Quick Meal Ideas
MN WIC Program
- Plan
- Prep
- Have Your Family Help
- Cook Once - Eat Twice
- Eat Breakfast for Dinner
- Sample Menus for a Meal in Minutes
Printable Version: Quick Meal Ideas (PDF: 176KB/1 page)
Plan
- Keep ingredients on hand for at least one meal that you can fix in a flash.
- See Sample Menus for a Meal in Minutes for some ideas.
Prep
- Many cooking steps can be done ahead of time. Thaw, chop and peel the night before or before leaving for work.
- Cover and refrigerate (if necessary) these recipe-ready ingredients until it is time to cook.
Have Your Family Help
- Children can do many jobs that will help get the meal or table ready.
- Look for the handprint by recipe steps for kids. Helping can make a child feel proud and help interest her in trying new foods, too.
Cook Once - Eat Twice
- Double a recipe and refrigerate or freeze 1/2 for another meal.
- Some recipes can be served in 2 or more ways. For example:
- Baked Meatballs could be served with mashed potatoes and a vegetable
- Add to spaghetti sauce
- Add to Vegetable Soup
Eat Breakfast for Dinner
- A food typically eaten for breakfast can be a quick dinner and a fun change for kids.
- Serve pancakes or waffles topped with peanut butter or yogurt for protein. Wrap scrambled eggs and cheese in a tortilla for a burrito. Don't forget fruit to round out the meal!
Sample Menus for a Meal in Minutes
- Sample Menu 1
- Tuna Melt Sandwiches
- Apple slices or Snappy Applesauce
- Milk or water
- Sample Menu 2
- Instant Black Bean Soup
- Crackers
- Quick Fruit Salad
- Milk or water
- Sample Menu 3
- French Toast
- Fruit Smoothie
- Milk or water
- Sample Menu 4
- Skillet Beef and Rice Hotdish
- Bread or tortilla
- Canned or fresh peach slices
- Milk or water
