5 Back-to-School Recipes Guaranteed to Make Your Kids Happy

When everyone is getting ready to go back to school, each meal of the day requires special attention. Breakfast is, of course, an important one to start planning ahead for, as our kids need to be well fed and energetic as they head toward the bus. Lunch is also a vital meal to think about, too, whether your kids are eating the school lunch or you're packing one for them. Even after-school snacks need a lot of special attention, because there are sports, tutoring, and activities that your kids need to be well fed for.

And then there's dinner. Along with breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks, dinner is an important meal for you to pay attention to in order to ensure that your kid has a successful school year. No matter what age your child is, it's important to make sure they're eating a well-balanced and healthy dinner, whether it's to fuel up for a big test or a game. Research has shown that when families eat together, kids are more likely to eat healthier and less likely to become obese. And for those parents pulling on the leash of a teen or two, a recent study conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that when kids eat dinner with their family, they're less likely to use drugs, drink, or smoke cigarettes. By providing your kids with a nutritious and homemade meal, you're ensuring that they have a healthy and productive school year.

As any good parent knows, though, getting your kids to eat a nutritious meal isn't as easy as it might be for you to step into the kitchen. Just because you tell them countless times that sautéed squash or spinach is good for them, it doesn't mean that they'll eat it. Getting your kids to eat right means keeping them happy and keeping it easy for you, and that's why these 5 recipes are perfect for firing up their taste buds on a school night.

Get Ready for Back to School with The Daily Meal

Making sure your kids eat a nutritious dinner is all about keeping them happy, and these recipes will help you do it. In the end, they'll make you happy, too.

Cold Sneaky Sesame Noodles Recipe

If you wanted to make this a two-pronged meal, double the recipe and serve it for dinner, then have the kids take the leftovers for school lunch the next day. Pick up some extra Chinese takeout white boxes for extra fun in the lunchbox!

Click here to see the Cold Sneaky Sesame Noodles Recipe

No-Bake Nachos Recipe

Who said nachos have to be hot, anyway? This "no-bake" recipe captures all of their essence without preheating the oven. Plus, it makes it easy on mom to put together a quick side dish for dinner.

INGREDIENTS

1 small bag tortilla chips
1/2 head Romaine or iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese (or your favorite cheese)
1 cup sour cream
2 vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
One 16-ounce can refried beans

DIRECTIONS

Arrange the tortilla chips on a platter or 2, depending on how many you'd like to make. Layer in this order: refried beans (you may heat these if you'd like but it's preferred to leave them cold so that the chips don't get soggy as fast), lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes. You may have leftover chips from the bag.

Recipe Details
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Mexican
Special Designations: Kid-friendly, Low-sugar, Healthy

Sneaky Joe Sliders Recipe

This is a smoky twist on a traditional "Sloppy Joe," served up mini-style on slider buns. I especially love the subtle sweet flavor that blueberry adds to barbecue sauce - who knew? Because it isn't bound in a patty, you can also sneak much more nutritious purée into this dish.

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Toasted Ravioli Lollipops Recipe

This recipe takes a trusted favorite and makes it a surefire way to get the kids excited about dinner. Raviolis are breaded and lightly sauteéd to give the effect that they're a guilty pleasure, even though they're not. You're packing in extra nutrients, too, by serving, not one, but two dipping sauces.

Click here to see the Toasted Ravioli Lollipops Recipe

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe

The oldest trick in the book for getting your kids to eat dinner is to offer them a sweet treat at the end. Don't just make it any sweet treat, though, and make it irresistable with these s'mores ice cream sandwiches. They're easy to put together and combine two things your kids love, making it hard to refuse dessert - or dinner, in this case.

Click here to see the S'mores Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe

-Anne Dolce, The Daily Meal

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