Busy parents, you know that spring sports and activities season is in full swing and that means less time for family dinners. Do you find yourself getting take-out more often than you’d like lately? Never fear, here are some tips to ensure healthy dinners every night, even when your family is on the run.
Family meals don’t have to always take place around the dinner table. When life gets hectic, realize that dinner sometimes has to happen in the car or at the sports field and that’s okay! Let yourself off the hook for those things you can’t control, like sports practice and after school activities. What you can do, though, is make sure that those meals on the run are as healthy as possible.Make your own burrito bowls. Have brown rice, canned black beans, cooked shredded chicken (from a leftover rotisserie makes it even easier!), salsa, avocado, shredded cheese and cilantro. You can also add chopped sweet peppers, onions and plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Let each family member assemble his or her own bowl so they get exactly what they want in them. These travel well and can be eaten wherever you go!
Have a sandwich for dinner. Try chicken salad on 100% whole grain bread. Or just slice up rotisserie chicken for hearty chicken sandwiches. Make your sandwich fillings into a wrap by using a whole grain tortilla. Or try grilling extra chicken breasts on the weekends to use for grilled chicken sandwiches during the week.
Don’t forget the veggies! Make sure you have plenty of cut up veggies as well as convenience veggies, such as baby carrots, tiny sweet peppers and lettuce on hand. Raw veggies and dip, such as hummus or this healthy ranch dip, can be easier on the go than cooked veggies.
Try a one dish meal. Try a bean and rice salad or this quinoa salad are complete meals and kids and adults both enjoy them! Plus they are both served cold so no need to keep it hot on the go.
