Category Archives: Meal Planning

7 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas

It’s 6:00 p.m. the kids are hungry, homework needs to be done, you’re stressed and then they ask that famous question, “Mom, what’s for dinner?”

Here’s 7 quick and easy dinner ideas that might help take the stress out of family meal times.

Dinner Action Plans:

1.  Create a Menu Plan -  Find a few minutes during the weekend to plan your meals for the upcoming week.

Write a quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge. Every morning (or the night before) quickly glance at it and take out the foods that need thawing and plan ahead how much time you need to prepare the meal.

*Another idea is to have days already set for specific meals such as Mondays for soup & salad; Tuesdays for fish and fries, etc.

2. The Crockpot Plan – Okay, this little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can definitely be a real lifesaver. With a little planning in advance, you can throw something in the crockpot in the morning and have a nutritious dinner ready before the kids can even say, “Mom“.

*Just an idea – wrap some potatoes in foil to put in the crockpot and have a hot potato bar.  You could also have a little salad bar right beside it.

3.  The Casserole Backup Plan – Similar to the crockpot but great for days when you forget to plan ahead. Casseroles work great with leftovers or just about any items you can find in your pantry.

Throw together some pasta, tuna, corn kernels, peas and cream for a quick meal. Casseroles made with rice or potatoes are just as easy. Keep a few easy recipes on hand and add or omit ingredients according to what you have in your pantry.

4. The Easy &Versatile Pasta Plan -  Pasta is a super easy way to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner. To avoid boredom try to avoid the usual jar of sauce and pasta dinner…

Try something like this, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over very low heat and add one crushed garlic bulb, stir for about a minute and add a can of drained crab meat, the juice of one lemon and a little salt and pepper to taste, and finally add a little chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve over your pasta with some garlic bread on the side for a delicious meal in minutes.

5.  The Breakfast Plan – Eggs aren’t only for breakfast, they’re also great for quick dinners. Make an omelet and fill with a little turkey ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions or mushrooms. Serve along with a salad and some bread.

Or make a Spanish tortilla. Scrub, peel and thinly slice a couple of new or small potatoes. Add to a sauce pan with a little water and boil until soft, about 8 minutes. Add a little oil to a nonstick frying pan, add the potatoes, scramble eggs and a little chopped onion (optional) cook on low until the bottom starts to set. Then stick the frying pan under a hot grill until the top of the tortilla sets. Serve with a side salad.

*A couple of other ideas for dinner are biscuits & gravy or even pancakes and sausage.

6.  The Sandwich Bar Plan – Some days you just don’t have the time or energy to cook a hot meal, but you can still feed your family a nutritious meal in the way of sandwiches (you could call it “subway night at home”).

Put out some bread rolls (whole wheat is best), add a platter of cheese, chicken, turkey, tuna or any other favorite fillings.  Add another platter of chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and any other favorite veggies. Now let your kids put together their own sandwiches. Serve with some pretzels, a salad or cut up veggies and dip, a little hopeful but worth a try.

7.  The Wrap It Up Plan -  Wraps are great for quick dinners. You fill them with just about anything. For a Mexican wrap cook a little ground beef, drain and fill wrap. Add some chopped tomatoes, grated cheese, sour cream or guacamole. You can also fill it with a little heated tuna with some corn kernels and a little mayonnaise or try scrambled eggs, chopped turkey ham and tomatoes. Leftover chicken with cheese and lettuce works great too.