How do YOU stay on your plan when ....

you have nothing prepared....    6:00pm is fast approaching.  You took nothing out of the freezer...   you were at work or simply out most of the day and now the natives are getting wrestless.  How do you keep yourself on plan AND make sure everyone else is taken care of?  What holds you off when it's going to be late and you're hungry NOW!  Share your tricks.. I have none so I'm going to be watching yours to learn something. Our dinners usually happen around 8:00 or so.  if I'm hungry before dinner..  sometimes a nice piece of provolone will hold me off. Usually I'm prepared to cook, so yesterday was a tad strange.  Normally there's 3 different meals being made, but yesterday I cut it to two and went super easy. I took out leftover potatoes and veggies for the kids and fried them up some Italian sausage..  It wasn't the best of meals, but their bellies were satisfied.  I usually hate frying.. but it does make for simple. I threw broccoli in a frying pan with minced garlic, butter and olive oil and covered it while deciding what to do next.  OH YEA... Shimp and scallops in the freezer!  I just threw them in a collander to rinse/defrost them and dumped them in the pan with black pepper and garlic powder.  I topped the whole thing off with about a half a cup of cheese.  I buy the bags..  already finely shredded.  It was a nice mix of asiago, parmesan, mozarella and provolone. TASTY!  My only problem with that is I ate too much!  Jon loved it but I had to put all the juice down the garbage disposal before he tried to drink it .. he did that once.. totally freaked me out..  I could almost HEAR his arteries hardening!

Been there many times!

If you are planning to cook a meal but it will be a while cut up a plate of fruit to feed the natives.

On the other hand, if you are knackered and desperate... poached eggs on toast with some baked beans is not a bad quick meal.

If you have  packet of frozen stir fry veg stashed in the freezer, a packet of frozen prawns and a packet of noodles on the pantry shelf you can whip up a stir fry really quickly- add ginger, garlic and soya sauce.  Personally, I would serve mine then add the noodles for the rest of them.

Another really quick meal I make is an omlette- top it with stir fried veggies and lean ham strips.  It is amazingly filling and you don't have to worry about defrosting meat.

If you stop at the shops first... quickly fry some chicken breast strips, then wrap with salad veggies and a tiny sprinle of cheese and a spoon of salsa.

Veggie based soups are a good pantry standby to serve with toast.

I also try to make 'double' meals when possible so I can grab a homemade frozen dinner.

 

Happy quick cooking and eating!

Em

 

I keep two types of meats in the freezer. One kind requires defrost and serious cooking. The other can be put in the oven frozen such as meatballs, grilled chicken strips, etc.  I always have veggies on hand (fresh, frozen and canned) and fresh fruit. I always have tuna in the freezer as well. Fast meals here include: tuna on toast and cottage cheese, shrimp stir fry, salad w/ chicken strips,  sandwiches (no bread for me) and yogurt, last night we had meatballs w/diced tomatoes, sauteed zucchini, and fried corn (I know the butter but I LOVE fried corn). I just throw together what I have. Sometimes it means meatless dinners like homemade tomato based veggie soup. Luckily the store is about 4 blocks away so it helps with spur of the minute meals. The blessing I have is that my girls don't stress over what we eat unless it is eggs, or other foods they are not fond of. I think the key is keeping fast fix items AND alow cook items. It gives you alot more versatility. OK, munchy breakers: couple bites beef jerky, nuts, fruit, tiny salad, lots of water, pc of cheese and/ or lunch meat. These things usually work for me.

Such a good post Lori.  For me life is a little different.  I only have myself and my DB to worry about.  We have 3 fur babies, but after I pour them some kitty food, they are all set.  Since surgery, even my DB and I might have two totally different meals.  I have to eat more on a schedule since I MUST get in at least 60g of protein a day.  When he works late, then I just go ahead without him.  Also, I have to eat lean meats, whereas he isn't so limited.  Then you add in the fact I can only eat 2oz of meat and that's a whole meal for me, whereas he needs more than just protein and it makes for a bit of comic relief trying to plan our meals so we're eating the same basic things. Before surgery when DB and I didn't have anything unthawed, our go-to meal would be simply grilled cheese (if deli meat out we'd add that as well) and soup.  Quick and easy.

Nice post!

My first choice of a quick dinner is a salad.  I usually put foil or something on a cookie sheet and put tons of different things on it, veggies, meats and cheeses.  It makes it look actually sort of pretty with all kinds of colors on it.  Looks so healthy and the little ones love to be able to pick and choose their own toppings.  I usually don't even go for the chicken since it's usually a fast meal.  I slice up lunch meat and throw it on the cookie sheet with some hard boiled slice eggs and call it good.

My other fast meal is soup!  You can't go wrong with tomato soup.  I let them have sandwiches with it, and I just eat the soup.

That's the only things I can think of at the moment.  My eyes are barely open yet-just woke up. :) 

 

 

I eat a bag of Smart Pop popcorn!!  That fills me up and keeps me in check :)

Your menu sounds awesome to me. Them damn kids better not say one thing - be grateful for such a gifted cook! Sounds like you did exakery what I would have done - defrost ______ quickly and go for the gold.  We have a pretty well stocked freezer - almost always fish filets and chicken breasts and cube steaks.  Those things can defrost in minutes if need be. Eggs are my favorite fall back - DH , not so much.  But I love quiches or frittattas. All a frittatta is for those who don't know is leftovers - rice/pasta, veggies, meats, sauteed up, then eggs poured over it, lid on for a few.  Sprinkle with cheese, cut into fours, eat! Extra good with green onions or olives on top of the cheese. I find creamed tuna or tuna croquettes dandy too.  What I really hate is to be left with no veggies!  That is rough.