Blog /
When people find out I’m a dietitian, they often assume two things: That I’m judging what everyone around me is eating and that I love to cook.
Neither one is actually true. I’m more likely to wonder whether you’re judging me for what I’m eating. And like everyone else, I get awfully tired of making dinner every night.
There are plenty of evenings when I’m worn out and burned out and just don’t want to cook. When I still want my family to have a somewhat square meal but one that’s decidedly low-effort, here are five favorite go-tos:
Rice Bowls: I follow a formula of rice + protein + veggies + sauce and use whatever we have. I save time by using pre-cooked rice pouches that need just 90 seconds in the microwave and a store-bought, bottled sauce like teriyaki or Korean BBQ.
Quesadillas: We always have a bag of tortillas on hand, so I layer them with what we have on hand: refried beans, cheese, leftover chicken or ground beef, chopped spinach or kale, and a drizzle of taco sauce or enchilada sauce inside. Cook them in a lightly oiled skillet and serve with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole for dipping.
Main Dish Salads: Like an entree salad at a restaurant, but so.much.cheaper–and made by you, so you can perfectly customize it. My formula here is pre-washed greens + protein + soft cheese + nut or seed + delicious dressing. Protein can be hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, crumbled veggie burger, canned chickpeas, or whatever you’ve got.
Breakfast: No shade to the classic bowl-of-cereal dinner–we’ve had our share of those! But you can also branch out with yogurt bowls (add fruit and nuts or seeds), fancy toasted with mashed avocado and a fried egg, or scrambled eggs in tortillas with cheese and canned beans. I also love making a big blender of fruit smoothie to get some extra fruit (and protein) into everyone.
Improv Pizza: This starts with whatever flat-ish bread you’ve got on hand: Tortilla, naan, pita, bagel, French bread. I keep jarred pizza sauce in the pantry (or you can use jarred pesto), then top with shredded or fresh mozzarella, and the toppings you like best. Put under the broiler for a few minutes until everything is hot and bubbly. Serve with a bagged salad.
