Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids

UPSIDE DOWN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Brown one pound of ground beef in skillet, then drain. Add spinach and a medium onion (or a large shallot). You can also add corn or green beans. Continue cooking at medium heat, covered. Stir occasionally. Once the vegetables are done, serve over mashed potatoes. GREAT way to get kids to eat spinach.

PIGS IN A BLANKET

Wrap a half a piece of cheese and a ready-to-bake biscuit around hot dogs and place on a baking sheet. Cook according to biscuit instructions. Serve with vegetables. If you serve the vegetables out of a can, be sure to warm them up and add a little butter. Frozen tastes better, but cooking fresh vegetables is always best.

CREAMY CHICKEN

Wash off chicken and place in baking tray. Pour in can of cream of chicken soup. Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is done (which is when the fork slides easily). Serve over rice or the mashed potatoes they keep in the refrigerated section at the grocery store (unless you are up to peeling, boiling and then mashing some...)

EASY SPAGHETTI

Buy a big bottle of spaghetti sauce, try to get one that has vegetables in it. Also buy meatballs from the grocer's freezer. Pour sauce and meatballs into skillet, cover and put on medium heat. Boil the noodles according to the directions on the package. If you time it just right, they will be done at the same time. Kids also love the Garlic Texas Toast. My kids don't like the cheese ones, though.

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER

Eggs and toast with cereal and fruit is what we do. You can also cook bacon, but make sure that the bacon is cooked all the way. Keep flipping it until the fat is opaque. Chewy bacon tastes good, but just go ahead and google trichinosis if you have any doubts about whether to cook it enough or not. And it's a little on the greasy side. You also want to cook the bacon first, because it takes longer. Other ideas include pancakes (You can get those shake and pour bottles and make them the size of a silver dollar, they are crispier and kids love 'em), french toast (simply make a mixture of 4 large eggs, 1 tablespoon of milk or cream, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, a dash of vanilla extract, a dash of ginger, a dash of nutmeg and a dash of cardamom, scramble these ingredients together and coat pieces of bread. Then fry in a pan with butter until golden brown. You don't have to add anything but the eggs, really, but the other ingredients listed make the french toast much more delicious!!!), etc. Whatever you normally would eat for breakfast!

You can get more insight on easy breakfast ideas by clicking here.

HEALTHY SNACKS ARE IMPORTANT, AND THEY ALSO MAKE GOOD SIDES AT DINNER!!!

Sometimes a good snack is as easy as peeling and slicing a cucumber.

Some kids like celery with peanut butter for a snack.

You can buy peeled baby carrots in bags in the produce section.

Apple sauce.