Being a mom often leaves little time to prepare healthy meals. If you struggle to get nutritious meals on the table in just a few minutes, you may be wondering if there are ideas to help you feed your family without taking hours of your time. Kathy Ireland reports in her book, "Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity," that keeping a few quick and healthy recipes on hand will help you get dinner on the table every night.
Grilled Sandwiches
Using a variety of breads and fillings allows family members to choose what type of sandwich they would like and are quick to prepare. Supply whole wheat bread varieties, which increase the amount of fiber your family consumes. Ireland suggests using lean meats, such as chicken, turkey or ham, because they are lower in saturated fat. Offer toppings, such as onions, peppers and tomatoes, to increase the vitamin C and potassium content of your sandwich. Low-fat cheese slices supply calcium and protein. Have each family member choose his toppings and layer between bread. Brush with olive oil and grill until lightly toasted. Serve with steamed vegetables or fresh fruit.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetables
A slow cooker can be a lifesaver for a busy mom because it allows you to combine your ingredients and then leave the meal to cook while you tend to your day. Jyl Steinback notes in her book, "The Busy Mom's Slow Cooker Cookbook," that chicken and vegetables is a nutritious combination that supplies protein, iron, fiber and vitamin C. Place chopped potatoes, carrots, celery and onions in the bottom of your slow cooker. Place raw white meat chicken breasts on top and sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook on low heat for eight to 10 hours.
Pizza
Pizza can be a healthy meal and is quick to prepare on nights when your family is busy. Use whole wheat prepared pizza crusts because they have more fiber than pizza crusts that are made with white flour. Consider having a personal-sized crust for each family member so everyone can make their favorite type of pizza. Supply low-sodium pizza sauce and toppings in bowls and encourage each person to create his own meal, which frees up some of your time to tend to other tasks. Use chopped vegetables, such as peppers and onions, for fiber and vitamins, low-fat mozzarella cheese for calcium and turkey pepperoni for protein. Heat the pizzas until the cheese melts and serve with steamed vegetables.
Minestrone Soup and Garlic Toast
Homemade soup can be a quick meal to prepare because you can simply combine all the ingredients and leave the meal to simmer until you are ready to eat. Minestrone is packed with nutrients, such as vitamin C from the tomatoes and fiber and protein from the beans. Combine low-sodium canned tomatoes with carrots, celery, onions, potatoes and low-salt vegetable broth in a large stockpot. Add no-salt-added canned white beans and your favorite spices. Allow to simmer for up to an hour. About 10 minutes before mealtime, brush whole wheat bread with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder. Broil for 1 or 2 minutes until golden.
References
- "Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity"; Kathy Ireland; 2009
- "The Busy Mom's Slow Cooker Cookbook"; Jyl Steinback; 2005
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