With the hot summer coming to an end and school and sports back on, parents may be daunted by the task of providing their children with three solid meals a day.
Lifestyle expert Limor Sass shared some of her favourite kid- and time-friendly meals and cooking tips to make your weekdays go a little smoother.
“Back to school can be a stressful time for everyone, and the more you plan, the easier the days will go,” Sass, a mother of two who lives in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
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“Meal planning is a great way to reduce the stress of figuring out what to serve,” she said.
It doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't require a lot of foresight.
“One of my favorite hacks is making a mason jar salad out of last night's leftovers and serving it for lunch the next day,” she said.
Dinner leftovers can be made into a mason jar “salad” and eaten for lunch the next day. (Limor Suss)
The idea is to layer the dressing or sauce at the bottom of the jar and then layer the rest of the food on top. The next day, you can shake the jar or pour it into a bowl and have it at lunchtime.
Sass said getting kids involved, in moderation, in meal planning and cooking is another way to make mealtimes go more smoothly.
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“Now that my son knows how to make an omelet, he insists his is the best, so he wants to make it all the time,” she says. “It's important to get the kids involved.”
Lifestyle expert Limor Sass (not pictured) says one way to make meal planning easier is to get your kids involved. (Limor Sass, iStock)
Dining options like taco boards or taco bars (where people can assemble their own tacos) are one way to get dinner on the table quickly while giving kids some independence when it comes to food choices.
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These taco bars “don't have to be fancy,” but should include protein fillings and other toppings, she said.
An even easier taco night variation is the “walking taco,” which is made using a bag of chips as a taco shell.
This is the “taco board” that Sass created. By letting everyone fill their own tacos, dinner preparation is quicker and parents are less stressed. (Rimoa Sass)
“An easy after-school snack idea is to make walking tacos,” she said. “Just take your favorite bag of chips and add ground beef, cheese, sour cream, avocado, and your favorite toppings.”
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Alternative meals using frozen or pre-prepared meals can save you time on busy nights, Sass says.
One of her favorites is something she calls “DIY Chinese Takeout.”
Using frozen chicken nuggets is a great way to save time, says Sass. (Limo Sass)
A healthier and cheaper option than delivery, Sass' “takeaway” offering is based on frozen meals.
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“I love taking frozen chicken nuggets and making them into totally different dishes,” she says.
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This is much quicker than breading and frying the chicken by hand and is done in no time at all.
Christine Roussel is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
