The closer it gets to Christmas the more difficult it is to plan healthy meals. Between all of the office parties, school concerts, shopping and everything else, planning and cooking gets pushed off the priority list.
Read on if you want some help. I’m skipping breakfast and lunch and focusing on dinners. Yes, you have to eat breakfast and lunch too but I think these dinner ideas will offer up enough leftovers to lighten that load. Feel free to plan whatever breakfast that will be most reasonable for your schedule.
Easy Plant-Based Meal Plan
The five meals listed below will make enough food for two nights worth of dinners or dinner and lunch the following day. My hope is that these easy meals will help you have a little more peace while allowing you to eat well.
Enchilada Casserole
This Enchilada Casserole recipe makes a 9×15 pan that should work for up to two dinners for a family of four. Service it with Mexican Rice on the side to spread it a little further. Best of all it come together really quickly and your teenager can put it together after school and bake right before dinner. You can even cheat a little and use Daiya instead of the Faux Cheese Sauce for easier prep.
Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce
No need to be fancy, cook regular spaghetti or whatever kind of pasta you have and used jarred sauce. I like to add extra veggies but if I don’t have time I’ll skip them. Buy a bagged salad mix and consider steaming some veggies if you have the time. Buy a baguette or other bread to go on the side and your family will think you are having a special dinner.
Double Pad Thai
Yes, double the Veggie Pad Thai recipe and use a bag of frozen veggies for an abundant, easy meal. A regular recipe is just enough for my husband, children and myself or one hungry teenager. Go ahead and double it if you are cooking for more than two people and you’ll have plenty for leftover lunches.
Crock Pot Mexican Casserole
Double the Mexican Casserole recipe and you’ll have plenty to eat this week. A single recipe is usually enough for our family of four but if you double it you’ll have great options for leftovers or plenty of food for the days when your kids can’t stop eating.
This recipe is also pretty versatile and reheats well so use it as a burrito filling or on top of a salad and you’ll be pretty happy with leftovers.
Baked Potatoes
I love baked potatoes nights because it’s one of the easiest and cheapest dinners ever. If you plan ahead you can cook the baked potatoes in your Crock Pot. I’ll often use my Instant Pot because it allows me to procrastinate for a long time.
We love baked potatoes with just a little sea salt but will sometimes top them with beans, chili or other leftovers.
What do your schedule and meal plan look like, especially this time of year. Do you rely on easy recipes? Leave a comment and share your favorite recipes for easy meals or tips to make healthy dinners a reality during busy seasons of life.
Don’t forget to enter the Instant Pot Giveaway!
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So excited for this giveaway! I first used an stove top pressure cooker and the thing scare me to high heaven. I would love to be able to batch cook beans, potatoes, soups, etc without fear of blowing food all over my kitchen!
Was the winner announced? 🙂