If you’re anything like me in a busy spring season, one important routine begins to slip through the cracks immediately: dinner.
When I’m on the go starting at 3:30 in the afternoon there just isn’t time to make it, let alone sit down with my family to eat it. Often, people have to eat at different times as they run out the door to different activities or sporting events. And when I finally get home after chauffeuring everyone around, I’m too tired to even think about cooking! Sound familiar?
But there’s still the issue of hungry people to deal with. On Fresh Living I shared three of my favorite ideas for fast, easy, healthy dinner ideas:
Freezer Meals
The great thing about freezer meals is the prep is done! Just pop it in the oven or the crockpot and serve at dinner time. If the idea of making the freezer meals intimidates you, rest easy. It’s as simple as picking a recipe that freezes well on a night you are already cooking, and simply doubling it. Eat one, stick the other one in the freezer. Do this a few times and you’ll have a nice little inventory of freezer meals. For great freezing tips, including how to avoid freezer messes, the best containers to freeze in, as well as some of my favorite recipes, be sure to visit my post on Freezer Meals HERE.
Go-To Dinner Recipes
This is one of my best strategies. Sometimes your dinner plans go awry – nothing in the freezer, never got a chance to throw anything in the crockpot, and you’re really trying to avoid fast food. Rather than eating cold cereal for dinner (gross!) have a few Go –To Dinner Recipes you can turn to. But here are the rules. Go-To Dinner Recipes have to be:
- Easy
- Fast – no more than 15 minutes
- Ingredients are always kept on hand
- Healthy
- Your family will eat it
Some of my favorite Go-To Dinners:
- BBQ Chicken pizza
- Omelets (for my favorite omelet recipe, see Healthy Eating The Happy Gal Way)
- Tacos – Taco fillings are a cinch! Brown some hamburger or use some rotisserie chicken, and mix with taco seasoning, salsa or sour cream. Add favorite taco toppings. (I have an easy and delicious Fish Taco recipe in Healthy Eating The Happy Gal Way – ready in less than five minutes!)
- Cooked shredded pork – Cook a pork roast in the crockpot, then store in portion sizes in the freezer. Mix with BBQ sauce make sandwiches, use as taco filling, etc.
- Taco Soup
If you have any, please share in the comment section below. Go-To Dinner Recipes are worth their weight in gold, and we are all looking for new ones!
*For more recipe information, please see my cookbook Healthy Eating The Happy Gal Way. It is filled with recipes that fit the Go-To Meal description!
Healthier Fast Food Options
Sometimes it’s just inevitable. You have to pick something up. But you can feel better about what you’re eating if you know you’ve made a healthier choice. I like to say I can eat anywhere and still eat healthy. Here are some great ideas:
McDonald’s
- Premium Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken and low-fat balsamic vinaigrette plus Fruit ‘n Yogurt Parfait; 375 calories, 9.5g fat (4g saturated)
- Grilled Honey Mustard Snack Wrap – 250 calories, 8 g fat, (3.5 g saturated)
Starbucks
- Chicken & Hummus Bistro Box (hummus, grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, cucumber, and pita bread) plus a banana; 380 calories, 7g fat (1.2g saturated)
- Zesty Chicken & Black Bean Salad Bowl (grilled chicken, black beans, roasted corn, jicama, tomatoes, feta, greens, and quinoa with chile vinaigrette) plus Seasonal Harvest Fruit Blend; 450 calories, 15g fat (2.5g saturated)
Subway
- 6″ Subway Club on 9-Grain Wheat Bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cucumbers, and Sweet Onion Sauce plus apple slices; 445 calories, 4.5g fat (1.5g saturated)
- Oven Roasted Chicken Salad with tomatoes, green peppers, onions, olives, and cucumbers with honey-mustard dressing plus Yogurt Parfait; 400 calories, 6g fat (1.5g saturated)
Taco Bell
- Fresco Steak Burrito Supreme plus black beans; 430 calories, 10.5g fat (3g saturated)
- Fresco Chicken Soft Taco plus Pintos ‘n’ Cheese; 330 calories, 10.5g fat (4g saturated)
Wendy’s
- Large Chili plus Garden Side Salad (no croutons) with fat-free French dressing 375 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated)
- Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich plus apple slices 440 calories, 10 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
Chick-Fil-A
- Grilled chicken Cool Wrap – 350 calories, 14 g of fat (5 g. saturated)
Want even more ideas?
Check out my post 10 Quick and Easy Dinners You Can Make With Rotisserie Chicken!
10 Quick and Healthy Recipes You can make with Rotisserie Chicken
