healthy quick foods for mom?

Casey - posted on 07/11/2012

I usually cook up some big batches on Sundays. My favorite quick and easy recipes are tuna casserole (2cans tuna, 1 box noodles, I use barilla multigrain plus noodles bc they are high in protein, 1 big can cream of chicken soup, 1can slices carrots, and a handful of cheddar cheese) and a spinach quiche (2 boxes on frozen chopped spinach, add 1 cup bisquick, in blender mix 4 eggs, I use 1 cup egg beaters, 1/2 cup apple sauce, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 of Parmesan cheese). Sometimes I throw in some peas too, you can't taste them. Blend, mix with spinach/ bisquick. Both dishes bake 30 min at 350. My 17 mo old has LOVED that quiche since I first made it for her around a year old. I don't mind eating the same thing every day, so it works really well for me. Neither dish takes more than 5 min to prepare, and they reheat really well.

I buy those bags of hard boiled eggs, they make healthy snacks or a quick breakfast. They cost more than if you hard boil them yourself, but I think worth the time you save. Sometimes on Sunday nights I'll make a bunch of French toast for breakfasts for the week.

I find it do much easier to have a least some of my meals planned as a big batch for the week, and just switch it up week to week for variety.

Shelly - posted on 06/20/2012

I find when I eat sugar I crave more sugar and then I feel mostly tired and grumpy. It is so hard but once you stop eating sugar for a few days you don't crave it anymore. As for eating healthy, I think you should snack on almonds or pistachio during the day and start your day with a bowl of basmati rice or quinoa (both take exactly twelve minutes to cook), while it's cooking sautée some spinach or kale to add on top with some olive oil, some salt or Bragg and pepper. You can do the same with sliced avocado if you don't like kale or spinach. Then if you have time add some roasted pumpkin or sunflower and maybe fresh raw vegetale like cucumber or radish. You should look at my blog for more simple quick ideas. Most of the food in my blog, www.QuickQuickYumYum is the food my kids eat on a daily basis and love! I also have a dairy intolerance problem so most of my food is dairy-free. Hope I helped!

Gianni - posted on 06/20/2012

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Beth - posted on 05/06/2012

Couple of things I do for myself when I'm on my own;

Sandwiches (various fillings and also quick/easy to make)
tuna melt - put the tuna on some bread/toast, followed by layer of grated cheese. Under the grill till the cheese has melted, then eat.

What about making some cakes - flapjacks are fairly easy to make and home made is better than shop bought. I use a recipe that just needs margarine/butter, brown sugar, oats, and golden syrup. Usually a batch lasts me 2/3 days and takes about 40 minutes to do.

I also normally keep in my fridge cans of tuna, also of corned beef as well, cheese, selection of sliced meat(s) for sandwiches, jam, mayonaise as well as a selection of other things, so that I can put something together quickly.

Also worth considering making up batches of meals that you like (curry, bolognese sauce etc), eat what you want the day that you cook. When it's cooled down, bag up what's left into portions and freeze. That way you've got 'ready meals' that are low cost and already at home. With three daughters at home, on a regular basis, I will do a big cook, then portion off/freeze the leftovers - it saves time and money in the long run as then the meals have to be defrosted/heated up with what you're going to be serving it with (pasta, rice, potatoes etc.).

As for puddings/desserts - you could do things like home made cupcakes, flapjacks, chocolate brownies - do something 2/3 times a week, as they will be heathier (and cheaper) than the shop bought ones. The 'expensive' part is the investment in the equipment, once you've got the baking essentials, you will be able to use them on a regular basis and get more than your money's worth. Certainly my girls enjoy cooking and I'm now at the stage where I'll have to replace some of the items that's been well used. As and when I do replace things, I try and buy something that's better than last time.

Ann - posted on 02/15/2012

I make a quick hummus to dip veggies in. You can use any type of canned beans. Add garlic, lemon juice, salt and blend. Kids love it too! I also make smoothies. I make pesto and use it on a salad. The beans in the pesto is protein.

