We’ve all been there: It’s 6:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night, your kids, your husband, and your tummy are starving, and all you can do is hopelessly peer into the fridge, willing something to jump out and prepare itself. Here at Family Food, we aim to emphasize the importance of family meals and healthy, homemade cooking. But nobody’s perfect and life happens, so don’t feel bad if you can’t create a made-from-scratch meal every night of the week. Instead, keep a few (or all!) of these quick, easy, and delicious meals on-hand, and enjoy the benefits of a nutritious family dinner that will have your whole clan eating in mere minutes.

1. Frozen ravioli with store-bought sauce and a salad – Filling your freezer and pantry with ready-made ingredients can save you from having to make yet another trip to the grocery store. Stock up on your favorite jarred sauce (we love Newmann’s Own Tomato Basil!), you can find a delicious sauce online at sites like https://www.mrswages.com/product/mrs-wages-chili-base/#description, and a variety of whole grain pastas, and you’ll never be more than 20 minutes away from a meal. Pair your pasta and sauce with a salad made from ingredients you usually keep in the fridge such as romaine, cucumber, grape tomatoes, and jarred olives.

2. Rotisserie chicken, boxed mashed potatoes, and frozen veggies – Save the guilt for that second slice of cheesecake, and stop feeling it over your reliance on frozen vegetables. They might just be more nutritious than fresh, are often less expensive, and can be microwaved in minutes. Boxed mashed potatoes have come a long way in recent years, and we have to admit, we think they taste delicious. As far as the chicken, for around 8 bucks you can buy a whole bird that will feed the family dinner and probably provide leftovers that can be incorporated into later meals.

3. Veggie burgers with sweet potato fries – A meat-free meal can be ready in a snap as long as you keep some veggie burgers in the freezer. There are many varieties available now, so it may take some experimenting to find the brand and variety that your family likes best. Don’t forget to read labels to compare nutrition stats, especially when it comes to fat and sodium content. Build your burgers on whole wheat buns with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and your favorite condiments, and bake up some Alexia sweet potato waffle fries for a quick side. With this meal around, the drive-thru window doesn’t stand a chance!

4. Grilled chicken Caesar salad with French bread – It doesn’t get much more convenient than slicing up some store-bought grilled chicken breasts and tossing with hearts of romaine and light Caesar dressing. If you’ve got some extra time, bake up some whole wheat rolls or French bread and the house will smell like Panera. A perfect light and crowd-pleasing meal for the warmer months.

Got a question? The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics has the answer! Be sure to visit their website atwww.eatright.org or www.eatright.org/kids for healthy eating and exercise tips at any age. Looking for a more individualized eating plan? Get in touch with us by phone, e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter. We’ve got a whole team of expert RDs that can’t wait to meet with you! The best part is that SIX FREE VISITS could be yours if your insurance plan qualifies.

Source: http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442464601

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

JEANETTE

I had a great 1st visit with the nutritionist. I went to get tips on changing by diet, but got much more. I was able to set a physical activity and nutrition goal. The nutritionist was knowledgeable and helpful.

I am so grateful for the stellar support and advice provided by Meghan, the dietitian I'm working with. She is both knowledgeable and kind, and it's a deeply productive journey. Thank you."

MICHELLE
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Consulting with a Family Food nutritionist is turning out to be helpful in my effort to live healthy. The consultations are a way of having a sense of accountability and I get helpful feedback on my dietary decisions.

STAN
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Great nutrition experts who inspire you! I am happy with the nutrition specialists at Family Food. They make me excited about nutrition, answer all my questions, and provide excellent recommendations! Thank you!!

AS
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Very professional experience. I felt she listened to my needs and adjusted to personalize my nutrition needs.

L
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My initial appointment was helpful - helped me consider new ways of addressing some problem areas for me and helped set attainable, concrete goals.

CHARLOTTE
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Insightful and Informative. She was very attentive and helpful. She gave excellent tips on what to do and eat to meet my goal weight.

TRACEY-ANN
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I feel confident about the changes we made to my goals and look forward to implementing them into my everyday routine. The health adviser was very helpful and didn't make me feel shameful for not meeting all my previous goals.

ERICA
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I highly recommend Family Food. The nutritionist, Erika is helpful and provides great information and positive feedback.

KELSHA
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I had an excellent experience with the representative from Family Food. She really read into what I was telling her and offered excellent advice that I am already able to implement after one visit. She also helped to make the best use of the hour long session. Very good time management!

AB
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I met with a dietician for the first time and I had an idea of what to expect but I find this to be an invaluable resource because I have already received great ideas of things to use for meal planning and I also received more information of how to read nutrition labels. I am looking forward to my next appointment.

SHANA
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I really enjoyed my first session with Christine. She provided me with a lot of solid information on issues I was not aware of and positive reinforcement for behaviors I have already engaged in. I outlined specific goals I would like to work on with her guidance and she gave me some initial steps to start. I found what she had to say respectful of the space I am in and cognizant of obstacles to making lifestyle and lifelong changes.

LYNN
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I walked in without any specific questions/concerns, and my counseling was well-guided and ended up helping me see specific small changes that I can make to keep me on-track with my nutrition goals. Solutions fit my lifestyle and were not cookie-cutter, which is fantastic. I was able to start making improvements immediately. Thank you!

KAYLEY
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I am finding the sessions helpful and a good way to talk through improving habits and making better food choices.

ANDREA
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I am very happy this program exists. It has been very helpful and informative. My deitition is very nice and intelligent I am happy to have her help and support.

ATTANYA
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The Family Food blog

The most reliable evidence-based nutrition information on child and adult nutrition.

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