(BPT) – Do you love eating meals with your family, but the process of meal planning and cooking never seems to go smoothly? It can be especially difficult to put wholesome meals on the table during the summer months when kids are out of school and days get more hectic.
Fortunately, you can keep mealtime stress-free plus serve something delicious everyone will love with a few simple tips and tricks:
Simplify your approach
When it comes to quick, fast and wholesome meals, don’t overthink it. Research one-dish or one-tray meals like casseroles or things you can cook in the slow cooker. There’s nothing wrong with having soup and grilled cheese or whipping up some sandwiches and enjoying them outdoors al fresco style for fun.
Another option for simplifying meals is to enjoy breakfast any time of day. Scrambled eggs and toast are easy to make and packed with nutrients. You can set out tortillas to make egg burritos. Yogurt parfaits with fruit, nuts and granola are another tasty and filling option. Even oatmeal with a side of fresh fruit is satisfying and a super simple time-saver.
Stock the freezer
You’ll always have something delicious for dinner when you stock your freezer with wholesome main dishes. For example, El Monterey Signature Entrees are made with premium ingredients using authentic recipes by the Ruiz family since 1964. Savory enchilada platters have no artificial colors or flavors, the cheese quesadilla meal is made with real cheese, and the slow cooked shredded beef has no artificial colors or flavors.
“El Monterey Signature Meals are truly the shortcut way to get great tasting homemade flavor to the family table fast,” said Kim Ruiz Beck, chairman at Ruiz Foods and elder daughter of co-founder, Fred Ruiz. “They remind me of the Mexican dishes my Grandma Rosie used to make. As a working mom myself, I really like how they’re the perfect solution for those days when you don’t have time but want to serve a tasty meal you know you will sit down and enjoy.”
No stove necessary
Especially when the weather gets hot, you may not want to turn on the stove or oven to cook a meal. Fortunately, El Monterey Signature Entrees, are designed to be cooked in the microwave. This is an easy way to enjoy a hot meal without heating up your house during summer.
Another option for easy no-stove meals that everyone will love is to serve items creatively. Set up a salad or chilled pasta bar with all the toppings so people can make their own plates just how they like them. You might also serve a meal charcuterie style by setting out cheeses, crackers, meats and fruit on a singular tray and everyone can mix and match for a delicious meal — no cooking required.
Wholesome, delicious meals don’t have to be time-consuming or stressful. With these simple tips, you’ll create foods everyone will enjoy with ease.