Easy and healthy dinner options for student parents
November 18, 2011
It's a question moms in all stages of their lives hear on a daily basis: what's for dinner? For mothers who are working on getting their college degree, figuring what to make for their families can be especially challenging, given their lack of free time for grocery shopping, preparing food and cooking.
While it's easy enough to order take-out from a favorite restaurant or fast food place, these meals can be expensive and unhealthy, especially when eaten often.
Instead, having a few go-to meals that are quick, easy, healthy and enjoyed by all the members of your family is the way to go.
Chicken is one of the easiest main dishes to make. It can be prepared in countless ways to cater to almost any taste. A simple roasted chicken served with a vegetable and whole grain pasta or brown rice is something that almost everyone enjoys. Don't have time to roast a chicken? Buy a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store or plan ahead and make it during the weekend, when you have some time. Don't fret about prepping fresh veggies either - frozen vegetables are almost as healthy and much simpler to prepare. Just pop them in the microwave!
Pasta is another quick and easy meal that many kids (and adults) like. Buy premade sauce or make your own, depending on your preference. Consider whole wheat pasta for extra nutrition and add in vegetables and proteins for hearty one-dish meals.
Breakfast for dinner is another easy way to feed the whole family in a hurry. Eggs are a great source of protein - and they're inexpensive. Omelets and frittatas make sneaking vegetables into eggs simple and delicious, too. Pancakes, waffles and fruit smoothies are also great dinner options.
The crock pot can be any busy mom's best friend. Assemble all the ingredients for dishes such as chili, stews and soups in the morning, turn the machine on and let it do the work all day while you're at work or school. Do this on the weekend when you have some free time to prepare a few meals ahead of time, too.
Whether you like to cook or not, try to plan meals that can be eaten for more than one dinner. For instance, spaghetti and meatballs one night can be turned into meatball subs another night. This helps reduce wasting leftovers and saving you time.
Planning meals ahead of time and prepping ingredients beforehand can help make dinnertime less stressful for student parents. Luckily, college scholarships, grants for parents and other financial aid options help make paying for college less stressful too.
