After School: Busy Day Dinners
I always enjoy watching the ancient TV reruns of Leave It to Beaver, where June has apparently spent most of the day shopping and cooking a wonderful dinner for Ward and the boys. I almost laugh out loud when I see June returning from the supermarket (carrying a bag of groceries), wearing high-heels and a shirt-waist dress, complete with a string of pearls and full makeup.
Was life really like that in the '50s? I can't answer that question. (Can you?) But what I can say is that times have changed in some ways. While we might not be dressing up to go grocery shopping, and regularly cooking for several hours for the evening meal, what we all do share with June Cleaver is the desire to have an evening meal with our families. It's a great time to regroup and reconnect with our family at the end of a busy day.
The time priority, in my view, is the precious opportunity for family members to regroup, eat together, and share their day's experiences. I think it's a ritual so important to establish as often as possible.
With back-to-school activities in full swing, not only moms, but every family member has more going on than the relatively "lazy days of summer." So, how to put together some Busy Day Dinners seemed like a good topic to address on my Today Show segment. It is definitely possible to avoid the fast-food take out line, and create your own "fast food" at home.
Here are some ideas my family has enjoyed, and I hope yours will, too. Please send along your ideas of how to put together a busy day dinner. While it's always fun (at least for many of us) to cook from scratch, it lowers the pressure level to save this for the weekends and special days. This keeps cooking fun, and not yet "one more thing to add on to the day."
First, I have two words for you: rotisserie chicken. As you'll see below, this can be the base of several easy-to-prepare dishes:
As a sandwich: Chicken salad or sliced chicken. Add some lettuce and tomato.
As a main dish salad: Shredded along with cut up veggies, light cheese and more.
On the bone: Topped with some chicken gravy (instant or jar) with some microwaveable veggies and rice.
Another basic concept in planning is to keep it simple. Foods we associate for breakfast or lunch make fabulous, easy dinners.
Here are some quick basics:
Soup and Sandwich
Add a salad and fruit and it's done. Try tortillas or whole grain wraps as a change from bread and rolls.
Salad for Dinner
Mix any lean protein from the deli (ham, chicken, turkey), some low fat cheese, and some vegetables. Add a whole grain roll or bread.
Frozen Dinners
While frozen entrees abound, make your own quick meal using frozen raw shrimp. Put in boiling water with powdered Cajun seasoning. Serve over couscous. Add a side of microwave frozen veggies.
Pasta
We all know the old standby of pasta and marinara sauce in a jar. Try a jar of pesto, with some whole wheat pasta. Add some pre-cooked turkey sausage for extra flavor.
Breakfast for Dinner
An omelet using eggs, egg whites, egg substitute–whatever you like. Add some veggies and maybe some low fat shredded cheese.
Ultimate No-Cooking Dinners
Try peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread, with some carrot and celery sticks on the side. A glass of skim or 1% milk rounds it out. How about a bowl of Cheerios with berries, and some skim milk?
What about dessert?
In a word, YES. Fresh fruit with whipped topping is a plus, or squirt some chocolate syrup on some strawberries. Low-fat ice cream products abound, and the single serving is automatic portion control. Any favorite item, about 100-150 calories in a "treat" is a fun part of everyday eating.
Let your imagination be your guide! Other ideas?
More from Madelyn:
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Comments
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner? Are you kidding me?? My husband would be fit to be tied if I tried this one on him.
It's easy, healthy meals for your KIDS... AFTER SCHOOL. Relax!!
As a mother of 3 I can allways use good healthy quick ideas ...
Good site! Good resources here, All the best!
My daughter can use all the help she can get. With a job, 2 boys in school and football practice until 8:00 four nights a week, she is always looking for nutritional meals she can fix in a hurry. I will pass these along to her.
Another great idea for Home cooked meals is the Meal Assembly Business. Check our SuperSuppers.com to find a location near you and start planning meals ahead. I go to the Cranberry PA location--sscranberrypa.com
It's great to have meals ready to cook--less planning, less shopping
AND they are so healthy for you!
