It’s amazing what we’ll do for our kids. Here I am again, sitting in a hallway of parents for three hours to sign up for just the right preschool class. If it’s not school, it’s swimming lessons, sporting events, or camping out for concert tickets. Well, my kids aren’t old enough yet for the concert tickets, but I’m sure the days are ahead!
So much love for our kids and so little time. Friends, clients and family members always tell me the biggest struggle in eating healthy is feeding the family a quick balanced dinner that everyone will eat. With places to go and kids to feed, everyone who has a family can relate to this at some point in time. We really do love our kids, and love is best shown through nurturing and providing. Love often can translate to meals out, because kids can eat what they want and parents can make their own choices, too. Not only is there a menu to choose from but there isn’t (usually) whining and fussing. Everybody is happy, and meals are quick. Did I mention no clean up?
Take a step back and think about the meals you have at home, when the kids are happy and the family is around the table. These days might be limited. I remember it as a child, and however difficult it was, my mother always prioritized a family mealtime. Now, I find myself cherishing every moment I have with my own family. Feeding them healthy foods that will keep their bodies and minds strong, and teaching them healthy habits means eating at home has to be a priority. Eating out is left only for evenings when cooking at home is completely unfeasible.
For those nights when you need quick and easy, likeable meals, turn to your family’s list of favorites. It might mean spaghetti with sauce from a jar. That’s OK but make it a little healthier by comparing sauces. Look for lower sugar, lower sodium, lower fat versions when comparing. Add your own meat, instead of buying meat sauce. I have one client who mixes half ground turkey and half ground beef into her sauce. Add mushrooms and other veggies, and prepare 100-percent whole-wheat pasta (my client also uses half white and half wheat pasta for her kids’ palates!) Serve your pasta with raw veggies and dip or salads, and have skim milk to drink. This is just one example, but many of your family favorites can be quickly augmented to make a balanced meal. Add to that list of favorites by experimenting, at least once a week, with something new. Visit a well designed recipe web site to select possible meals to prepare on a night when you will have a little more time. I like Epicurious.com and Myrecipes.com, but there are other sites that are equally as helpful. You can enter ingredients, search healthy choices, and make shopping lists. These sites are a lifesaver when there are ingredients in the cupboard, but no ideas.
Healthy eating is a priority. Remember that providing a home-cooked meal for your family is one of the best ways to show love for them. The kids might not always agree, but they will thank you for it when they’re older!
Family favorite: Four-ingredient beef (or something else!) cups
- 3/4 lb lean ground meat such as ground turkey, beef, or chicken
- 1/3 cup BBQ or spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded low fat cheese
- 1 can reduced fat crescent rolls
Preheat oven to 400. Brown meat over medium high heat, drain off extra fat. Remove from heat and stir in BBQ or spaghetti sauce. Grease 8 regular size muffin cups in muffin pan (don’t use muffin papers) and place dough in each cup, stretching and pressing up the sides. Divide beef mixture among cups, sprinkle each with cheese and bake til golden, 10-12 minutes.
