Healthy Mealtime Mom Hacks for Days When You Don't Have Time to Cook
There are many moments in motherhood when you’re just too tired or busy to spend time in the kitchen cooking healthy meals from scratch. But that doesn’t mean you want to resort to fast food or overly processed junk food.
This guide will give you helpful tips that you can resort to when you’re crunched for time or in a pinch. I’ve also taken into account scenarios when you’re low on fresh groceries and freezer or pantry foods are your only option.
Nut Butters and Multi-Grain Crackers
Nut butters are kind of a magical food because they’re packed with protein, healthy fats and nutrients. It’s a very healthy and filling food option, and not to mention super duper quick to put together. Add a side of freshly cut fruit and a glass of milk and voilà you’ve got a meal. This option works well for mothers and their little kiddos.
Farm Fresh Ready-To-Eat Frozen Meals
I’m very cautious when it comes to purchasing pre-made frozen meals at the grocery store, mostly because it’s difficult to find both healthy and tasty dinner options. Our go-to frozen meals are made by Cadence Kitchen because of their wholesome and bountiful entree options. One of their frozen dinner bags can easily feed two adults and a toddler.
Cadence Kitchen is made by foodies and is enjoyed by fellow foodie enthusiasts. Because they’re one of the only brands on the market using nitro flash-freezing technique, their food tastes so much fresher than other frozen companies. My daughter and husband love their four cheese mac and cheese, and my personal favorite is the chicken marsala meatballs.
All you need to do is pull the bag of pre-made food out of the freezer and heat it up on the skillet for 7 minutes. So quick and easy! You can also opt to microwave the entree, although stove top is recommended. I keep a few Cadence Kitchen meals in our freezer at all times, that way I can whip it up on my busy days.
Hard Boiled Eggs
I realize that hard boiled eggs are not the most glamorous thing to eat, but in my opinion they’re an underrated food. It can be challenging to find quick and nutritional complete proteins that don’t require a lot of prep and cooking. You can make a batch of hard boiled eggs ahead of time and they’ll be available to eat for up to 7 days. You can also use them to make an egg salad sandwich with just some mayo, mustard and spices.
Don’t forget scrambled eggs are also very quick and healthy too!
Kid-Friendly Charcuterie Board
Rummage through your refrigerator and cupboards to find ingredients to build an impromptu grazing board for everyone in the house. Common foods found in the kitchen could be cheese, nuts, crackers, canned olives, deli meats, sliced fruit, and raw veggies with salad dressing.
Fab Four Smoothie Meal
Most smoothies are mostly sugar and won’t keep you full for very long. But Kelly LeVeque’s signature Fab Four Smoothie is a different way of looking at a fulfilling meal in a blender. She uses a combination of protein, fiber, greens and healthy fats to make a smoothie that is packed with nutrients and keeps you full for several hours. This is perfect for moms on the go!
Plan Ahead Meal Prepping
Setting time aside every month to meal prep will really save you from hectic moments during your busy week. I utilize my crock pot (also known as a slow cooker) to make large batches of foods that can easily be stored in the freezer. Foods that freeze well are soups, stews, chili, sauces for pasta (with or without meat), enchiladas and mashed potatoes. The trick to freezing cooked foods is to not overcook them. You want them slightly undercooked so you can put them on heat after you defrost, otherwise they might get mushy. Also, I don’t recommend leaving them in the freezer for longer than a couple months because freezer burn will start to set in.
Warm Oatmeal Bowls
Oatmeal is not just for breakfast anymore. Dry oats are very easy to store in your pantry for a long time without it spoiling. You can jazz up a bowl of oatmeal with raisins, honey, cinnamon or cut fruit. When I cook oatmeal I use milk to add more protein and fat, making more of a filling meal.
Scavenger Salad
If you’ve got some kind of greens in the house you can use them as a base for a salad. I’ve often made what I dub the Scavenger Salad with ingredients I found around the refrigerator and pantry. Flex your creative chef muscles and think about new flavor combinations you’ve never tried before… you may just come across a new favorite!
Rotisserie Chicken Meals
On your way home from work or errands is very quick and convenient to swing by the grocery store and pick up a prepared rotisserie chicken. To make a complete meal you add sides like veggies, rice or pasta. Keep frozen vegetables in the freezer and with a microwave or stovetop steamer your veggies will spring back to life.
Tuna or Chicken Salad
I keep cans of tuna in my pantry so I always have the option to whip up a tuna salad when my daughter is taking her afternoon nap. All you need is a can of tuna, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and optional additives such as chopped onion, olives, pickles or dill seasoning. Snack with crackers or make a sandwich. You can swap out the tuna for canned chicken if you’re not a fan of fish.
Sheet Pan Meals
One entire meal prepared on one big sheet pan definitely saves time when it comes to washing the dishes. One quick search for sheet pan dinners on Pinterest and you’ve got endless recipe options. The best part is you can easily tailor your meal to your family’s food preferences. Mothers can make fresh kid-friendly foods and you’ll have plenty of leftovers for the next day.
