The dog days of summer are coming to an end and with school and sports starting up again, it can be a challenge for parents to put three square meals on the table.

Lifestyle expert Limor Suss shared some of her favorite meals and food hacks that are both kid- and time-friendly and will help the weekday run a little more smoothly.

“Back to school is a stressful time for everyone, and the more you plan, the easier the days go,” Suss, a mother of two who lives in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS WITH A HEALTHY, INTERACTIVE TWIST

“Meal planning is a great way to reduce the stress that comes with deciding what to serve,” she said.

It doesn’t have to be complicated, nor does it require much foresight.

“One of my favorite tricks is to take leftovers from the night before and make salads in a mason jar for lunch the next day,” she said.

The leftovers from dinner can be used to make a “salad” in a jar for lunch the next day. (Limor Sweet)

To do this, you layer a dressing or sauce on the bottom of the jar and then layer the rest of the food on top. The next day, the jar can be shaken or poured into a bowl and consumed at lunchtime.

Involving children in meal planning – and, to an appropriate extent, in meal preparation – is another way to make mealtime run more smoothly, says Süß.

3 CHEFS REVEAL THEIR FAVORITE AFTER-SCHOOL SNACKS – AND PREPARING EACH HEALTHY SNACK FOR KIDS TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES

“My son now knows how to make omelets and says his omelets are the best, so he wants to make them all the time,” she said. “It’s about getting them involved.”

Involving children is one way to make meal planning easier, says lifestyle expert Limor Suss (not pictured). (Limor Sweet; iStock)

Meals like a taco board or taco bar – where everyone can build their own tacos – are a way to get dinner on the table quickly while giving kids some independence in their food choices.

STAY HEALTHY: WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS YOU CAN RELIEVE YOUR CHILDREN’S FEAR OF BACK TO SCHOOL

These taco bars “don’t have to be elaborate,” she said, but should include a protein filling and other toppings.

An even simpler variation for taco night is the “walking taco,” where a bag of chips serves as the taco shell.

This is a “taco board” that Suss developed. Since everyone can top their tacos themselves, dinner is on the table faster and parents have less work to do. (Limor Sweet)

“A quick after-school snack idea is walking tacos,” she said. “Just take your favorite chip bags and add ground beef, cheese, sour cream, avocado and your favorite toppings.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

On busy nights, you can save a lot of time by converting frozen or prepared foods into another dish, says Suss.

One of her favorite dishes is something she calls “DIY Chinese Takeout.”

Using frozen chicken nuggets is a great way to save time, Suss said. (Limor Sweet)

A healthier and cheaper alternative to ordering food, Suss’ version of takeaway is based on frozen food.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

“I love turning frozen chicken nuggets into a completely different dish,” she said.

For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

This is much faster than breading and frying chicken by hand – and it’s also very quick to prepare.