Everyone knows how difficult it is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine, especially when you have children. When you’re busy all week, raising a family to make healthy choices is hard when parents have little time to prepare healthy meals for their families. When you’re rushing around town for the groceries, the sports games, the doctor’s appointments, and another birthday present it’s always easier to pick up some fast food between errands.
It’s becoming too easy for us all to just buy a cheap, quick snack anytime of the day. When our children see this, they grow up thinking that this is okay – when we all know that it’s not.
We need to start by making small changes in our daily routines. We could create a list of ways to do this, but you’ve probably already read all the lists out there. Reading lists of ways to make changes in your life is fine, it keeps you informed, but that much information at once might not ever get put to use.
How about we start with one thing at a time? If you would like to get into any positive, healthy routine for you and your family choose to do this:
Have dinner together and at home most nights.
This small change is very important, as it teaches your children that eating meals should be done at home and not on-the-go. We know that preparing a meal can be time consuming, but there are so many quick, easy, healthy recipes out there that can be made in less than 30 minutes. Even if you only sit at the table for 5 minutes and then have to rush off to the next task, at least you’ll be feeding your family at home and with your own ingredients.
So if you want any sort of list to take away from this suggestion, here it is.
10 Quick & Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Individual Homemade Pizzas – this is both fun and healthy for the kids. You can buy premade whole-wheat pizza crusts and then all you have to do is prepare fresh ingredients and quickly bake.
- Chicken/beef fajitas/tacos – A few wraps, 20 minutes at the stove, and a couple of chopped veggies is all you need for this tasty meal
- Chicken and Salad – Almost every grocery store sells warm, rotisserie chickens. After work, pick one up and serve pieces of it with a quick salad and some rice (Minute Rice for quickness) or sweet potatoes (5 minutes in the microwave)
- Crock-Pot Meal – this kitchen tool is your best friend. Prepare soups, stews, pulled pork, chilies, roasts with carrots and potatoes, and more. You can truly make anything in a slow cooker and have it ready to eat come dinnertime.
- Pasta – spaghetti, fettuccini, and macaroni – all of this is pretty quick and easy to prepare. Also, they have all kinds of healthy varieties, including whole wheat and gluten-free. It’s filling and delicious!
- Ham & Cheese Crescent Rolls – You know those Pillsbury crescent rolls they sell at the grocery store? Buy a couple rolls and stuff each crescent with some ham and cheese, or chicken, or hot dogs. These are super quick and kids love to eat them. They’re also perfect to travel with if you’re in a hurry.
- Breakfast – scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast is perfect anytime of day and provides a meal rich in protein and iron. It’s relatively easy and fast to prepare for the entire family.
- Toasted PB & Apple Sandwiches – just like you would prepare a grilled cheese sandwich; try grilling a peanut butter sandwich with apple slices in it. Serve it in quarters with jam or honey so that the kids can dip it!
- Quiche – this will take a little more preparation, but these can be made any which way. Once it’s baked, it’s quick to serve and eat and can be warmed again in the morning for breakfast.
- Pork Chops – Cut up the chops into strips or chunks, pan fry them and add cream of mushroom soup and sauté. It creates a little “gravy” and kids love it! Serve on a bed of rice with a side of veggies for a complete meal.
We hope that you find these meal ideas useful.
Now, we’re not saying that you can’t eat out with the family once in awhile, in fact we encourage it! We just hope we can make your week a little easier.
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