Tips To Survive The End-of-The-School-Year Season

Survive the chaos of the end of school with easy, kid-approved recipes that bring joy and comfort to your busy family during this jam-packed time of year!

Have you heard about Maycember? If you’re a parent, you’ve probably lived it — even if the name’s new to you. Maycember is that hectic, stressful period at the end of the school year filled with final projects, back-to-back events and the scramble to prepare for summer. Suddenly, you’re juggling camp sign-ups, childcare logistics — all while still in school-year mode.

Sound familiar? If so, you probably already know that one of the biggest stressors of the season is handling dinnertime, especially on busy weeknights full of after-school activities, homework and other demands.

Here are a few strategies and tools to manage your time better and make weeknight dinners feel a little less like a chore.

Build in time cushions

When planning schedules around after-school activities, overestimate how long things will take — from getting out the door to travel time between stops. Adding an extra 15-20 minutes here and there can give you some breathing room and help prevent those last-minute scrambles when things don’t go as planned. But when they do happen, check out Simply Potatoes Diced Potatoes base to make this recipe taste like a comfort food classic. Sprinkle fresh parsley on top for a fancy touch. Plus, they are gluten free and can be ready in less than five minutes!

Breakfast for dinner

Breakfast staples like eggs and sausage come together fast, making them ideal for busy nights. Using protein-rich ingredients like Bob Evans Liquid Egg Whites and Bob Evans Original Roll Pork Sausage give you a satisfying balanced meal in minutes. Pair them with sweet favorites like pancakes or waffles, for a dinner that feels fun and fills everyone up.

Repurpose your leftovers

Leftovers don’t have to feel like a repeat. Use extra chicken or beef from a meal earlier in the week to create something new — toss them in a stir-fry, wrap them in a tortilla or add them to pasta. Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes can elevate any leftover dinner to a whole new experience!

Mix and match family-favorite sides

Not every part of dinner needs to be made from scratch. Stock your kitchen with easy side dish staples like Bob Evans Macaroni & Cheese. These sides are ready in just 10 minutes, with minimal prep and cleanup, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time connecting with your family around the dinner table — even on the busiest nights.

Bob Evans 12 Days of Maycember Giveaway

Now through May 12, consumers can enter to win a new prize each day — from time-saving helpers to a little well-deserved self-care by visiting the Bob Evans Instagram or Facebook pages. On Instagram, you must follow Bob Evans, like the sweepstakes post and fulfill the daily prompt with #sweepstakes. On Facebook, you must fulfill the daily prompt with #sweepstakes.

Find more quick and convenient dinner staples, plus easy recipes to take the stress out of weeknight meals, at BobEvansGrocery.com.