Eleven days ago, I had a baby—my third boy! It has been a very busy time filled with lots of emotions. One of my main goals has been to not let my older two children feel neglected, and a large part of that is making sure they are well-fed and nourished. My dinners are not usually complicated to begin with, but especially during these busy times I have been making simple yet good-for-you meals that have let us all feel like things are not that crazy or out of control.
Here is a rundown of our meals and snacks since I have been home with our new baby. Hopefully you can get some ideas for your own dinners. They are perfect for weeknights whether you are welcoming a new born baby into your home or just having a regular crazy day!
Ready-Made Pizza Crust
This is the most popular dinner in our house. Everyone loves eating pizza in my family, and instead of ordering in or buying a frozen ready made pizza, buying the ready-made crust, available in whole wheat and multi-grain, and adding your own toppings can be part of a delicious and healthy meal. Letting your children put the toppings on themselves makes them feel like they are part of the dinner process, and you might even get them to try a vegetable or two on their pizza.
Miami/Korean Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Roasted Sweet Potato and Smilers
Even though it is starting to get cold out, there is no under-estimating the convenience of barbecuing. I buy these ribs marinated from my local butcher, but you can buy a delicious marinade and do it yourself. Boiling corn on the cob, throwing some pre-cut sweet potato (tossed with some olive oil and salt) and smilers in the oven (my kids LOVE these) makes an easy and delicious meal.
Party Sandwiches
Have these on hand when times get busy. Someone brought some to me in the hospital, and they are the perfect snack when you don’t have time to make yourself a sandwich. I bought peanut butter and jam ones but any of the varieties are delicious.
Clubhouse Bag N’ Season
This is a great new product I will be writing more about in a future post, but I had to mention it here because the convenience of it makes it a lifesaver. Put your cut-up vegetables and chicken in the bag (included), mix with seasoning (included), and place in a 9x11 casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes. It makes a delicious chicken and vegetable dinner that you can serve with pasta or rice. My favourite was the paprika.
Smoothies
Filling, delicious, and easy, I have a smoothie every morning for breakfast. My middle child also loves them, and by adding some ground flax, I know he is getting some fibre each morning, too. I buy large bags of frozen fruit from Costco (the cheapest place to buy frozen fruit) and add yogurt and skim milk and you could also add protein powder. Smoothies are also great if you are running out or just running around the house because they are easily portable.
Granola & Yogurt
Right before I had my baby, a friend of mine shared a delicious granola recipe with me. When I came home from the hospital it was great to have healthy homemade granola I could mix with yogurt and fruit for lunch and snacks. The last thing I felt like doing for my lunch was actually making something, but throwing everything into one bowl was a no-brainer. Have you tried Activia’s rhubarb strawberry yogurt? It’s delicious.
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