Back to school: 60 effortless recipes for busy parents

It’s back to school, but the children don’t want to know anything. To make them see reason, focus on comfort food with next to nothing. A homemade cordon bleu, pasta with sauce or a gooey brownie should quickly make them forget the end of the holidays. Our advice for a great return to school.

Anticipate

Between returning to the office, school and resuming activities, the start of the school year is not easy. And at the end of the day, finding an idea for dinner can quickly become a headache.
To combat lack of inspiration, there is only one solution: get organized.
We therefore focus on easy recipes, which can be prepared in advance. Gratins, quiches or lasagna are your best allies in this area. All you have to do is cook or reheat them when needed. Another technique consists of progressing through certain stages, in batch cooking mode. Cutting vegetables, cooking starchy foods or preparing seasonings… So many tasks that can be done the day before or even before. This avoids last minute stress.
And if one evening you get overwhelmed and the pizza delivery guy’s brochure catches your eye, it doesn’t matter. Enjoy seeing your to do list lighten and take the opportunity to have a good evening.

Delegate

Don’t hesitate to get the whole family involved. Cooking with children is an opportunity to come together around a creative activity. Children love to help and imitate their parents’ actions. This will not only allow them to gain independence, but also to revise mathematics and chemistry. It’s also a good way to educate their palate and introduce them to new foods. A nice idea might be to organize a themed evening once a week to discover different gastronomies. Japanese, Italian or Indian cuisine… They will definitely get a taste for it very quickly.
We of course assign tasks according to each person’s abilities. Like a true leader, supervise your mini-brigade with patience and gentleness. The goal is to have a pleasant time and relax.

Savor

To keep your spirits up, treat yourself to friendly and tasty recipes. To prepare in advance or with four hands, they will delight the whole family. Lasagna, risotto or cookies, you will enjoy it. Let’s not forget vegetables which are essential for a balanced diet. If you’re not crazy about it, a few tips will help you avoid grimace soup.

First of all, start by revisiting your favorite dishes by adding vegetables. For example, slip a few florets of cauliflower into a tartiflette. It’s delicious and helps lighten the meal. You can also opt for a pan of vegetables as a pizza topping or in a pasta gratin. With the children, play the creativity and color card. Even a simple raw vegetable salad can become appetizing if presented well.

At table !