Food and Beverage
Stress Less, Snack Smarter This Back-to-School Season
Last Updated on September 1, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Stress Less, Snack Smarter This Back-to-School Season
(Family Features) If back-to-school season feels more overwhelming than exciting, you’re not alone. Between adjusting schedules, planning meals and organizing school supplies, it’s easy for families to feel the pressure this time of year.
With the right strategies and simple routines, you can reduce the chaos and make it a smoother, healthier experience for the whole family.
These registered dietitian-approved ideas can help get you started:

1. Set the Tone with a Fast and Easy Breakfast
Getting kids motivated in the morning is no small task. Start the day with upbeat, energizing music and a nourishing meal like Breakfast Taquitos, paired with Yo Quiero’s Grab & Go Guacamole, Bean Dip and Salsa, to help kids focus and make the morning routine feel more like a dance party.

2. Skip the Sandwich at Lunchtime
If your kids are tired of sandwiches – and you’re tired of wasting time on food that comes back half-eaten – try a quick and easy option that balances fiber, protein and good-for-you carbs like these Ham, Cheese and Apple Wraps made with JAZZ Apples.

3. End the Lunchbox Struggle
Use colorful bento boxes to keep packed lunches organized and visually appealing then take advantage of blueberries from Consalo Family Farms to create Blueberry Gummy Snacks, a better-for-you alternative to packaged treats that you won’t find left untouched at the bottom of lunchboxes.

4. Change the Snacking Game with Dips
While many a baby carrot and celery stick has found its way home from school lunchboxes untouched, adding Mini Cucumber Veggie Dips featuring Nature Fresh Farms Lil’ Chills Mini Cucumbers to after-school snack trays can make all the difference.

5. Prevent the After-School Meltdown with Smart Snacks
School days are long, and kids often come home hungry. Keep them satisfied and stable by setting out an After School Snack Board featuring Sunset Sprinkles Snacking Tomatoes, cheese cubes, fruit and whole-grain crackers.

6. Stock Up on Convenient Snacks
Whether you’re running out the door (or just walked in from a long day), snacks that don’t require peeling, chopping or anything resembling effort like single-serve, Grab-and-Go Snacks from Del Monte, which come in flavors including Mixed Fruit, Mango Pineapple and Cherry Mixed Fruit, make it easy to choose something healthy without the drama.

7. Capture an Easy Weeknight Win
You don’t need to spend an hour cooking dinner to get something satisfying on the table. Weeknights are hectic, so focus on go-to meals that are fast, flavorful and kid-approved like these Barbecue Cheeseburger Folded Quesadillas featuring caramelized Shuman Farms Vidalia Onions.

8. Try a Healthy Evening Treat
Kids want something sweet after dinner, but many traditional desserts are loaded with added sugars. These Mandarin Popsicles made with Bee Sweet Citrus Mandarins are a fun way to satisfy that craving while sneaking in fruit.
Together, these health-conscious brands are backing the Healthy Family Project back-to-school campaign with a shared goal: inspire better habits and give back where it counts. Through a collective donation to the Foundation for Fresh Produce’s K-12 programs, they’re helping support nutrition education in schools across the country. Because when fresh thinking meets real collaboration, families win.
Visit HealthyFamilyProject.com to find more recipes that help families pack healthier lunchboxes, fuel busy afternoons and make more produce a part of everyday life.
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Healthy Family Project
Food
Have a ‘Hoppy’ Easter with a Holiday Ham
Last Updated on April 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) When your kitchen is full of colorful eggs, candy baskets, tempting sweets and all that comes with Easter, sometimes a holiday classic is just the answer for simplifying the season. Perfect for pairing with deviled eggs, potato salad and a traditional Sunday feast, this Maple-Glazed Easter Ham provides a hands-off approach to the main dish.
With an easily prepared glaze and your oven doing most of the work, you can keep your attention on time spent with loved ones. Visit Culinary.net to find more seasonal favorites, both classic and contemporary.
Maple-Glazed Easter Ham
Recipe adapted from Southern Living
Total time: 3 hours
Servings: 10
- 1 bone-in spiral-cut ham (8-9 pounds)
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (4 ounces) bourbon
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- orange slices and wedges, for garnish
- fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Place ham in large roasting pan and fill with 1/2 inch of water. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake about 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with juices from pan, until meat registers 120 F at thickest portion.
- In medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir maple syrup, brown sugar, bourbon, ginger and cinnamon; bring to boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover to keep warm and set aside.
- Remove ham from oven and discard foil. Increase oven temperature to 400 F. Using pastry brush, glaze ham with 1/3 cup maple-bourbon mixture.
- Bake ham about 30 minutes until top is lightly caramelized and meat registers 145 F at thickest portion, brushing with remaining glaze every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer ham to serving platter. Let rest 15 minutes and garnish with orange slices, orange wedges and rosemary sprigs.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Food
🌯 Fun Fact: When Is National Burrito Day?

