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Meleyna Nomura

    About Me

    Meleyna is a recipe developer, food photographer, and champion of home cooking. She is likely to be found on the sidelines of the Little League field (with a full dinner for four packed in a cooler) or waiting in line for a Trader Joe’s sample.

    Latest Stories

    15 Kid-Friendly Birthday Party Dessert Ideas That Aren’t Cake
    These are perfect for any celebration!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jan 22, 2026
    The 50 Best Easy Freezer Meals for Your Family
    Your freezer is your friend.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Dec 26, 2025
    Just Get the Minivan.
    Hear me out, OK?
    Meleyna Nomura
    Oct 23, 2025
    Reese Witherspoon’s 3-Step Chicken Casserole Was Even More Delicious Than I Was Expecting
    I only have one note!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Oct 5, 2025
    The 30 Must-Have Costco Grocery Items That Longtime Members Swear By
    Take this list with you the next time you go.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Sep 8, 2025
    I’m a Baseball Mom, and Have Scrubbed Hundreds of Pants — Here’s How to Get Mud Stains Out of Clothes
    I’ve scrubbed hundreds (thousands?) of pants over the last 15 years.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 11, 2025
    My 1-Ingredient Upgrade For the “Best Potato Salad of Your Life” (My Family Can’t Get Enough!)
    You’ll never look at this common vegetable the same way again.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jul 3, 2025
    32 Easy Kid-Friendly Meals Your Family Will Love (Even Your Picky Eater!)
    Some days are more balanced than others, and that’s perfectly fine!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 16, 2025
    I Tried 5 Methods to Clean My Greasy Wood Kitchen Cabinets — And the Winner Was Ridiculously Effective
    Five methods, one clear winner.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 12, 2025
    The Tricks I Use to Get Food Grease Stains Out of Clothes
    They always work.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Apr 30, 2025
    The Best Kids’ Lunch Gear, According to the Experts
    Everything you need to know about lunch containers, lunchboxes, water bottles, and other accessories for a well-packed school lunch!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Apr 16, 2025
    The Easiest Way to Remove Crayon From the Wall
    Little artist, go do your art elsewhere, please!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 20, 2025
    The 3-Ingredient Instant Pot Chicken Recipe That’s So Easy, My Kid Can Make It
    Inspired by Chipotle's honey chicken (my son's favorite).
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 12, 2025
    The $15 Cleaning Staple I Use Every Single Day, In Every Room Of the House (It Lasts All Year!)
    It's hands down the most versatile and frequently used cleaning product in my house.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 5, 2025
    The Complete Guide to Buying Kids’ Lunch Gear
    Everything you need to know about lunch containers, lunchboxes, water bottles, and other accessories for a well-packed school lunch!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Feb 20, 2025
    The Nutritious After-School Snacks I Feed My Kids (They’re Ready in Minutes)
    Delicious AND nutritious.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jan 15, 2025
    We Tried 6 Ways of Baking Crispy Sweet Potato Fries and the Winner Was Abundantly Clear
    It’s all about the technique.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 6, 2024
    Family Dinner Is Overrated — Here’s What I Do Instead
    After sixteen years of making "family dinners," it's no longer my main focus. Here's what we do instead.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jan 16, 2024
    I Finally Tried That Viral Baked Spaghetti and Now I Totally Understand the Hype
    It’s over-the-top in the best way possible.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Nov 10, 2023
    The Favorite, No-Fail Brunch Recipes These Families Make for Mother’s Day Every Year
    These no-fail favorites will set you up for success to celebrate at home. Just don’t forget to do the dishes!
    Meleyna Nomura
    May 5, 2023
    18 Brilliant Snack Hacks and Mealtime Tips I Learned From Parents on TikTok
    There's a wealth of resources on the app to help get your family fed!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 7, 2023
    The Very Necessary Drawer Your Kitchen Probably Doesn’t Have — But Should
    When I say your kitchen needs this pretty specific method of organization, I mean it.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Nov 11, 2022
    I Make This Instant Pot Chicken Chile Verde Every Summer, and My Kids Adore It
    The kitchen stays cool and the extras freeze beautifully.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jul 6, 2022
    10 Parents on The One Family Dinner Recipe That’s Always a Hit
    What to make when you need a winner dinner.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 30, 2022
    The Birthday Party Tradition You Should Absolutely Stop Doing
    This is one bit of party "etiquette" that really needs to stop.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 1, 2022
    My Easy Go-To Birthday Gift for Middle Schoolers
    It's always a hit.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Jun 1, 2022
    Frozen Grapes Are a Kid- and- Grownup-Approved Frosty Treat
    Grapes about to go bad? Throw them in the freezer!
    Meleyna Nomura
    May 4, 2022
    Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Are the Perfect Dessert for a Bake Sale or Potluck
    They’re my greatest party trick.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Apr 11, 2022
    The Absolute Best Pizza Bagels Ever
    Calling all '90s kids!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Apr 8, 2022
    How This Mom of Hungry Teens Spends Less Than $100 on a Week of Groceries
    Plus, some unexpected tips on meal planning — like checking the weather app before you head to the store!
    Meleyna Nomura
    Mar 7, 2022
    This 5-Ingredient Wrap is Our Family’s Favorite No-Cook Meal
    Plus, it’s a great option for hand-held, on-the-go eating for busy evenings.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Feb 27, 2022
    Food52’s Incredibly Comforting Chicken Chile Soup Will Warm You Down to Your Toes
    It's like a hug in a bowl — and perfect for easy holiday entertaining.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Nov 28, 2021
    The Secret to Spectacular Chili Cheese Fries
    Cheese sauce is 100% necessary.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Nov 13, 2021
    If Your Tweens or Teens Are on Social Media, Go Do This Right Now
    This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. There’s no shortage of coverage on generational wars. The anti-millennial discourse has shifted to rhetoric about Boomers and Karens and jokes about Tide Pods. But as an elder millennial myself, I feel somehow centered in all of it. Defending myself from the older generation (millennials are not teenagers!
    Meleyna Nomura
    May 30, 2021
    The Easy Meal I Pack for Sports Nights with the Family
    This piece was created for Cubby, our weekly newsletter for families at home. Want more? Sign up here for a weekly splash of fun and good ideas for families with kids. I can’t say I had a strong idea of what kind of parent I was going to be. Even as someone who loves a plan and a schedule, I went into this thing sort of like, “Well, I gotta wait to see what I’m working with!
    Meleyna Nomura
    May 12, 2021
    My Family’s Favorite Meal Has 2 Ingenious Shortcuts
    Feeding a family is no joke. From newborn feedings at midnight, to toddler tantrums over crackers, to the voracious appetites of growing teens, it often seems to come down to the perpetual parent-to-kid question: “What do you want?” So when I find those dishes that everyone loves, I know they’re the real winners. The miracle meals. The unicorn dishes.
    Meleyna Nomura
    Apr 7, 2021