We believe in the power of connecting over a meal. But we also know what it’s like to juggle busy schedules, picky eaters, different nutrition goals, and a food budget. Our Nutrition & Health Sciences Team shares their hints, hacks, recipes, and must-have ingredients they use in their homes. 

Make mornings run smoother 

Morning can be a busy, hectic time in households. Planning can help start the day or week with a sense of calm and save time. Here’s how: 

• Batch bake muffins or cook whole wheat pancakes on Sunday to use throughout the week. You can even make pancake “pizzas,” just top with yogurt and fruit. 
• Prep ahead overnight oats make for a quick grab-n-go option. Customize with fruit and honey in the morning before heading out the door. 
• Got 5 minutes? Blend up Plant-Based Golden Milk Smoothies 

Turn leftovers into lunches 

You can make lunches from leftovers two easy ways. Double your recipe at dinner to make enough for lunch the next day. Or, if you have some leftovers but not enough for a meal, you can simply add a few ingredients to make it heartier. Here’s how: 

• Repurpose or embellish leftover pasta salad from dinner by adding more veggies and canned chickpeas, canned chicken, or a soft-boiled egg for lunch. 
• Personalize your pre-made soup by adding leftover protein, veggies, or greens to your soup. Try adding extra greens to Pacific Foods Organic Vegetable Lentil Soup, or cannellini beans and leftover veggies to Pacific Foods Organic Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.   
• Save leftover cooked grains like farro, rice, or pasta from the night before and use as a salad topper. Adding grains, especially whole grains, to your salads helps to make them more filling and satisfying.  
• Add more flavor to your lunch with a simple, homemade dipping sauce. Mix Pace Chunky Salsa with plain Greek yogurt and use as a veggie and chicken dip or as a salad topping.  

Pantry-staples make dinner easier 

Prego Italian Pasta Sauces, Campbell’s Cooking Sauces, and Condensed Cooking Soups are super versatile ingredients that help bring together any dish. Whether you prefer easy recipes or like to cook unscripted, they reduce prep time and make flavoring your dish simple.  

• Try simple all-in-one dishes, like One Pot Skillet Lasagna that use on-hand ingredients and makes cleanup a breeze 
• Use Prego Italian Sauce in new recipes, like with this Moroccan Chicken Stew. It features familiar ingredients like pasta sauce, peppers, and onions in a new way. 
• Give Taco Tuesday a refresh with new Mexican-inspired dishes: Try Chicken Tortilla Casserole, Mexican Tortilla Soup, or Taco Al Pastor. 

Simple and original dishes:  

You don’t always need to follow a recipe to put a flavorful dish on the table. Try using some simple cooking and prepping shortcuts to make meals flavorful and easy. 

• Sauté frozen peppers and onions in a pan, add Prego Italian Pasta Sauce and some crushed red pepper flakes. Crack a few eggs into the pan and poach them in the sauce.  
• Cooking sauces can work well with almost any combination of lean protein, frozen veggies, and whole grain you have on hand for a mix-and-match meal. 
• Cook whole grains in bone broth to add flavor and a bit of protein. 
• Use V8 Spicy Hot 100% vegetable juice to cook rice for more flavor and veggies. Add cumin, chili powder, and canned beans for a little extra protein.  
• Keep fresh, chopped veggies in your fridge and pull out with dinners. Even if you don’t get around to making a vegetable side, this helps to boost your family’s veggie intake without extra pans to wash. You can use the leftover salsa/Greek yogurt dip from your lunch. 

Make mealtime easier with a well-stocked panty, simple recipes, and by experimenting with what you have on-hand.  

Want more tips?

Nutrition

What to eat when you don’t have time to eat

Nutrition

How to make popular diets more convenient

Share