Chloe watched me thoughtfully from the sofa this morning.After seeing me fly up and down the stairs, change Belle twice, make breakfast, help the lovely husband solve the “missing pants” conundrum, retrieve banana from on top of the clock, and pile lunches, swimming things and school bags into the car, she announced: “You need to chill out mummy, just relax”.Moments later, after she had been ceremoniously dumped in the car, she told me that she would like gnocchi for dinner and that I’d picked the perfect earrings for my outfit.As we sat in the traffic I’d been trying desperately to avoid, I stared at my eldest in the mirror and wondered how was it possible to be three, going on 30?It’s easy to fall in with the theory that with age comes wisdom, but if my three-year-old is offering me little gems, what else am I missing?At work, when discussing the intricacies of behaviour change in a meeting, our summer student came out with “we need to make the healthiest choice, the easiest choice”.It’s so obvious, and yet often overlooked. So, rather than give you a fantastically healthy recipe that involves growing your own biodynamic herbs and simmering lentils for hours, I thought I’d give you some tips for the quickest dinners on the planet.I don’t know about you, but my most challenging time of day is getting home and presenting the children with something fresh and healthy to eat within minutes. Usually by 5.30pm I’m starting to run out of steam, so whatever it is, it has to be easy and it has to be quick.If you’re in the same boat, have a look at the tips below. While you fix dinner, try staving everyone off with a snack of frozen peas or raspberries it’s a great mommy secret that I’ve been using for years.Next week quick and easy suggestions for adults.Kids’ dinnersquick and easyPick, mix and dipA favourite in our house and with all the little friends too.On a large platter arrange blueberries, strawberries, chopped banana, chopped avocado, toasted whole-grain mini-waffles (Earth’s Best, from Miles), cucumber or pepper sticks and cubes of cheese.Provide two dips one yoghurt, and one hummus. Let everyone pick their own and dip away. They will come up with interesting combos Chloe was dipping strawberries in the hummus the other day. Just don’t pull a face. If they like it, leave them to it!On toastScrambled eggs are very nutritious and very quick. If your children will find it funny, make them green by adding spinach purée defrosted from the freezer.Alternatively try baked beans there are several organic options to make you feel better about the tin! Beans are a great source of protein, carbohydrate and fibre just limit to once a week as the sugar/salt is a little high for children. Serve on top of whole-grain toast or waffles.DIY pizzaIt you have a loaf of bread, pasta sauce and cheese in the house, then you have pizza. Top pieces of whole-grain bread with sauce and sprinkle with grated cheese. Grill till the cheese has melted. For the healthiest option, choose organic cheese and low-sodium sauce. Decorate with frozen peas. If you want to hide some additional nutrition, put a layer of hummus of puréed spinach underneath the pasta sauce.Fruit and cheese kebabsIf you have a picky eater with a small appetite, try alternating grapes, cheese and strawberries on kebab sticks. It’s a fun way to get in a little protein (cheese) and carbs (fruit) without much fuss.Soup and a sandwichIt really can be this simple. Don’t go thinking you’re a bad parent if there’s no Annabel Karmel involved in your evening meals. Preferably defrost homemade soup from the freezer, otherwise try one of the Pacific Natural Foods (Lindo’s) low-sodium organic options.They do a great roasted red pepper and tomato soup, and a good creamy butternut squash soup. For the sandwich all natural ham (eg Niman Ranch or Applewood), hummus or organic cream cheese are quick.OmeletteAh the good old omelette so easy to overlook. Try making a vegetable omelette using frozen veggies such as the Birds Eye broccoli, red pepper and sweetcorn mix. Include grated cheese if your children are fans. Once cooked, cut omelette into “fingers” as children often get overwhelmed by large plates of food.Serve with whole-grain toast, yoghurt or fruit for healthy carbs.Spanish riceI regularly make large quantities of Spanish rice and freeze it. Stir a little tomato spaghetti sauce into rice, sautéed onions, peas and corn, so that it looks bright and fun. I then defrost, heat through, and stir in whatever protein leftovers I may have roast chicken, all natural ham, or for a veggie option, chick peas and kidney beans.I am not sure this qualifies as “Spanish rice” but it’s the name I gave it when put on the spot by Chloe, and it sounded a whole lot better than “leftovers”.The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute of Optimum Nutrition in the U.K. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. She can be contacted at nourishbda[AT]gmail.com.