The Easiest Healthy Dinners for Busy School Days
Just because the bell rings at three or four in the afternoon, it doesn’t mean the school day is over. There are basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football matches to go to. After-school practice for team sports, cheerleading, drama, and debate is thrown in there, also. At times, your kids’ calendars seem more packed than yours.
Yet, in between all the obligations, everyone still needs to come to the table to squeeze in a healthy dinner. The trick is to find nutritious meals you can prep and eat efficiently. No one has time to spend or wait hours in the kitchen. If you’ve been wondering if there is such a thing as a quick and good-for-you dinner, here are a few ideas. They’re not only easy to make, but also nutrient-dense.
Black Bean Burgers
Sandwiches and fries from a local burger joint are undoubtedly tasty. Most of the time, the meal is quick, too. You pull up to the drive-thru, place your order, and get your dinner in a sack within minutes. But this convenience comes with extra calories, preservatives, and ingredients you can’t pronounce.
Why not try a simple yet healthy alternative at home instead? Your family will still get a great-tasting meal and ditch the processed foods at the same time. Introducing the solution of black bean burgers on whole wheat buns. Throw in a side of cottage cheese for added protein or baked, seasoned sweet potatoes to substitute for the fries.
While you can make black bean burgers from scratch, you can also get pre-made versions from a healthy grocery delivery service. You can heat them up in an air fryer or a stovetop skillet. Within minutes, you’ll have your own version of burger night with a healthy twist. You can even set out a burger bar where each family member can choose their toppings. Try fresh tomatoes, lettuce, guac, and red onions.
Stuffed Peppers
If there’s one thing you can say about stuffed peppers, it’s that they’re versatile. You can please the entire family’s taste buds by making some of the filling with meat and some without. For example, you could create a base filling with rice, beans, and seasoning. For the carnivores, add in chicken.
Before you start thinking this is too much work, there are shortcuts you can use. Pre-cooked rice you microwave in a pouch and rotisserie chicken are convenient for busy nights. This way, the peppers don’t take much time to prep and stuff before baking them in the oven.
Any leftovers can be used for lunch the next day. You could even freeze your leftovers for another dinner later in the week. Another idea is to repurpose any remaining filling as a side for an upcoming meal. A little forethought can save you time in a pinch.
Turkey Rice Bowls
Ground turkey is known for its lower calorie count, high protein, and lower saturated fat. These factors can make the meat a healthier alternative to ground beef for some individuals. If you’re looking for an easy, nutritious school night dinner, give turkey rice bowls a whirl.
Toss some ground turkey in a skillet with your family’s favorite vegetables. Suggestions include broccoli, carrots, and onions. For seasonings, mix in chopped garlic and sauces. Once you’ve got the mixture ready, you can place it on top of cooked rice.
You can use microwave rice pouches or a rice cooker. It’s a meal without a ton of prep time, especially if you use frozen veggies. You’ve seen the mixed vegetable and stir-fry packets at the store. It doesn’t take much to reheat them in a skillet. Plus, you don’t have to spend time chopping, slicing, and dicing.
Pita Pizzas
Ordering pizza will score you bonus points with the kids. However, it’s not going to score a win in the healthy eating category. Most restaurant-cooked pizza is loaded with extra fat and calories. Yes, it tastes great. But you might regret your meal as you feel the sluggishness of overeating and blood sugar spikes set in.
A way to get in pizza night without all the added calories is to make your own using healthier ingredients. It’s similar to the bean burger trick. You use whole wheat pita bread for the crust. The bread can be miniature or whole-sized.
Buy a pizza sauce with an olive oil base with real tomato-based ingredients. Your kids can choose their toppings, from green peppers to fresh jalapenos. Once they’ve assembled their pita pizzas, place them on a baking sheet in the oven. It usually takes less than 30 minutes for the cheese to melt. Everyone has a tasty, but healthier dinner.
Easy, Nutritious Dinnertime Meals
A parent poll revealed 78% think the world is more disconnected and overwhelming than before. While 90% of parents link these factors with increased loneliness, 45% agree that the most meaningful conversations occur in the evening. Dinnertime is an opportunity for families to have those conversations, even on busy school nights.
Instead of spending this time on meal prep, you can have easy, nutritious meals ready to enjoy in 30 minutes or less. You’ll spend more moments strengthening your family connections without sacrificing your health. Healthy variations of burger and pizza night are sure to bring everyone to the table, despite those jam-packed schedules.
