30 Minute Healthy Meals For The Entire Family

Ok, Mamas! I know how busy you are but I also know how much you love your family. Part of loving them is giving them healthy foods that will make grow and flourish. I also know how hard it is to do this when you have such busy schedules so I am going to help you out by sharing some of my favorite, go-to recipes you can get on the table in 30 minutes or less, plus some great snack options. Enjoy Mamas!
 
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SNACKS

Before I jump into meals, let me first give you a few snack ideas for your family that can be created ahead of time. Creating & planning your food ahead of time does a few things; saves you time, helps you make healthier choices and gives your kids independence to fend for themselves.
SNACK BAGGIES & BIN – Snack baggies as I call them are a huge lifesaver. Buying in bulk is always the smarter and more economical option so I like to buy things like whole wheat goldfish crackers, Annie’s Organic snacks, Popcorn (I make myself), Trailmix (I also make), raisins, pretzels and a few others. I simple pre-pack these items in my own baggies and put in the snack bin or jar for easy grabbing by me or my children. I put all these ready-to-eat snacks in bins or jars so they are accessible.
COLD SNACKS – I place all the cold snacks in one drawer or bin in the fridge; yogurts, cheese sticks, cut up fruit, veggies, etc. This way you can grab it quickly and not have to mess with cleaning or prep when you are hungry and need it NOW.
ENERGY BITES – there are a million recipes for energy bites or balls, but below is my favorite. No Baking Required, super easy. They are packed with protein and healthy fats & carbs.
To make these Energy Bites, simply stir and combine all 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Place in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes so they are easier to roll. Roll into 12 bites and store in the fridge for up to a week (if they last that long). Feel free to add/subtract ingredients to your particular taste. I like dried cherries as an option as well as chia seeds or even protein powder.
INGREDIENTS
⅔ cup creamy peanut butter

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use dark chocolate sometimes)

1 cup old fashioned oats

½ cup ground flax seeds

2 tablespoons honey

Asain Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This is one of my families favorite meals and it is absolutely delicious. TIP: Make Extra towards the beginning of the week because these make great lunch bowls.
DIRECTIONS:
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook meat until browned, about 3-5 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Stir in garlic, onion, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and ginger, about 2 minutes.
Stir in chestnuts and green onions until tender; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve on the center of lettuce and a side of rice (optional), enjoy!

CAESAR SALAD WITH A TWIST

This is a recipe I love making in the summertime. Super simple and a crowd favorite for sure. There is no right or wrong way to make this recipe because it tastes good so many ways. Below is what we use, but use your imagination to make it what you want.
DIRECTIONS:
Make your bed of greens as you wish. I use romaine, spinach, cucumber, parmesan cheese for my basics. Sometimes I’ll put other ingredients like tomatoes, dried cherries, nuts, etc. on the side for people to add as they wish.
Cook your pasta. I usually like to use a whole wheat penne or fettuccine. I’ve seen people use farfalle (bowtie) pasta as well. Drain and rinse pasta, stir in some olive oil and let cool.
To serve, place greens on the bottom of the plate, top with pasta. Most of the time I don’t use dressing at all because for me the olive oil is enough. Most people like to use a Caesar dressing though. I buy the lower fat, yogurt option.
 

CROCKPOT PULLED BBQ CHICKEN

Another family favorite of ours is pulled bbq chicken. Because this is a crockpot meal, it obviously takes longer than 30 minutes, but the prep time is only 10 minutes. Yay, mom win for sure!

DIRECTIONS: 

Place 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.25 lbs) in the crockpot. Top with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 1 cup of low-sugar barbeque sauce and 1/4 cup of low sodium chicken broth.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high.
Pull apart chicken with a wooden spoon in crockpot.
Serve immediately or keep on warmer setting until ready to serve. Place on a bed of greens, rice, and/or veggies. My family likes to put on a pretzel bun, I stick to the other options as it is lower in carbs, fat, and 100% GF. Another great option is to serve with coleslaw and corn on the cob.
 

HAPPY MEAL PLANNING

I hope you enjoy these healthy, simple meals & snacks as much as our family does. Please comment and share. Don’t forget to follow me on my social media channels. Happy meal planning friends!

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