Dinner can be painful, especially when feeding a family with different taste buds and dietary preferences. For the last year, I have tried to find family staples that everyone likes and I think I have finally found 5 meals each family member will eat (most of the time). As a mom, I struggle with planning meals for everybody because everyone likes different things. It's frustrating because I HATE making 5 different meals for 6 people. By the end of dinner, I am burnt out and my plate is usually cold. So, I started to look for patterns in my eaters and realized what they all liked and didn't like and started making simple meals.
Now, I will tell you that some nights my stepdaughter isn't the biggest fan of one meal but she will eat it, so the next night I make sure to make the meal she likes better. The same goes with my other children. As long as they will eat it, I am happy. Most are healthy and quick; I would love to share them with you today.
What makes a good meal?
Making a good meal incorporates looking at the food pyramid and ensuring your children get as much nutrients as they need. When I start researching a meal, I look at protein first. Proteins are the building blocks of success, especially with your musculoskeletal system.
The next food group I try to incorporate are vegetables and fruit. It's no secret that most kiddos dislike veggies so sneaking them in or cooking them in different ways has been a must for us
Lastly, carbs and fat are the additional ingredients that should not be overlooked because they are important regardless of what mainstream media puts out there. I love unsaturated fats such as olive oil, avocadoes, flaxseed oil, ghee, and butter. Fats have this bad reputation which is a shame because they are so beneficial for us!
Healthier carbs are the one thing that we struggle with because my kids love tater tots, french fries, and bread. So, we try to switch things up and opt for whole wheat or use real potatoes as french fries instead of store-bought. I like to add different designs to the wheel, not re-invent it. However, balance and sanity are things that are required in our household which you will find when you read the meals I have chosen. So, if one day you're not perfect remember none of us are.
Easy Family-Friendly Meals that Don't Break the Bank
Now, let's explore the meals.
I chose easy meals that were simple to craft with only simple ingredients. I hate recipes with over 7 ingredients because I tend to make more of a mess than I want to. I also picked meals that were easy to clean up because honestly, that's the worst part. Lastly, I wanted meals that all ages would love and that were incredibly versatile. These meals fit into all of those categories.
Big Mac Casserole
Let me tell you that this recipe can be done so many ways and each time it's spectacular. We eat this almost weekly and that's because it's that good and that easy to make. All you need is ground beef, pickles, Thousand Island (or a special sauce from Primal Kitchen), ketchup, lettuce, and cheese (optional). We normally add diced potatoes on top or if my kids ask for it tator tots. I do omit things like tomatoes, and onions (we use onion powder instead) because my kids don't like those ingredients, but yours might. There are many different variations out there, but this one is my favorite.
Peach BBQ Crockpot Chicken
An easy crockpot meal is a way to a woman's heart. This is my recipe and all I did for this recipe was to place 3-4 chicken breasts in a crockpot and dump a bottle of Kinder's Peach BBQ sauce in a crockpot. Make sure the sauce is slathered on the chicken, then add a 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth and put on low heat for 5-7 hours. What's perfect about this chicken is that you can make sandwiches, wraps, or have a veggie and card side dish. Somedays we even make pulled chicken nachos with it.
Faux Chick-fil-a Sandwiches
This may not be the healthiest meal of the bunch but it's cost-effective and easy. All I do is take freezer chicken patties, brioche buns, avocado mayo, and pickles and assemble them. It's as easy as that! I think the chicken patties taste better in the air fryer if you have one. We normally serve these bad boys with cut-up veggies and ranch or I break out the waffle fries for an authentic Chick-fil-A moment.
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
This may be the easiest recipe of all and it's incredibly versatile. Spaghetti with meat sauce may be the oldest recipe in the book. Just grab your favorite spaghetti and marinara sauce with some excellent cooked grass-fed beef and you have a quick, easy meal! If I am adding veggies into the mix, I finely chop up zucchini and mix in the sauce and meat which my kids rarely catch. We love buying whole wheat pasta as a substitute and sometimes we whip up a quick side salad.
Why Make These Quick and Healthy Meals that Don't Break the Bank?
Why not?
These quick meals are incredibly easy, time-managed, and great for the busy mom who doesn't want to break the bank. My kids love the variety of the dishes and they are easy to eat the next day if there are leftovers. If you're having trouble coming up with quick, healthy, and easy meals just think of limited ingredients, and most of the time kiddos like a simple arrangement of foods. I hope these easy meals that don't break the bank help you plan your weekday dinners!
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