Skip the School Night Food Fight with Quick Dinner Ideas

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine. #BTSMealSolutions #CollectiveBias

Ok, someone please tell me what happened to the summer? Is it just me, or are they getting shorter!?

It might just be true how quickly time flies, because I feel like it was winter not long ago. {To be fair, I live in the Midwest, so that likely has something to do with it.} Either way, Back to School is around the corner already, and I’m trying to come to grips with it. Summer has been so peaceful, not fretting over homework or what theme day is coming up or what project isn’t finished. . . and what on earth am I feeding them for dinner!?

***PSST!! If you hover over the image above, you’ll get a nice clue for that answer! 🙂

This year I have a rookie and a pro returning to school – kindergarten and third grade. Neither of them is great at dinnertime. It’s definitely a hassle to get a dinner on the table after work/after homework/after/before sports/etc. This one wants X and that one wants Y and never the twain shall meet. Short of constantly feeding them junk food (where they both agree), it can be a long fight on a random Tuesday. And Mommy and Daddy do NOT go quietly into that good night, lol!

Our kitchen is almost always stocked with simple school day solutions that can cover every meal – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When I can’t stand a request for a THIRD bowl of cereal from my growing boys, I love to toss out the idea of the Jimmy Dean® Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Croissant – 8ct. It’s sometimes a bummer sharing these, since I stock those for myself often to avoid a greasy fast food run on a rushed morning commute after the drop off line. Plus, I doubt there’s a parent out there that hasn’t experienced the glory of nuggets on a school night riddled with homework and after school activities. The Tyson® Crispy Chicken Strips and Tyson® Fun Nuggets have been lifesavers on busy school nights.

Once upon a not-that-long-time-ago, I pulled off a sneak attack on my kids during a half day from school where they needed lunch. My boys love grilled cheese sandwiches, though we don’t make them that often.  I had an epiphany.  I promised my hungry little guys delicious grilled cheese for dinner with a special surprise! See, I had already stocked up on Hillshire Farm® Ultra Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – 9oz at Target, and I figured if they liked turkey and cheese sandwiches for lunch (and they did) then they would love my famous grilled turkey and cheese!

Admittedly, famous might be a stretch. However! I have gotten rave reviews in the past for my combo of oozing cheese over stacked sliced oven roasted turkey and my special combo of mustard and mayo…

I also love that Hillshire Farm® Ultra Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast has no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors, no nitrates/nitrates added – except those naturally occurring in celery juice powder and sea salt.

Here’s how to make a SUPER EASY and DELICIOUS turkey and chesse grilled sandwich that will speed up any school night and meet with your kids’ approval.

Grilled Turkey and Cheese Sandwich

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  Hillshire Farm® Ultra Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast

  
  
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  Bread of choice – I prefer a multi-grain

  
  
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  Extra Sharp Cheddar

  
  
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  Mayonnaise

  
  
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  Mustard

  
  

Here’s a few key secrets – use MAYO, not butter, to brown the bread.

Next, start the first slice of toast on a low setting so you can stack the cheese and turkey without burning the bottom slice.

Finally, you want to tent the total sandwich with the lid to the pan for a bit before flipping.

What you are left with is a beautiful, delicious, and quick school night dinner OR lunch option that offers protein and taste all at once. My kids (and they are PICKY) enjoy it, so I think yours will too!

This sandwich is quickly gobbled up at our house, and I throw in a few other good snacks as well. I hope your kids love it as much as mine!  They also happen to love these State Fair® 100% Beef Corn Dogs – 5pk – just see how we made them to wild applause in my youngest boy’s birthday party!  Doesn’t hurt for a quick school night dinner either!!

So, how quickly are you running to Target for these Food-Fight avoidance maneuvers this school year?? Luckily, they are in back to back aisles to make it even easier!