
Quick And Healthy Dinner Ideas
I know I don’t have to tell you how bad fast food is for your health. It’s loaded with bad fats, sugar, salt and artificial additives (often MSG). It’s not the kind of food you want your family to be eating on a regular basis. So, here are some really quick and healthy dinner ideas to avoid fast food and takeaways!
There are often times when cooking a meal just seems overwhelming at the end of a big day. But your body will thank you for it with no fast food hangover the next day. Plus it’s budget-friendly to cook at home.
There are plenty of things you probably already have in the pantry that can give your family a nourishing meal with very minimal effort. Choose organic and additive free where you can (read the labels!)
TUNA COUSCOUS
Grab a can or two of tuna and some couscous (organic wholewheat or substitute with quinoa for gluten free) from the pantry. Grab some salad ingredients – onion, shallots, tomato, capsicum, cucumber, carrot, avocado, olives, fresh herbs etc. Pour couscous into a stainless steel or glass bowl. Boil kettle and pour just enough water over the couscous to cover. Place a plate or tea towel on top. Meanwhile, quickly chop up the veggies into a small dice. Add veges to couscous and then mix in the tuna and a good dash of salad dressing.
SARDINE PASTA
Grab from the pantry a bag of organic wholemeal pasta (or GF pasta), a can of sardines and a jar of organic pasta sauce. Cook pasta, (boil water in the kettle and put into the saucepan for even quicker prep time). Add the jar of sauce and chopped sardines and heat gently. You can also add some spinach or fresh herbs. Serve with some fresh parmesan cheese.
FRIDGE PICNIC
Assemble on a platter any of the following : leftover cooked meat, hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruit, salad veges, crackers, olives, gherkins, sauerkraut, chutney or pickles, dried fruit, nuts.
EGGS ON AVO TOAST
Get a pan and poach some eggs. Take them out when they are just done to your liking. Spread slices of good quality sourdough or gluten free bread with avocado and top with egg. Add a good grind of salt and pepper. Add some spinach and/or sauerkraut on the side.
Omelettes and scrambled eggs are also a great quick meal and you can add in whatever veggies you have on hand.
EASY SUPERMARKET DINNERS
If you have time to stop into the supermarket, these dinner ideas are quick and easy to grab and assemble.
Pick up some meat and a bag of pre-cut salad, a punnet of cherry tomatoes and an avocado. When you get home, grill or panfry the meat while you assemble the salad.
Grab a packet of noodles (choose additive free ones), a packet of pre-cut stirfry meat strips and a bag of pre-cut stirfry vegetables. Throw it all in a wok or frypan with some coconut oil. Grate in some garlic and ginger and add some soy sauce or tamari and cook till the meat is just done.
LEFTOVERS
One of the best things you can do for quick and easy dinners is to build up a stash of frozen meals. Whenever you cook, make extra – curries, spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, meatloaf, quiches all work well. Name and date the containers and you will always have a nutritious and healthy meal on hand.
I hope these quick and healthy dinner ideas has given you some inspiration to avoid takeaways and fast food! Eating well doesn’t need to be complicated.
I would love to know what quick and easy ideas you have for dinner.
You might like to read some more of my blogs and try some of my easy recipes.