Family-Friendly Meals

Coral Von Zumwalt

Get dinner on the table fast with these kid-approved recipes and quick prep tips.

50 Recipes Kids Actually LikeGo beyond the standard picky-eater pleasers (pizza, French fries…) with these family-friendly recipes.
Vegetables in DisguiseGet kids to eat those leafy greens with the following stealth tactics.
Road Test: The Best Hot DogsHot dogs are a hassle-free food guaranteed to please kids and adults alike. You’ll relish these six top dogs.
Should You Eat This or That?Yogurt or applesauce? Burger or hot dog? Find out in this nutritional smack down.

Keep the refrigerator clear. A crowded refrigerator is an invitation to spills from things knocked over as you rifle through it before dinner.
Related: Before and After: Refrigerator Makeover
Cover the counter. To limit the mess when preparing meat, chicken, or fish, consider lining countertops with butcher paper (buy it from your supermarket meat department), then fold it up with the scraps and toss it when you're done.
Fill the sink with hot, soapy water. As you work, drop in the tools and dishes you've used and let soak. (Put knives in a tall glass or other container so you don't risk cutting yourself later.) When it's time to straighten up, a quick drain and rinse often does the trick.

Surprising tricks that make for quicker, tastier spaghetti dinners.