Last fall we maintained an unbearably busy schedule in our home. Two soccer practices per week plus five days a week of rehearsing for the community production of “Winnie the Pooh” in which two of our daughters had key roles. We were racing around like crazy trying to get from one place to the next and squeezing dinner in between homework and showering.

Through this busyness I had to come up with easy meals that took minimal prep time but were still healthy and appealing. I compiled a long list of easy meals. Maybe you just want to night off from cooking to have more family time. No matter what your needs are, here is a list of 29 meals you can make on the fly and are kid friendly. (If you use one per week you’ll be set for the next six months.)

1. Breakfast for dinner (Waffles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, served with fruit on the side to get your five-a-day in.)

2. Sloppy Joes (Make the meat ahead of time and reheat on a wheat bun and serve with baked beans.)

3. Tacos (Serve beans on the side for extra protein and lots of veggies to boost the nutrition and fiber.)

4. Quesadillas (Top with guacamole and sour cream and serve with a side of beans and vegetables.)

5. Stuffed baked potatoes (Everything from broccoli to chicken can top the traditional cheese and sour cream.)

6. Personal pizzas made from French bread or focaccia (Think beyond pepperoni to BBQ chicken, pineapple, chicken alfredo, etc.)

7. Raviolis (Use either a canned sauce or frozen homemade sauce, served with garlic bread and a salad.)

8. Mexican pizza (Use tortillas instead of pizza dough and layer like a quesadilla with refried beans, meat, cheese and pico de gallo.)

9. Fancy hot dogs (Add chili, cheese, relish, sauerkraut, or whatever sounds good to you.)

10. Nachos (Kids never complain about eating chips for the main course, and if you top them with plenty of veggies they’ll never notice.)

11. Chili (I actually won a chili cookoff contest with a giant can of chili from Costco. Shameful but true.)

12. Chef salad (Add sliced-up deli meat and cheese from the kids’ lunches, and leftover hard boiled eggs from breakfast to a regular salad.)

13. French dipped sandwiches (Buy the au jus packet from the seasoning aisle and then add the deli meat and hearty rolls and you have an instant favorite. Who doesn’t love to dunk their dinner before they eat it?)

14. Open-faced turkey sandwiches

15. Soups (Broccoli cheese, minestrone, chicken noodle, etc. can all be made the night before and are quickly reheated and can be eaten out of a cup on the go if needed.)

16. BLTs (Add avocado, sprouts, or turkey for added kick.)

17. Triple-decker club sandwiches (One extra piece of bread and a toothpick make is seem so much more fun to eat.)

18. Chicken salad sandwiches (If you add in nuts, celery, and grapes it creates a good mix of protein and fruits and veggies.)

19. Cold pasta salad (Adding in nuts, a wide-variety of beans, and lean protein like chicken can give you a balanced meal that is great on a hot day.)

20. Grilled cheese sandwiches (Add ham to change things up.)

21. Wraps (Take your favorite salad or sandwich and turn it into a wrap.)

22. Fancy Ramen noodles (Boil a big pot of water. Add in frozen veggies and then noodles, and then drain and season — with or without broth. Add extra teriyaki or soy sauce for added flavor and sesame seeds for fun.)

23. Chinese chicken salad (Use canned chicken or leftover chicken from a previous meal to cut down on prep time.)

24. Spaghetti and meatballs (Buy a bag of frozen meatballs that can be reheated in the microwave while the pasta boils and you’ll have a more complete meal. Look for turkey versions for a healtheir alternative.)

25. Taco salad (A great way to get rid of leftovers after you’ve had tacos or fajitas.)

26. Sweet and sour meatballs (Frozen, pre-made meatballs can be reincarnated a hundred times over!)

27. Meatball subs (again!)

28. Tostadas (It’s really just a taco salad disguised as something more fun for picky eaters.)

29. Fancy Lunchables (Create a tray of coldcuts, cheese and crackers. Add a veggie tray and some fruit to make it a full finger-friendly feast.)

 

Question: What’s your favorite quick and easy meal you would add to this list?