The back-to-school season is a time of transition when we shift from the relaxed pace of summer to the structured schedules of the school year. While the new school year is exciting, it can also bring added stress. Bedtimes return to normal (likely with some reluctance), mornings start much earlier, lunches need to be prepped, and everyone feels the change. And, of course, there’s the need to get family meals on the table at a regular time again, especially if your kids have after-school activities or sports.
To help you navigate these first few weeks of back-to-school more smoothly, here are 8 practical tips to save time and reduce stress when it comes to dinner during this transition:
1. Prep in Advance (even for just the first few weeks)
As you adjust to the new school routine, find some time either on the weekend or during a quiet morning to prep some key ingredients in advance. Here are some ideas to make this happen:
- Chop up a few nights’ worth of vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) that can easily be steamed or roasted.
- Make a big bowl of salad—enough for 2 to 3 dinners.
- Cook a couple of batches of your favorite grains or starchy veggies (rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, etc.).
- Prepare a few proteins (baked chicken, salmon, or ground beef with sauce) that can serve as multiple dinners.
Even if cooking in advance or batch cooking isn’t your usual routine, committing some time to the above steps will be a huge time saver and stress buster during the back-to-school period. This will give you more time to focus on helping everyone settle into their new routines and perhaps attend all those back-to-school open houses.
While this does involve some initial time investment, it will make your back-to-school weeknights go so much smoother. I promise it will be worth the effort!
2. Make One-Pan and Sheet Pan Dinners
We strongly recommend keeping dinners as simple as possible during those first few weeks back at school. We’re big fans of simplicity when it comes to weeknight dinners, and one of the best ways to minimize time in the kitchen is with one-pot or sheet-pan meals. These recipes often require less prep, and since everything is done in one pot or pan, cleanup is more manageable.
Look for recipes that combine proteins, veggies, and carbs in one dish, so there’s no need to make a separate side—perfect for those busy evenings.
Tip: If you’re a member of The Dinner Daily, you can find some easy options by searching for “sheet pan,” “easy,” or “one pot.”
3. Double Up on Recipes
To give yourself a break from cooking, plan a few dinners that can do double duty by cooking twice the amount. For instance, if your weekly plan calls for a roast chicken, make two and save one for a later meal. It takes almost no extra time to put a second chicken in the oven, giving you another dinner that’s ready in advance with minimal effort. Or, if you’re making a casserole, increase the quantities so you can have a second dinner later in the week. You can also freeze the extra portion for those inevitable hectic evenings, reducing stress and saving time.
By thinking ahead, you can reduce stress and scrambling during the dinner hour. It will also help you eat better—when you have a plan in place, there’s no need to resort to takeout or open the DoorDash app—and undoubtedly save money on food.
4. Plan a Healthy Sandwich or No Cook Night
One of my favorite tactics during a really busy week was to plan for a no-cook dinner night. For us, that usually meant sandwich night, served alongside a bowl of fruit salad. Our typical sandwich fillings included roast chicken from a leftover meal, lots of veggies like cucumbers, shredded carrots, sliced tomatoes, avocados, and lettuce, and usually a tasty spread like guacamole. I would also buy some nice rustic bread from the store, and if time allowed, I’d quickly toast the sandwiches under the broiler or in a skillet.
Whatever this looks like for you, plan for a couple of these nights during the first few weeks of back-to-school to give yourself a break from cooking while still enjoying a healthy dinner.
5. Set Up a Healthy Snack Station
Depending on the ages of your kids, this tip can help reduce your stress during the dinner hour. With new after-school activities and schedules, kids often come home hungry and wanting to eat something, typically before you’ve had a chance to start making dinner. To keep them satisfied without ruining their appetites—and without creating another task for you during an already hectic time—I found it helpful to have some ready-to-go snacks they could get themselves or that I could quickly grab from the fridge (no thinking required).
Create a dedicated space in your fridge or pantry that they can reach, depending on their ages, with snacks that are already approved by you. Healthy options like yogurts, pre-washed berries, whole-grain crackers with cheese slices, petite cut baby carrots with hummus, or peanut butter on bananas all work well. This keeps them satisfied until dinner and gives you the space to prepare meals without interruptions, easing the stress during these busy weeks.
While this is especially helpful for younger children, it also works well for teens who might be inclined to fill up on less-than-healthy choices if there are no obvious options.
6. Make Breakfast the Night Before
Although this tip isn’t about dinner, it’s something I found incredibly useful as we settled back into routines at the start of the school year. Having a simple plan for breakfast—or better yet, making something the night before—can be a big stress buster as everyone adjusts to earlier mornings. Our favorites were overnight oats in the slow cooker, hard-boiled eggs with a bowl of fruit salad, or a breakfast casserole cooked the night before. You probably won’t want to do this every night, but having a few mornings where breakfast is already planned out can help streamline your mornings, making it easier for everyone to get out the door on time.
7. Pull Out the Slow Cooker
Similar to one-pot or sheet pan dinners, your slow cooker can be a huge time saver when you’re busy or your evenings are unpredictable. If you’re too busy to pull everything together in the morning, try prepping the meal the night before. Place all the ingredients in the insert and store it in the fridge overnight. Then, in the morning, just pop the pre-prepped insert into the cooker and turn it on. By the end of the day, you’ll have a ready-to-go meal waiting on your counter. If you followed Tip #1, you can add the salad or veggies you’ve already prepped in the fridge to complete your meal. You’ll feel so organized, and your family will enjoy a healthy dinner with minimal stress!
If you’re a Dinner Daily member, you can find lots of slow cooker options by searching your menu. Or, check out this easy slow cooker recipe:
8. Have a Weekly Plan for Easy Meals
As you transition from summer to the back-to-school season, it’s essential to have a plan for your meals before the week starts. Doing this on the fly adds to the stress and mental load of already busy weeknights. A lack of planning is also one of the major causes of unhealthy eating and overspending on food.
If planning meals for an entire week feels overwhelming, or if you’d like some help, let The Dinner Daily take some of the stress off your plate. With personalized meal plans based on your grocery store’s sales, you can save time, money, and energy—ensuring that dinner is one less thing to worry about during this busy transition. No more last-minute scrambles, just straightforward, affordable meals designed to fit your family’s needs.
You can read more about how to get started with meal planning here:
Meal Planning: How to Get Started
The back-to-school season is a time of transition, and with these 8 tips, you can significantly ease the stress of family meals and save valuable time. By focusing on preparation, doing a few key things in advance, and having a plan, you’ll find that dinner can be an enjoyable and meaningful part of your day, even as everyone adjusts to the new school year.
