Dinnertime can often mean coming home late, looking in the fridge, seeing nothing edible, and going out to dinner. Although once a week this isn’t a big deal, nights are starting to get a bit expensive and unhealthy. And then when being unhealthy costs you even more money, you really have to start wondering what you’re doing. The good thing is that with a little planning and a trip to the supermarket, you can avoid all of this.
I want to challenge you to have meals planned ahead and groceries ready and waiting to prepare those meals. It could take you the same time it takes to drive to the fast food joint, taste better, help you feel better, and get you to movie star status with your spouse or kids. First let’s take a look at some meal ideas.
Pasta is a great way to make something quick and really delicious. I like to recommend veggie noodles because of the extra serving of vegetables you get. Now you really can do whatever you want with the pasta. You can use chicken, seafood, or just vegetables. You can add cheese or not. You can make a creamy sauce with a little cream or not. All up to you. I like to do some butter, a minced garlic clove, zucchini, shrimp, and some tomatoes and Parmesan cheese at the end. It’s fresh, very good and super fast. I’m going to make a bet that even your picky eaters can enjoy vegetables.
Another really easy dinner is Mexican food. With some ground beef (brown), a can of chili beans, and some chili powder or taco seasoning, you can make a few different dishes. You can use this meat with salad, sour cream, avocado, and cheese for an amazing Mexican salad. Or you can make soft tacos or nachos. You could even make a beef quesadilla. If you add a can of diced tomatoes, a little more chili powder, and a pinch of cloves, you could have quite a bowl of chili. All of these meals will please the taste buds, and leftovers can be frozen for a rainy day.
It wouldn’t be a good “easy dinner list” without at least one crock pot idea, so here it is! If you need an easy chicken meal or two, this one is sure to please and is really flexible to what you want. First place some raw chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Season with a little salt and pepper at the very least. I like to add onion powder, chili powder, cumin, and/or a little taco seasoning. Next, pour in a can of black beans (drained), a can of corn (drained), and a jar of salsa. Put on low for 7 to 8 hours. When you get home, simply shred the chicken and enjoy as tacos, nachos, enchiladas, salad, or as is. If you want a more soup-like consistency, add a cup of chicken broth in the morning. You will finish with a tortilla soup.
If you want a simpler shredded chicken, just cook the chicken in 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Season well. With that, you can add barbecue sauce and pinto beans. Or you can serve it with lemon pepper, vegetables and rice. Or you may want to add some buffalo sauce and serve with carrots and celery. With a simple base, shredded chicken can really become whatever you want it to be.
I hope you got some ideas for the dinner process. I highly recommend creating a menu on the weekend and doing all your shopping. Then when a busy week rolls around, you’re prepared and have a plan. I know you will feel better and you might even lose a few pounds! Good luck and happy eating.
