How to Meal Prep for Week Night Dinners!

Are you a very busy person and have a hard time putting together nutritious dinners fast on week nights? Do you turn to convience foods and fast food to just to grab a quick dinner and get on with the day? We can change that! Making a nutritious dinner for you and your family, or roommate if you're a college student like me, doesn't have to take hours to prepare. Making home cooked meals saves you money, and can become a family activity every one can take part in. Kids are more likely to eat and try new things if they help make the food and know how it is prepared. This could be the end of a picky eater! Another thing that helps assure you're eating more nutritious foods and getting family time is eating dinner around a table together at the same time. Step away from the TV and the couch and enjoy a meal together. Enjoy each other's coompany and converstation and help each other make healthy choices together.

Here is your 1 week meal plan, complete with entrees, along with great sides that will accopany the main dishes. Most of the meals can be prepped ahead of time and sit in the fridge or the freezer until it's ready to be cooked and ate.

Recipes are in the links provided

Day1- Spicy Turkey Meat Loaf with Ketchup Topping

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-turkey-meat-loaf-with-ketchup-topping

Meatloaf can be made ahead of time and popped in the oven when going to eat. Doesn’t have to be made the day before eating! 

Vegetable- Sauteed Zucchini and Yellow sSquash. Slice zucchini and squash (can be done ahead of time), season with desired seasonings and saute with olive oil until translucent over medium heat

Starch- Garlic mashed potatoes

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/garlic-mashed-potatoes-6

Although they cannot be made ahead of time, simple and easy prep

Day 2- Black Bean Burger

http://theroadtobeinganrd.blogspot.com/2016/08/meal-prep-for-busy-days.html

Double recipe for 4 burgers

Can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer till use

Fries can be made and cooked with burgers are cooking.

Day 3- Chicken Taco Salad

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chicken-taco-salad.html

Chicken can be cooked ahead of time, along with the vegetables being cut and prepared. Dressing can be made ahead of time as well. Left over beans and corn from the burgers can also be thrown on the salad.

Pair with baked tortilla chips and salsa

Day 4- Sweet Orange Salmon with Steamed Green Beans and Brown Rice

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-orange-salmon

Spices for the salmon can be combined and set aside ahead of time and then rubbed onto the fish before cooking

Green beans can be trimmed ahead and stored in a refrigerator, and while fish is cooking, rice can be made. If salmon isn’t your favorite, any fish can be substituted

Day 5- Crock Pot Pot Roast

http://www.food.com/recipe/to-die-for-crock-pot-roast-27208

Throw everything into the pot before work and come home to a meal waiting for you!

  

All of the entrees can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer until use. Maybe make this a sunday afternoon activity for the whole family!