Moms, dinnertime is tough! The kids are grouchy, hangry and tired and we are running on fumes. I love to cook, but by 6 pm every night I am beyond beat, and find myself simultaneously needing an espresso and a beer. I know I'm not alone in this, which is why we're here to help! Here are five healthy dinners I made last month that take under 20 minutes from start to finish. Click on the links below for the full recipes.
5 Healthy Dinners You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less
Erin Sorkin
1. Chorizo Seitan Sheet Pan Supper-This is a delicious, vegan dinner that I put together at the last minute. I had planned to make crockpot chicken, but I was too lazy to wash the crockpot, and so this recipe was born. It is tangy, full of protein, includes healthy cultured veggies and is just a bit spicy.
I got my seitan at Whole Foods, but my favorite vegan, Christy, told me it's also available at Wegmans. Seitan, not to be confused with Satan, is sometimes called wheat meat and is made from rinsing and cooking wheat dough to remove the starch. It doesn't sound too appetizing, but I promise you, it's good. If you just can't wrap your head around that, feel free to sub seitan for any kind of spicy sausage. I was really surprised that my kids loved this, especially V, my pickiest eater. It was a real hit!
2. Sautéed Italian Mahi Mahi with Pesto Zoodles- I've been loving creating new recipes out of the giant bag of frozen mahi mahi I bought at Costco. Each piece is individually wrapped, so I only need to remember to take it out of the freezer, a feat in itself, and defrost it in the fridge the night before. This recipe has become a part of our weekly dinner rotation. It's quick, full of lean protein, healthy fat and veggies.
3. 20-minute Shrimp Scampi- This dinner is so easy, and requires almost zero prep and cleanup. Divide the butter, slice up the lemon, remove the shrimp from the freezer, and you're good to go. You can serve the shrimp over anything you want, but I prefer angel hair pasta or zucchini noodles because they're both ready to eat in five minutes or less. Each foil pack serves two. You can prepare a bunch of them, fold them up and then keep them in the freezer for up to two months. Go grab some foil and start cooking!
4. Vegan Bolognese over Greens and Beans- This dish is perfect for "Meatless Mondays," and it's full of protein, fiber and vitamins. If your kids are not zucchini lovers, feel free to sub these out for whole wheat pasta.
5. Easy Shrimp Fried Rice- This meal is one of my favorites because it's not only fast, you can also make it with whatever you have on hand. I like to add frozen edamame, asian stir-fry veggies, and some scrambled egg. You can personalize this dish however you want and it'll still taste great! I've been subbing the brown rice for cauliflower rice and my husband and I still love it.
Feeding kids can be a little like going to war. You're tired, bewildered and not sure you'll make it out alive. With a little bit of forethought and support, I think we can all come out the other side together. Who knows, with these quick recipes, maybe you'll actually end up with enough time to sit down for more than five minutes to eat them yourselves. Livin' the dream, ladies! See you on the battlefield!
♥ Erin
For more parenting laughs, tips and support, come visit me at agoodenoughmom.com!
