Kid Food

And how it transformed our dinners into something surprisingly simple.

Stop wasting all those eggs and flour.

Meals your kids will (hopefully, probably!) eat.

Our readers have spoken!

Skip the possibility of takeout.

Assembly is the name of the game.

It's one of the easiest ways I know to get a veggie-packed dinner on the table.

Turn it into a brand new meal.

I still remember the sweet sense of victory I felt when I cooked one dinner that my whole family — including my toddler — adored and gobbled up. I’m still new to this, but have learned that feeding toddlers is tricky business that requires patience, understanding, creativity, and persistence. These days I put my meal-planning efforts into building a roster of easy dinners that my whole family enjoys.

I have a personal rule when it comes to my kids: I always say yes when they ask to help with cooking. This doesn’t mean I’m inviting them to cook every meal with me, but when they ask I always oblige. Cooking with kids sometimes that means dinner takes 10, 15, even 20 minutes longer to get on the table, but we always learn something — even if it’s just to make sure the lid is tightly sealed on the paprika.

They taste like sunshine.

The secret is out.

Lunch box burnout is very real. Whether you’re doing the prepping yourself or supporting your kids in their own lunch packing endeavors, putting together an enticing midday meal day … after day… after day gets really old. Sandwiches are always a smart lunch box option because they’re super versatile, loading a lot of flavor and food groups in a kid-friendly, handheld format.

It’s a revelation.

Crispy, gooey cheese meets sweet heat.

It makes a huge difference.

The best set-it-and-forget-it winter warmers.

Great for snacking and baking.

It’s so fast!

For the next time you hear "I'm hungry; I want a snack!"

Who knew it was this easy?

These are perfect for any celebration!

Buttered noodles are one of those simple comforts I never get tired of, but this version is the delicious upgrade I keep coming back to. Adding lobster base turns an everyday pantry dinner into something that tastes a little special without making it complicated. The noodles stay simple and buttery, but the lobster base brings a savory richness that makes the whole dish feel “fancy.

Perfect for a chilly day.

Because we’re *deep* into sick season right now.

The base is stainless steel, but has a clear plastic lid so you can see what's inside.

One pan. 30 minutes. Juicy, flavorful chicken.

It doesn’t take much to step up your game.

You won't find anything like it at a restaurant.

Note to self: Hide the container from family members.

Plus, how they make it pop.

Eggs to the rescue.

Of course, my kids were the testers.

You can never have too many of these in your weeknight roster.

Your freezer is your friend.

The crunchy cheese cracker topping took it over the top.

I’ll never make dressing another way.

My whole family asked for seconds.

It’s amazing on potatoes, too!

Mom is always right.

It’s surprisingly easy.

They’re both iconic.

“My favorite slow cooker meal, Frenchified!”

No complicated drinks here, and certainly nothing involving a loud blender.

“Oui oui.”

Feel free to bookmark this.

Family favorites for a cozy dinner.

“A top 1 M&M.”

The sauce is liquid gold.

Even better than the original.

I wouldn’t expect this one change to make this big of a difference.

Meet your new favorite seasonal sweet treat.

They might even ask for seconds.

The winner might shock you!

It has the ideal chocolate-to-peanut-butter ratio.

It’s so customizable!

It'll make anyone a vegetable believer.

After a few weeks of habitually disregarding the cereal collection in our lazy Susan, we were completely in the zone; we had expanded our repertoire, eating a lot of different things. I hadn’t bought a box of cereal in at least three weeks, and although I did not experience the revolt I was sensing in my previous post, I did occasionally get some questions in the morning as to whether or not we’re “still not eating cereal.

Streamline your a.m.

It will definitely take more time, but it'll be worth it!