A Day’s Worth of Simple Shortcut Meals

 

 As much as I love to cook, there are days when I just need a break… a shortcut if you will. The task of preparing a well balanced breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from scratch with three kids at home and a busy schedule, is a bit more than I can manage every day. I try hard to feed my family wholesome foods, and it’s important to me, not just right now while I’m pregnant, but always, to try to eat nutritiously. For me, this means eating lots of lean proteins, and meals that are low in calories, but that still provide me with the energy that I need to keep going through the chaotic days.

I thought it might be fun to share three of my favorite shortcut meals that have become go-tos for me on the days when I just don’t have it in me to put a lot of extra work in. That’s right, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner that take minimal time to prepare, but all of which are still well balanced and filling!

First things first, I need to introduce you to two of my favorite shortcuts…

BREAKFAST

When I’m in need of a breakfast on-the-go, that’s ready in just a couple of minutes, I reach for Jimmy Dean Delights® English Muffins. They’re super tasty, and a cinch to pop in the microwave. In no time at all, I have a breakfast sandwich made up of a whole grain english muffin, turkey sausage, egg whites, and cheese. With 17 grams of protein in each sandwich, they keep my stomach from growling throughout the morning. I like to buy them in bulk at Sam’s Club, because that way I save money, and it’s more convenient, because since they can be kept in the freezer, the boxes last a long time!

LUNCH

I’ve always enjoyed eating salads for lunch. I feel like they’re a great way to get in some healthy ingredients that won’t weigh me down and cause me to hit an afternoon slump. I like to add some protein to mine and lately, with 19 grams per serving, that protein comes in the form of Tyson Grilled and Ready® Chicken. Like the Jimmy Dean Delights®, the Grilled and Ready® Chicken can be kept in the freezer, and only it takes a couple of minutes to prepare. I get this item at Sam’s Club too. Here’s what my go-to salad is made up of:

-Romaine Lettuce or Mixed Greens as the base

-Chopped Red Onion

-Dried Cranberries

-Candied Walnuts

-Feta Cheese Crumbles

–Tyson Grilled and Ready® Chicken Breast Strips (Prepared according to directions on package)

-Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

DINNER

I don’t know about you guys, but Tex-Mex is totally my love language. If it were up to me, I would eat it every day, and the cravings are even worse when I’m pregnant! My favorite simple shortcut dinner lately has been these chicken quesadillas. They literally take just a few minutes to make, and they taste SO good. Once again, I get a little bit of help from Tyson’s Grilled and Ready® Chicken because it’s just such a tasty and good-for-you protein solution. Here’s what I use in my quesadillas:

-Burrito-size Flour Tortillas (You can use white, wheat, low-carb, whatever your favorite is!)

-Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend (Cheddar and/or Colby work great for this)

-Canned Diced Green Chiles

–Tyson Grilled and Ready® Chicken Breast Strips (prepared and diced into bite-size pieces)

-Salsa, Sour Cream, and/or Guacamole on the side

How To Prepare:

1. Heat a large skillet over Medium-High heat, and spray it generously with cooking spray.

2. Lay tortilla flat in skillet.

3. On one half of tortilla, spread the cheese, diced chicken, and green chiles, and then fold the other half of the tortilla on top of the “filled” half.

4. Allow quesadilla to cook on that side for just a couple of minutes, until it is golden brown and cheese is starting to melt.

5. Flip quesadilla to the other side, and do the same as you did in step 4.

6. Once both sides are golden brown and cheese is completely melted, plate your quesadilla and cut into wedges.

7. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and/or guacamole!

Cooking nutritious meals, and eating good food doesn’t always have to be a big production, and taking advantage of shortcuts can really help to keep you on track. These three meals have become part of the regular rotation for me, and so have Jimmy Dean Delights® and Tyson Grilled and Ready® Chicken. Be sure to check out the great selection of both of these brands on your next trip to Sam’s Club!