Quick and healthy meals for student parents and their families
February 10, 2012
You're busy balancing the demands of being a student and a parent. It's not easy. But then, again, nothing in life worth doing is, right?
Whether you're a part-time or full-time student, paying for your college education on your own or are depending on loans, grants for parents, college scholarships and other financial aid to fund your degree, making sure your family is healthy, happy and fed is still one of your biggest responsibilities.
While the days of homemade meals that take lots of preparation may be on hold for a while, there are still things that you can feed your family and yourself that will keep you all nourished.
Many moms pursuing a college degree find that a slow cooker can be a life-saver. Simply throw all the ingredients in at breakfast time and it's hot and ready to eat for dinner. Besides convenience, one of the best things about a Crock Pot meal is that it includes everything - meat, veggies and sauce, for instance - and there's no need to do any additional cooking!
Check out various websites such as FamilyCrockPotRecipes.com, Crock-Pot.com and SlowAndSimple.com to search for dishes your family will love.
Double your family's favorite recipes so you can get a few meals out of it. After all, what's better than knowing you have another dinner ready to go without any work needed on your part, other than microwaving it?
While many people try to stay away from pre-made foods, these are sometimes great in a pinch.
Items such as frozen meatballs, pre-cooked rice, chicken nuggets and veggie burgers can easily be turned into a meal without a lot of work. Just make sure to read the nutrition information beforehand!
"With any processed food, read the nutrition facts statement," advises food writer Debbie Koenig via BabyCenter.com's Momformation blog. "There should be no trans fats, very little saturated fat, and a sodium count that’s well under 500mg per serving."
A rotisserie chicken from your local supermarket served with a salad and another favorite side dish is easy and healthy. You may even have meat left over for chicken salad, sandwiches or another meal as well.
Other quick and easy meals that can be pieced together include quesadillas, pasta dishes and eggs (think omelets, quiches and other egg-based dishes).
A tried-and-true dinner time option for many families with young children is serving breakfast for dinner. Pancakes and bacon, waffles and even cereal are easy to prepare and fun to eat for everyone.
