Healthy, Quick Meal ideas for Busy Families

Feeding kids can be difficult at the best of times. You want to make sure they are eating all the right things, yet they can be fussy about what they like. Then you worry you just eat the same five meals all the time and they need some variation. This is made much harder if you are busy because you are working full-time, or studying an intense course such as an MSN administration. These ideas are quick, healthy, and great for the whole family.

One Pan Chicken Bake

Any one pan meal is a great way of getting vegetables in to the kids. While cooking time is around an hour, there is very little preparation or washing up and any leftovers just need quickly warming up. Use any vegetables you enjoy, some great options are onions, zucchini, peppers and potatoes. For vegetarians, replace chicken with halloumi. Chop everything up, drizzle with oil, and bake. Cooking couldn’t be easier. For some extra flavor add some seasoning; Cajun spices work well.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Store brought Bolognese isn’t always healthy, but homemade is fantastic. Add onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Fry everything together with some chopped tomatoes and serve with pasta. This is an incredibly easy, tasty meal that takes less than 30 minutes to make.

Bean Burgers

Bean burgers are a fun way of getting kids to eat healthily. Use ingredients such as cannellini beans, carrots and sweet potatoes, grated and molded together into a patty. This can be very messy, so the kids will love helping.

Omelet

Omelets are healthy, easy and fast. They are another great meal you can add alternative ingredients to, basically whatever you’ve got in. An omelet stuffed full of tasty ingredients can make a brilliant quick dinner. The eggs will also help give you all an energy boost.

Jacket Potato

Jacket potatoes take five minutes in the microwave or around an hour in the oven. Great toppings include cheese and beans, or tuna mayonnaise with sweetcorn. While it may not be the healthiest meal on the list, it isn’t fatty, and will be a tasty, quick and comforting meal for the whole family.

Stir Fry

Stir fries are so fast. You can fry noodles and stir fry veg in a matter of minutes. Include beansprouts for a fantastic crunch. There are many store brought sauces available, but you could easily make your own. Some tasty options include sweet chili, hoisin, teriyaki, and sweet and sour. Stir fry is a great family favorite.

Whatever you’re eating, a great way to save time is to make a meal plan for the week. Shopping will be easier, cheaper, and faster. Then when it comes to cooking, you’ll know exactly what you’re having, and that you’ve got everything you need. This way of cooking also guarantees you get variation. Another fantastic time saving tip for busy mums, like those studying an MSN in nursing administration, is to cook in large portions, including loads of vegetables, and freeze the leftovers to be warmed up on a night when you’re short on time.

Meal times don’t have to be a chore if you follow the above tips!