by Justine Deputy, RN, MSN
Part of eating at home means ideas for what to make. No one wants to eat the same thing night after night, but you also do not want dinner to be too complicated. So how can you balance variety with ease? I like to think of the following seven meals for the seven days of the week. Vegetarian? Vegan? Paleo? Gluten-free? No matter what type of foods you eat, this can work for you!
1. Tacos
Tacos are delicious and there can be so many different varieties! You can make taco bowls, wraps, salads, or even nachos. Make them with meat and/or beans to add protein. Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, avocado, and salsa can add another level. Plain non-dairy yogurt can add creaminess, similar to sour cream, for those that do not eat dairy.
2. Grill
Want an easy meal that doesn’t include a lot of dishes? Go to the grill! There are so many different meats and vegetables to make on the grill. You can even make a dessert, like grilled peaches!
3. Spaghetti
Spaghetti can be a wheat pasta, a gluten-free pasta, or even a vegetable pasta. If you don’t have a spiralizer, it can be a great tool that allows you to substitute pasta with vegetables. You can even do a 50-50 mix of pasta and a spiralized vegetable for variety. If you eat meat, you can add meatballs, chicken, or sausage too!
4. Stir-Fry
Stir-fry is a great meal for cleaning out the refrigerator! You can make a stir-fry with vegetables, beans, rice, and/or meat. Tailor it to your preferences and add spices like curry powder or a teriyaki sauce for flavor! Products like coconut aminos offer an alternative for soy sauce for those that do not eat soy.
5. Soup
There are endless varieties of soup. The crockpot is a great kitchen tool for making soup if you want to make it ahead oftime. Often soup recipes will give you plenty of leftovers!
6. Salad
Salad can be your main dish if you want it to be! Load it up with protein, vegetables, fruit, and/or grains. Buy your favorite salad dressing or make one at home. Salad dressings can be surprisingly easy to make depending on the recipe.
7. Breakfast
Breakfast foods are often eaten in the morning hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat them at night. Especially if you are often on the go in the mornings, you may not make some of the traditional and delicious breakfast meals very often. Eggs, breakfast meats, casserole, breakfast hash, french toast, waffles, quiche – the choices are endless.
Happy dining!
If you didn’t read the previous blog, How to Get in the Habit of Cooking at Home with Kids, go check it out!