Quick Meals and Food on the Go

by Emily Ruth

Wish you could make your family homemade pancakes every morning, or fresh salmon with slow-roasted vegetables every evening? Sure. Don’t have time? Join the club. Stop beating yourself up and try some of these shortcuts for quick, nutritious meals in minutes.

Use Frozen Vegetables without Shame

In these days of farmers markets on every corner and organic produce in every Wal-Mart, frozen vegetables get no respect. But they’re not necessarily less nutritious. While fresh vegetables can lose vitamins while they languish in grocery store bins, frozen vegetables are chilled at their peak. As a result, the frozen variety may have more nutrients than fresh veggies in many cases. This isn’t to say that frozen vegetables are appropriate in every dish—thawed broccoli doesn’t hold a candle to fresh when it comes to crisp green salads—but tossing a bag of frozen cauliflower into a marinara sauce is an easy way to pump up your meal’s good-for-you factor without a major loss of taste.

Strata: Eggs with a Catch-all Twist

Most of us rely on the occasional “breakfast for dinner” night when we’re in a hurry. But omelets get old fast. Why not try a different kind of egg-based dinner? Strata, an Italian layered egg casserole, is a great catch-all for leftovers and can be cooked in one dish, making it a perfect speedy supper for a busy family.

Start by greasing a casserole pan, then layer it with cubes of slightly stale bread. On top of the bread, add generous handfuls of whatever vegetables and meats you have on hand—broccoli, ham, crab, diced red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, and crumbled bacon all work well—but feel free to get as creative as you’d like. Layer with more bread, then pour a mixture of a half-dozen or so beaten eggs and a cup of milk on top. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper, add a layer of cheese, then bake in a 350° oven for 30-45 minutes until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

Quiche is another good way to mix eggs and leftovers, but who has time to make homemade crust? Skip it: Crustless quiches are increasingly popular these days; or simply buy a pre-made one.

Blend Smoothies to Go

For no-fuss breakfasts that can transition with your family to the car, train, or school bus, try smoothies. Pre-wash some blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, then freeze them in zip-top baggies. As your coffee’s brewing, toss the fruit into the blender along with a banana and a cup of milk or a scoop of vanilla yogurt. Pour into a travel cup and voila! You’ve got a healthy breakfast that goes where you do.