If you needed a reason to celebrate your favorite wrapped meal, here it is.
National Burrito Day is observed every year on the first Thursday of April—a moving food holiday that always lands just in time to kick off spring cravings.
In 2026, National Burrito Day fell on April 2, giving burrito lovers across the U.S. the perfect midweek excuse to indulge.
A Quick Bite of History
While the burrito itself has deep roots in Mexican cuisine, the modern celebration of National Burrito Day is largely driven by restaurants and food brands that turned it into an annual event—complete with deals, giveaways, and social media buzz.
Today, it’s widely embraced by chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba Mexican Eats, along with local taquerías that join in the celebration.
Why It Matters (Beyond the Food)
National Burrito Day is more than just a marketing holiday—it reflects how a simple, portable dish became a staple of American food culture.
From classic bean-and-cheese to fully loaded carne asada burritos, the options are endless—and so are the reasons to celebrate.
External Related Reading
- National Day Calendar: National Burrito Day
- Smithsonian Magazine: A Brief History of the Burrito
- Chipotle Mexican Grill – Official Website
- Qdoba Mexican Eats – Official Website
Related Reading
recipes
Lighten Up: Fresh Spring Meals That Won’t Weigh You Down
Prepare your fresh spring menu with light, flavorful dishes like shrimp pearl couscous salad and chickpea couscous—perfect for easy, satisfying meals without the heaviness.

Lighten Up: Fresh Spring Meals That Won’t Weigh You Down
(Feature Impact) Put away the heavy coats and break out the rain jackets and rubber boots – spring is here, and with it comes more than just pop-up showers and sunshine. After months of comfort foods and curling up indoors, you may be ready for lighter meals that won’t weigh you down before splashing in the puddles.
Fresh produce may first come to mind, but spring bites can also mean swapping out ingredients like regular pasta for a solution such as pearl couscous. If you’re looking to complement greens, veggies, fish or meats with light yet filling flavor, consider Success Boil-in-Bag Pearl Couscous, a small, mediterranean-style pasta that always cooks right and is ready to eat in under 7 minutes once the water boils. The BPA-free boil-in-bag simplicity makes cooking easy and foolproof: no measure, no mess, no stress.
Made with high-quality semolina wheat, it features a slightly nutty flavor on its own while absorbing the flavors of salads while retaining its density and chewy texture. It’s distinguished from traditional Moroccan couscous by its slightly larger, rounder shape and less dense, firmer consistency.
Try it with your next meal in this protein-forward Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad, made using fresh herbs, citrus, seasoned shrimp and chickpeas for a jam-packed salad that screams spring. Never boring, the tender, seasoned couscous and shrimp, veggies and aromatic herbs can bring your family running to the kitchen after a day of play.
Or, for an even simpler dish that requires just 15 minutes in the kitchen, this Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad is light, bright and bursting with flavor. It brings together tender pearl couscous, crisp veggies and za’atar in every bite.
To find more light spring recipe ideas, visit SuccessRice.com.
Shrimp Pearl Couscous Salad
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup feta, crumbled
- Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
- In medium bowl, toss shrimp with seasoned salt.
- In large saucepan over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes. If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding pan.
- In another large pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chickpeas and cook 8 minutes until crispy and golden, tossing often. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt. Toss to fully coat and cook 2 minutes.
- In large bowl, combine pearl couscous, shrimp, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, red onion, dill, lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Toss to combine. Garnish with feta.

Pearl Couscous and Chickpea Salad
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 bag Success Pearl Couscous
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon za’atar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Prepare pearl couscous according to package directions.
- In large bowl, combine couscous, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and za’atar.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.

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