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Quick and Easy Dinner Time Ideas

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

It’s not easy juggling our busy lives while trying to feed our families a hot nutritious dinner every night. Here are seven quick and easy dinner ideas that will help take the stress out of family meal times.

1. Plan a Menu and Grocery Shopping List – (Or let us do it for you – www.dinewithoutwhine.com) Menu planning does take organization and time but it’s definitely worth the effort. Find a few minutes during the weekend and plan your meals for the upcoming week. Write a quick menu, do your shopping and stick the menu on your fridge. Every morning quickly glance at it, take out the foods that need thawing, and look ahead to see how much time you need to prepare the meal.

2. Befriend the Slow Cooker – Okay, this little invention may not be the coolest kitchen gadget around but it can definitely be a lifesaver. With a little planning you can have a nutritious dinner ready before the kids can even say “mom…” (Dine Without Whine includes one slow cooker recipe per week)

3. The Casserole is Back – Similar to the slow cooker, 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 soup 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. Easy, Versatile, Pasta – By far the easiest way to quickly throw together a healthy family dinner. To avoid boredom try to avoid the usual jar of sauce and pasta dinner. Try 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 or cooked chicken, the juice of one lemon, a little salt and pepper to taste, and finally add a little chopped cilantro or parsley. Serve over your pasta with some garlic bread and a green salad on the side for a delicious meal in minutes.

5. The Incredible Edible Egg – Eggs aren’t only for breakfast, they’re also great for quick dinners. Make an omelet and fill with a little ham and cheese, you can also add some chopped tomato, onions or mushrooms. Serve along with a muffin and you’re set. Or make a Spanish tortilla. Scrub, peel and thinly slice a couple of new or small potatoes. Boil potatoes until soft, about 8 minutes. Drain. Add a little oil to a nonstick frying pan, add the potatoes, beaten eggs and a little chopped onion (optional) cook on low until the bottom starts to set. Then stick the frying pan under a broiler until the top of the tortilla sets. Serve with a side salad.

6. Sandwich Bar – 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. Put out some bread rolls (whole wheat is best), add a platter of cheese, ham, 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.

7. Wrap It – Wraps are great for quick dinners. You can 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 heated tuna, some corn kernels and a little mayonnaise. Or try scrambled eggs, chopped ham and tomatoes. Leftover chicken with cheese and lettuce works great too.