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by Elizabeth Magee, LRD, RD
It’s officially back to school week. Activities are starting, supplies have been purchased. We are ready! The real stressor for me is meals. I really don’t like meal planning. Correction: I can write down a meal plan no problem, putting it into effect is the problem. That involves going to the store, not to mention the actual making of the meal. Timing things to be done at the same time, figuring out who’s home when, who’s eating before their activities, who’s waiting until after can be exhausting.
That is why I love the crockpot; a good old-fashioned kitchen staple that really does make life easier. Everyone has one (or 4 if you’re me). Start it in the morning and the main parts of your meal are done by mealtime! It’s perfect when schedules consist of coming and going all night long!
Chicken tacos is the one meal no one complains about here generally. It’s nothing fancy, but the people eating it don’t need to know that. I throw in chicken breasts. You could do thighs too or a combo of both; frozen or thawed depending on how ahead of the game you are. Let it cook, do its thing, I shred it and throw in taco seasoning. The great thing about taco meat are the endless possibilities! You can have your cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, sour cream, guacamole, queso, jalapeños, cilantro, all your favorite toppings. You can also have even more options by making rice and beans.
Everyone can make their favorite – tacos, nachos, taco in a bag, burritos or burrito bowls, quesadillas, taco salads – the list goes on. You don’t have to listen to complaining because everyone is making what form of the taco they prefer. They are getting protein, dairy, carbs, fiber, veggies, healthy fats, all depending on their choice of toppings and how much they want to put on. So, you have a slight bit of control here based on what you provide for options. If you have leftovers, same scenario the next night, or you pile it up into a taco casserole or use the meat in enchiladas.
It's a win-win. Bellies are full, arguments about not liking dinner are minimal and life is good!! (If you live in this house.) It’s by far the easiest and most frequent meal I make!
Elizabeth Magee is a licensed registered dietitian. Her posts appear monthly on OYT.
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