Jean - posted on 02/09/2012

And if u don't eat meat buy a block of extra firm tofu, some pre made Asian sauce or just some soy sauce and sesame oil. Preheat a pan and slice off a 1 to 1 1/2 inch slab of tofu, use a spoon and spread sauce or a little siracha, honey, soy sauce,and sesame oil on the top, flip that side down in the lightly greased hot skillet, then dress the top side, let it sizzle for a few minutes, till u get some nice carmelization on that bottom side, then flip it and cook a few minutes more. Remove from pan, cool, and enjoy. U can eat it with extra pre made sauce or u could mix up the fixins in a bowl to use over a few days and also use it as a dipping sauce..... I love it! I also cook 2 lbs of pinto beans every few days. I use the dried beans cause I don't like canned. To 2 lbs of dry beabs I cover w/ water by a few inches, bring to a boil, partially cover and simmer for three to four hours. If the beans start getting dry add boiled water, about two cups at a time, I like "refried beans" best so I turn down the heat once they get soft and keep cooking them till they fall apart, u have to watch them like a hawk and stir ever few minutes for the last hr or so though..... then I add 4 TB sugar, 2 to 3 tsp garlic powder, 2 to 3 tsp onion powder, and 2 tsp salt. They r great over chips w/ melted American cheese and milk made into a cheese sauce, or in ww tortillas w/ cooked chicken, brown rice, or some oven roasted red peppers and jalepenos, just wash pepper and lightly oil and raost under broiler turning when sides get drown, or bean and cheese burritos, w motzarella or queso r excellent. I eat a bowl of bans plain n e time I get hungry. I make them whenever I run out. I also make a pot of brown rice to eat with the beans or straight up, 3 cups brown rice to 5 cups water, 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp sugar, simmer and cook for an hr, make more whenever we run out. U can even put spegetti sauce over it and my kids love it, we also add cottage cgeese to the spegetti sauce and rice and that gives a nice protein boost, we live on leftover, and beans and rice r staples here!!!! U can also preheat a skillet, put some oil in, add the precooked brown rice, some soy sauce, a bdrizzle of sesame oil and a little honey and whala, fried rice, and if u want u can toss in some microwaved until cooked stir fry veggies or peas and carrots, just add a tad more soy sauce and sesame oil! Siracha if u like it spicy! Fried rice w/ peas and carrots is one of my 14 mo. Old favorite dishes. U could add crumble stir fried tofu cooked w/ bottled Asian sauce, or cooked ground turkey..... possibilities r asnearly limitless! Hope this helps!!!!!!

Jean - posted on 02/09/2012

Oh, and quick protein, if u eat meat, take 3 or 4 oz. Piece of frozen tilapia, or other frozen fish (thicker, larger pieces take longer to cook) and place it on a glass plate, add a few tbs of water and put a microwave cover over plate. Microwave it for 3. min. On 60 to 70% power. Should be defrosted by now, sprinkle w/ lemon juice and lemon pepper and pop it back in the micro covered for another 4 to 5 minutes at 60% power. Now it should be fully cooked and flake easily, let it cool and enjoy. I prefer basa or cod, but its 5 min. Cooking and then 7 to 8 min. Cooking cause the frozen pieces I find r larger. I also love Costco trident salmon patties. Just place on tin foil in a toaster overoven, convection setting cooks fastest, and let it go for 20 min. Or so, great just w/ lemon juice! My kids like them on San which thins, makes a great breakfast or dinner. They r a tad more pricey, something like 4.59 a lb where I live in CA, but its wild Alaskan lmon. Frozen fillets r 6 to 7 bucks a lb, and the patties r seasoned and great as is.....

Jean - posted on 02/06/2012

I love Smoothies. 100g fresh orange, 100g fresh frozen cut up pineapple ( I cut up the entire pineapple and feeze the chunks in a gallon zip top bag, about 4 hrs after putting it in the freezer shake it up so it doesn't freeze into a solid block) 5 oz. 1% milk (u could use n e liquid but I like the dairy for the protein boost, I've used lite vanilla soy, works well), and 3 great value stevia packets (or splenda, or generic, or about a TB and a half of sugar.....I like mine sweet but I swear by the GV stevia) I have a vitamix that's 8 yrs old and runs like 1st day I got it, but n e decent blender should do. Just put in fresh orange on bottom, makes it easier on less stout motors, blend and enjoy. U could add yogurt or protein powders but that adds time and extra steps and I don't like the flavor as well, when I pour it into a glass I just rinse theblender, lid, w/o washing it for ease, besides, u might want another smoothie or kids or SO might want one! Do t wash blender 6 times a day, just once @ night! Maybe this helps!