We've been getting snow in the Midwest, y'all! While I love me some snow, I'm also kind of bummed because my commute to work (and back home) is going to be a little longer due to traffic!
Both the hubs and I typically have a 45 minute commute EACH way. Snow adds about 30 minutes to our commute. I know, I know. We should have known what we were getting ourselves into when we moved here a little less than three years ago.
By the time we get home, little tummies and big tummies alike are growling. While I wish I could make a gourmet meal every night, after I come home from work, I'm pretty worn out, but still have dishes to put up, laundry to fold, toys to pick up - but I still want to eat well. With our busy schedules, I'm always looking for some mom hacks for dinner time while also maintaining healthy options for our family.
While running a personal errand over lunch to Target (so glad I have one so close to work), I spotted some LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Sweet & Spicy Korean-Style Beef for my own growling belly. Not only is Target a great place to grab some a healthy option for lunch, the LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE options make great ingredients for great dinner options as well. I love that Lean Cuisine is dedicated to helping parents like me choose a healthy lifestyle with their Well Being initiative that pays you back for the things you are already doing (I see a spa finder gift card calling my name)!
Once I got back to work, I placed all of the packages in the community refrigerator to take home after work (shh...don't tell anyone I took up space in the fridge)!
For my easy and healthy lunch, I heated up theLEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Asparagus & Cheese Ravioli. Absolutely delicious!
And dinner? Well, it was even easier. I'm now sharing 3 frozen dinner hacks for parents on the go like me using LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE meals!
1. Use It As a Base
Look for a meal that has a staple, like risotto, rice, noodles, or ravioli, such as the LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese.
Top a few steamed vegetables to enhance the flavor, a few spices like salt, pepper and garlic salt, and you've got yourself a semi-home made dinner anyone will love!
Using the meal as a base and adding a few of your own ingredients allows you to change up the meal on any given week night for a better variety!
2. Create A Side Dish to Pair
You can create a side dish to plate along with the meal. To pair the LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE Mushroom & Spring Pea Risotto, I roasted some potatoes and asparagus.
Quarter some baby potatoes in bite size pieces.
Chop up a few shallots.
Cut up some asparagus spears.
Salt and pepper it up!
In a single layer, pour the mixture and bake it at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
And you've got yourself the perfect side dish!
3. Double Up & Plate It
The meals from LEAN CUISINE® MARKETPLACE are also great right out of the package, you just need to plate it! You can mix two meals on top of one another on a dinner dish, and you've got a beautiful presentation that you could probably pass as home-made! For example, you could pair up the Sweet Sriracha Braised Beef with the Chicken Fried Rice! The kids loved it because the chicken and rice paired together were absolutely delicious! As a mom, I love it because they are made with organic ingredient options for my family!
How do you provide healthier meal options to your family?
Nicole Elliott ~ Client
I love that you've found a way to have delicious dinners even with the long, tiring day and commute! These meals really are soooo good, I've been eating them for lunch lately, too!