As summer starts to wind down, it’s time to trade our clam bakes and poolside snacks for packed lunches and quick dinners before soccer practice. It’s a mental — and culinary — shift that can be a welcome return to routine! First we just have to remember what our routines are.
With two young kids, The Kitchn Senior Food Editor Kristina Razon and her husband know this dance all too well. “We have to figure out how to get back into the swing of things and navigate new daily routines: separate school drop-offs, pick-ups, playdates, and other to-dos,” she says. “So we need to be smart about how we spend our time. Luckily, I have a meal shortcut.” Target Good & Gather makes some of her favorites: With high-quality ingredients, big flavors, and affordable prices, Good & Gather groceries help Kristina and her husband feed the whole family — wherever mealtime takes them.
On busy mornings before school, a hot (and portable!) breakfast sends the kids off to class satisfied. “These waffles are great when we’re rushing around getting ready,” Kristina says. “I serve them with maple syrup for dipping, and my son can easily pull them apart and enjoy.”
Back-to-school can be so hectic that parents forget to feed themselves, but these late-summer-in-a-bowl ravioli are Kristina’s solution to that. “I love a quick WFH lunch that feels like I’ve done just a bit more than heating up leftovers,” she says. “Tossed with butter and shredded Parm, these make my desk lunch feel just a smidge fancy.”
Rotisserie chicken is already a kitchen hero, and this shredded cooked chicken means that school lunches are most of the way prepped. “When I’m feeling short on inspiration, I’ll make quesadillas,” Kristina says. “I simply add a handful of this shredded chicken and cheddar cheese to a flour tortilla and cook until melted and toasty. It’s a surefire hit.”
Meal shortcuts don’t get shorter than perfectly fluffy, fragrant rice in 90 seconds. “We’re a big rice family over here, and this heat-and-serve option helps me get dinner on the table so much faster,” Kristina says. Try it as the base for a clean-out-the-fridge stir fry or top it with a chili oil-fried egg for a quick and satisfying lunch.
These sweet, nutritious snacks are your new favorite antidote to the 3 p.m. slump — oh, and kids love them too! “I pack school lunches five days a week, so I’m always on the hunt for inspiration,” Kristina says. “These granola bites fit perfectly into my kids’ lunch boxes and help fill them up during their action-packed days.”