Speed Isn’t Everything: Finding Easy-to-Make Kids’ Dinners When One Parent Isn’t Home

As parents of two kids that always seem to have things to do, my wife and I sometimes find that we have to work hard to come up with nutritious but quick meals. Since my wife started working again this summer and since school has started back again, this challenge has become even more pressing.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a problem with cooking macaroni and cheese from a box every once and a while, but trying to do something that quick and easy every night would not be a good idea for either my or my kids’ health. With this in mind, I’ve recently been on the lookout in magazines and books for recipes that can be done in 15 minutes or less. Ideally, the recipes have dishes that are both good-tasting and healthy.

I’ve found the most important thing for me with this is to make sure I balance the meals. While I know my kids (and most kids) love eating carbohydrates, I know that’s not the best nutrient for my family. So if I’m going to do something fast, like a box of macaroni and cheese, I will also try to add fresh vegetables or a salad to the meal. And I also try to limit sweets (but this is our own family rule).

Above all, I want my kids to learn that eating healthily is important now and as they grow, and I hope the habits I teach now will stay with them as they become adults. Food options for adults are so numerous and diverse, it’s easy for people to get sidetracked from a healthy diet and revert to fast food on a regular basis. And this can have serious lifelong implications for their health.

How do you plan your kids’ meals? Do you find it a challenge for them to eat healthily, too? I would love to get your thoughts.