We all have those times when you just get too busy, too overwhelmed, or too tired to deal with deciding what to have for dinner. In these instances it is great to have a few “go to” ideas that are quick and easy. Here are a couple of mine:
- Get a roasted chicken from the grocery store, some pre-packaged greens, some blueberries, maybe some strawberries if they are in season, some pecans, and some low cal balsamic vinegar dressing. Pull the chicken off the bones, wash and throw the greens, berries, and pecans in a bowl. Put some chicken on top (keep the rest in the fridge for later). Drizzle dressing over the top. Dinner is served!
- The Watermelon Salad I talked about a few weeks ago has been great to have over the summer. Quick and cool. No cooking involved.
- I do this one more by feel as far as the mayonnaise and yogurt. Get some cooked chicken, either the roasted chicken from the grocery store or out of the freezer. Chop it up and put it in a bowl. Add about 1 tablespoon low cal mayonnaise, 2 – 4 tablespoons of low fat/no fat plain yogurt (enough to bind everything together), a few red grapes sliced in half, some toasted almond slices, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon curry powder, and 1 to 2 tablespoons (to taste really) of Major Grey’s Mango Chutney (found in the Indian section of the grocery). Mix well. This makes a great curry chicken salad that you can serve on top of greens or in a pita. I’ve been known to eat it straight out of the container in a pinch. It will keep for three to four days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Pick a few of your own quick meals and have them in mind for your own “go to” dinners. This can make for a better choice than ordering a pizza when you can’t think of anything else when someone asks “what’s for dinner?”
