For better or worse, the one thing that unifies parents everywhere is BUSYNESS. Can we get an amen?! When you’re trying to juggle work, parenthood, and maintaining your home at an acceptable level of cleanliness, you could probably use all the time-saving hacks you can get.

So, we’re bringing you 5 ideas for 5-minute meals for kiddos using things easily found in your pantry or fridge, or even your leftovers. No trip to the grocery store required. Hopefully, this will save you some time, and give you the chance to add some zest back into the everyday. First up...

Go ahead and grab last night’s leftover pasta sauce, and spread it over any bread you have in the house! English muffin, sandwich bread, even a tortilla. Add shredded cheese and any other toppings you may have, pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and there you have it. A kiddo-sized pizza. 

Or charcuterie, if that’s more your vibe. Deli meat is your friend. It requires no prep, and it gives kiddos the protein they need to stay full. Put together some turkey or ham, cheese, crackers, and maybe some grapes or oranges, for a daily dose of Vitamin Z. Voila! Pro tip – send your kids out for some sunshine to eat on their Munchkin Set! You can always join in if you need a snack.

No shade to the boxed stuff – we’ve all been guilty of eating the whole thing in one sitting. But if you want something even better with the same amount of effort, start by making a sauce by combining 1 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan, and heat until it simmers. Pour in leftover noodles and as much shredded cheese as you can muster. Aaaaand it’s as easy as that.

Hummus is a great, easy meal option for so many reasons. The first of which – Kids. Love. Dips. Just get them settled into the Fold-Away High Chair, and let them go to town. Not only will it keep them full, but it will keep them occupied. Give them a hefty scoop of hummus, plenty of veggies, and maybe a little pita too, if you’re feeling fancy.

Easy and fun! What else do you need? Grab your favorite tortilla and load it up with deli meat, veggies, and cheese, or your favorite nut butter and a banana. You can even cut them into pinwheels for your littles, if they have a tough time holding wraps.

We know that raising kiddos is a trip. Roll with it.