Easy & Nutritious Back to School Dinners

Back to school preparation is in full swing! For parents, that means earlier mornings to get the kiddos up and ready for school, activity-filled afternoons, and finding time to put a nutritious meal on the family table before homework and that earlier, school-night bedtime. But don’t fret, here are 5 quick, easy and produce-packed dinners that are sure to put a smile on your children’s faces.

Pita Pizzas!

Pita pizza is super easy, delicious, and everyone can make their own - just how they like it!

1.     Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Start with 1 pita per person. Lightly brush the pita with olive oil and place it on a baking pan.

3.     Cover your pita with pizza sauce, pesto, or extra olive oil as the base.

4.     Sprinkle your favorite shredded cheese on top.

5.     Finally, finish up with your favorite pizza toppings! Items from your Produce Box that might work particularly well include peppers, onions, or other sautéed vegetables like zucchini. Go crazy!

6.     Bake for around 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts! Enjoy!

Stir-fry!

When you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine and have some veggies on hand - try stir-fry. This is a tasty dish that most kids will love, and can be thrown together in no time. The best part is that you can use up virtually any vegetables you have from your weekly Produce Box delivery!

1.     Heat up a tablespoon or two of oil in a skillet.

2.     Take a few minutes to prep your veggies. We suggest onions, garlic, peppers, broccoli, and zucchini or squash of some kind. But really, it’s up to you, throw in whatever you’ve got!

3.     Throw your onions and garlic into the pan first, giving them a little extra time to cook and caramelize. Then add the rest of your veggies.

4.     Douse your stir-fry in some soy sauce (or other sauce of your choosing), cover, and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.

5.     Uncover and serve over hot rice!

Veggie Quesadillas!

This one is simple and to the point. Spice up your usual plain cheese or chicken quesadilla with some goodies from your Produce Box. Make the quesadilla classic a healthy dinner option by stuffing it full of tasty sautéed veggies!

1.     Heat a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil in a skillet on medium heat.

2.     Place tortilla in pan and spread desired fillings on top.

3.     Cover with a second tortilla and flatten the two together with a spatula.

4.     Cook until one side is golden brown and the insides are gooey and cooked (about 3-5 minutes), then flip and repeat until the other side is crispy as well.

5.     Slice your quesadilla in quarters and serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

“Panera-night-in”!

In my family, on nights when we were crunched for time but still wanted a healthy and affordable dinner that everyone would love, we’d cook up what we called a “Panera-night-in.” Eating out on a regular basis, though it might be quick and easy, can be fairly expensive. Cut the cost and throw together a Panera look alike dinner in your very own home. Much easier on your wallet, this meal takes about as much time to prepare as it does to make a trip out to your neighborhood café.

1.     Throw a loaf of bread (from one of our artisan bakers) in the oven for a few minutes to warm it up. Toasty bread is always better!

2.     Open a can or box of your favorite soup and warm it up on the stove-top while you prepare the rest of your meal.

3.     Wash and prep all of your favorite fruits, veggies, and salad toppings. If you’ve got little ones you can have them help you tear and spin lettuce! Throw it all together and top it with your favorite dressing!

Veggie Pasta Bake!

And finally, when all else fails, the pasta-bake is a go-to, super easy favorite!

1.     Leftover veggies that you’re not sure how to use up? Dice ‘em up, toss ‘em in a pan with some olive oil and let them simmer for a few minutes.

2.     While the veggies cook down, boil your pasta.

3.     Then, throw it all in a baking dish with a layer of cheese and a layer of sauce, and pop it in a 325 degree oven for 20-30 minutes. Voila!