After cleaning, working, driving and otherwise holding life together all day long, cooking dinner is the last thing many parents want to do. Some nights, it just isn't happening. Still, every family needs its nightly nutrition, so parents have to find a way to make dinner work even when they don't feel like cooking it. Here are a few ideas to help make it happen.
Make Hearty Sandwiches
Sandwiches are a no-brainer when no one feels like cooking dinner, but they don't have to be boring. Bring something new to the table without cooking up a storm by laying out a range of interesting sandwich fillings and having a build-your-own sandwich night. Slice some tomato, red onion and cucumbers. Lay out several different types of sliced meat and some baby spinach. Crack open a few containers of guacamole, hummus and spreadable cream cheese. Finally, choose hearty bread like Klosterman Baking Company's Kaiser Rolls. Serve them with some pickles and veggie chips to keep things healthy.
Breakfast for Dinner
If parents avoid certain breakfast items, it is quite easy to serve breakfast for dinner. Practically everything comes already cooked. Toaster waffles, cereal, muffins and even bacon come pre-cooked. Dinner can be on the table in ten minutes with this kind of meal plan. If the family absolutely must have eggs, buy some pre-boiled eggs at the supermarket or whip up scrambled for everyone. Scrambled is much easier to do for a crowd than fried.
Chicken Salad
Salad is perhaps the easiest no-cook dinner out there. Buy a salad kit with everything down to the protein in the bag to eliminate virtually all effort. For a cheaper option or a large group, cut up a head of romaine and a head of iceberg at home. Buy a bag of already cooked, sliced chicken for protein. Finally, add any of your favorite toppings from Parmesan cheese to walnuts.
English Muffin Pizza
English muffin pizza does require a bit of heating up in the oven, but it takes just a few minutes to melt cheese and it's done. Simply cut one or two English muffins per person, top with a spoonful of sauce and a sprinkling of cheese and pop in the oven at 425-degrees Fahrenheit until cheese is melted. Add pepperoni, bacon bits, diced chicken, feta, spinach or any other toppings as desired.
Dinner doesn't have to be a big production every night to be yummy. Simple ideas like these will keep the family fed quickly and easily when Mom and Dad need a break from elaborate meals.
