For people with no time, pre-cooked and seasoned meat and poultry strips, breasts, nuggets, and fillets can be quickly heated in the microwave or in a pan. Roll them in a tortilla, toss them on a salad or dip them in a sauce for dinner that's ready in about 5 minutes.

For people with a little more time, pre-cooked meat and poultry items can be substituted for raw ingredients in recipes normally requiring marinating or longer cooking times.

Have microwavable or ready to cook meat and poultry items on hand. Rotisserie chicken, heat 'n eat pot roast and roasted turkey are just a few of the many choices that make "cooking" dinner easy. Keep your refrigerator, freezer and pantry stocked with easy side dishes such as pre-washed salads, baby carrots and frozen and canned vegetables. Or, place a bowl of fruit in the middle of the dinner table. That way, even on nights when there's no time to cook, everyone can get their "5 A Day." Cook batches of plain noodles and rice on the weekend and heat them up in the microwave to serve with meals during the week. Keep frozen or ready-to-bake rolls on hand for fresh bread straight from your microwave or oven.

Many children go through stages when they refuse to try new foods or stop eating foods they used to enjoy. Whether its persuading children to drink milk, eat meat or finish their vegetables, most parents struggle with how to get their kids to eat what's served. Here are some tips for avoiding meal time battles.

Introduce new foods with familiar foods children like. For example, serve a new fruit or vegetable with an old favorite like pizza or hot dogs. Don't insist that children finish the new food. Instead, encourage children to try one or two bites. Keep offering the new food regularly. It can take up to 10 to 15 tries before a new food is accepted. Have a few familiar and well-liked healthy foods on the table that children can select for themselves. Options might include yogurt, fruit, sliced whole-wheat bread. Allow kids to "dip" their foods. Many kids will try new foods or eat more of old favorites when allowed to dip them in sauces or condiments such as ketchup, salad dressings, and caramel or chocolate sauce. Be more lenient with condiments and flavorings such as butter, margarine and salt. Allowing kids to flavor their foods to their liking improves their acceptance of them.

All kids love to cook. Include your kids in the preparation of foods. Even little ones can tear lettuce, wash fruit, etc. As they get older, the time you spend in the kitchen can become extra family time. Not only will it mean less work for you, but your kids will be more likely to enjoy eating foods (even new ones) that they have helped prepare.

When you get to the table, avoid commenting about what your kids eat or don't eat. Many nutrition experts recommend that children learn best by watching what their parents eat rather than being told what to eat. If you prepare a balanced, healthy meal, let your kids decide how much and whether they eat. If you provide it, they will come….to the table!

http://www.cookinglight.com/ > Menus and Planning > Superfast http://www.eatturkey.org/consumer/recipes.html http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/ctrends.htm > Meals on the Go, Family Cooking http://www.meatpoultrynutrition.org/ht/d/sp/i/1907/pid/1907 http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/pork%20website http://kidnetic.com/ > Recipes

• http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/family_time/mealtime.aspx
  
  
• http://www.ellynsatter.com/Pages/Parents.htm