred and go!

Budget-friendly: One chicken often stretches into 2–3 meals.

Protein-packed: Helps you hit your protein goals with less prep.

Kid-approved: Mild flavor makes it easy to mix into a variety of dishes. The kids loooove a rotisserie chicken.

Versatile: Works with soups, tacos, casseroles, wraps, salads, and more.

Quick Tips for Using Rotisserie Chicken

Shred while warm: It’s easier to pull apart right after you get it home.

Save the bones: Simmer with water, veggies, and herbs to make homemade stock for soups.

Store properly: Keep shredded chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze in 1-cup portions for later.

Add fresh herbs and spices: Bright flavors like lemon, cilantro, cumin, or paprika can instantly transform leftovers into a new dish.

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My clean beauty must-haves: gentle, effective products like Oliveda, OneSkin, and more that nourish skin without harsh ingredients.

Hi friends! How are ya? I hope you’re having a wonderful morning! I’m off to a yoga class and looking forward to family dinner later tonight.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about clean beauty and share my absolute go-tos.

Why I Switched to Clean Beauty

As an Integrative Health Practitioner, I spend a lot of time helping women lower their toxin exposure through food and lifestyle. While I’ve been cautious about the foods I eat and we purchase for decades now, I didn’t start paying attention to what I was putting on my skin until I was pregnant with Liv.

Our skin is our largest organ, and many conventional products contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrance, and endocrine disruptors that can build up over time. Choosing clean beauty products means fewer questionable ingredients, more plant-based actives, and often better results.

Today I’m sharing my personal clean beauty must-haves: the products I reach for every single day. These are not sponsored picks; they’re the ones I truly love and have seen real results from using them. Affiliate links are included below – thank you so so much to those of you who shop through my links.

Clean Beauty Must-Haves I Always Keep on Hand

1. Olive Rose Skin Tint

Why I love it:

This skin tint gives me that “your-skin-but-better” glow with light, buildable coverage. It’s perfect for days when I don’t want a full foundation. I’ve also been out of it for about a month now and lurk the website every single day. It should be back in stock within the next couple of weeks! FINALLYYYYYYYYY.

Key benefits:

Lightweight hydration with a soft, dewy finish

Evens out redness and blurs minor imperf

Hi friends! Happy Friday! What’s going on this weekend? The Pilot and I are enjoying a date night, P has a basketball game, and it’s our neice Daisy’s 1st birthday party! We got to celebrate the birthday girl last night and can’t wait for more fun this weekend.

In between that, I’ve just been here doing the homeschool thing, working with clients, and LOVING this season of Dancing with the Stars. Just give Robert the mirrorball already.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

There’s nothing like post-detox tacos, I tell ya.

9.26 Friday Faves

Fashion + beauty + random:

HUGE Athleta sale right now!

Some faves:

these wide leg pants

this sweatshirt

this rib crop tee

P lives in these hoodies

and these tech tees

The perfect red flats

Lurking this website EVERY DAY for my favorite skin tint #7 to be back in stock. Currently, I hold the empty bottle upside down and shake it. I use this tinted SPF moisturizer and this on top, and it’s the perfect combo for a little bit of coverage, but not too much.

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Hi friends! I’m thrilled to share this week’s conversation with Dr. Karyn Shanks, MD, IFMCP a certified functional medicine physician with nearly 40 years of experience. We chat about into treating the whole person – body, mind, and spirit – and how trauma, nutrition, and self-care all play a role in lasting health. This was an amazing conversation and I can’t wait for you to hear it!

194: Healing Through Whole-Person Care with Dr. Karyn Shanks, MD

Here’s what we discuss:

• Why treating the whole person—physical, emotional, and spiritual—is key to healing

• How trauma can impact chronic illness and long-term health

• Strategies for nervous system regulation to support recovery

• The extensive intake process that helps understand a patient’s full health story

• Why spending time with patients is critical for effective care

• Common nutritional deficiencies and how they affect even healthy eaters

• Daily self-care practices that support wellness and reduce anxiety

• How to feel empowered in your health care decisions

• Meditation, creative activities, and listening to your body as tools for well-being

Karyn Shanks, MD is a physician-healer-teacher-writer who lives and practices in Iowa City. Her work is inspired by the science of Directable Human Potential—epigenetics, neuroplasticity, core Functional Medicine systems biology, and transformational psychology—and the wisdom gleaned from the healing journeys of thousands of clients over her thirty-year career. She approaches all of her work through the Unbroken philosophy and framework—that we all have vast untapped genetic, biological, psychological, and spiritual potential.

Connect with her on Instagram here and on her website here.

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For my free Autoimmune Healing ebook, click here.
Detailed show

Sharing some of my go-to low-impact cardio options for autoimmune flare days. This was something I really struggled with and have definitely been there. These are some of the things that helped me, but please reach out to your doctor for personalized advice. If you’re ready to get to the root cause of how you’re feeling, email me gina@fitnessista.com subject TESTING. 

Hi friends! How are you? I hope you’re having a lovely week. I’m looking forward to lunch with the girls today and a low-key night catching up on Dancing with the Stars. We’re loving this season!

Today, I wanted to chat a little more about my autoimmune journey and some of the things that have helped me during a flare, especially when doing workouts, especially cardio felt more challenging.

Low-Impact Cardio Options for Autoimmune Flare Days

When Movement Feels Harder Than Usual

If you live with an autoimmune condition, you know the ups and downs all too well. Some days you feel strong, capable, and ready to take on a workout. Other days… just getting out of bed feels like a victory.

As someone who has supported many clients (and experienced my own share of health hurdles), I’ve learned that movement doesn’t have to totally disappear on autoimmune flare days. The key is choosing low-impact cardio options that support circulation, lymphatic flow, and mood – without pushing your body into more inflammation or exhaustion.

I wanted to chat about some of my favorite gentle and low-impact cardio options for autoimmune flare days, so you can honor your body while still supporting your health and fitness goals.

Why Low-Impact Cardio Matters During Flares

When your immune system is flaring, your body is already working overtime. High-intensity training can sometimes make symptoms worse, spiking cortisol and leaving you drained.

Low-impact cardio, on the other hand:

Supports blood flow and oxygen delivery.

Encourages gentle detox through sweating and lymphatic movement.

Boosts mood and mental health.

Helps maintain consistency without burning you out.

Think of it as a way to meet your body where it’s at while still taking care of yourself.

Best Low-Impact Cardio Options for Autoimmune Flare Days

Walking (Indoors or Outdoors)

Walking is one of the most underrated low-impact cardio exercises. On flare days, keep it gentle: a slow stroll around your neighborhood, or even laps inside your house. Fresh air + sunshine can also help reset your nervous system.

Tip: Start with 5–10 minutes, and if it feels good, extend from there.

Rebounding (Mini Trampoline)

Rebounding is one of my favorites for autoimmune flare days. The light bouncing helps move lymph fluid, supports detox pathways, and boosts circulation without being too taxing.

Tip: Gentle health bounces (feet s