Making Meals the Whole Family Can Enjoy

With today’s hectic schedules, family dinner often falls by the wayside. And to make matters worse, family members often have different food preferences. One may be trying to lose weight, another a vegetarian, and a third an athlete in need of extra calories to fuel their sport or activity. Who has time to prepare multiple meals to fit everyone’s preferences? No one! But by creating meals with options, you don’t have to.

Here are some ideas

Mexican Fiesta. Make your own tacos. Create stations filled with cooked, shredded beef, chicken, or fish. Serve refried beans, low-fat shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and tortilla shells. Prepare a mixed green salad for a side dish. This will allow those that are watching calories to put toppings over a salad instead of in a tortilla shell. Let each person make his or her own meal.

Salad Station: In a large salad bowl, toss mixed greens with low-fat vinaigrette dressing. On the side, set up plates with assorted fixings. Serve grilled vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, and carrots. Grill chicken breast, shrimp or even salmon to place atop salad. Finish off with options like low-fat croutons or heart-healthy nuts like walnuts, almonds or pine nuts. The possibilities are endless.

Pasta Station: Prepare whole-grain pasta and top with marinara sauce. Toss with cubed, cooked chicken or simply place baked fish on top of pasta. Then finish off with cooked veggies to make a pasta primavera. Try broccoli, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, green peppers; or blend a few.

However you decide to prepare your family meal, the most important thing is to eat together and to have some fun while you’re doing it. For more delicious recipe ideas, visit the health and wellness section of ShopRite.com. Each week you will find a new, healthy Right for Tonight meal idea.

For more tips, information and healthy recipes, visit the health and wellness section of ShopRite.com