What’s Your Backup Meal?

What do you cook when it’s dinner time and a meal needs to get on the table? What meal do you fall back on when you don’t have anything planned?  This is the question I posed to 10 of my dietitian colleagues and friends.  There were definitely some trends in what dietitians cook when in a crunch.

 

 

 

 

The number one answer is…SPAGHETTI!
Four out of ten dietitians answered spaghetti or pasta.  Spaghetti with tomato sauce (meat or meatless) was by far the most popular quick meal to put on the table.  It was often served with a salad.  Another easy pasta dish mentioned was pasta mixed with cooked frozen veggies and then sprinkled with cheese.

A popular answer for my dietitian friends with families…BREAKFAST!
Both of my friends who each have three kids answered breakfast.  One of them, a cooking guru, makes pancakes, French toast, or waffles from scratch.  Her family also enjoys eggs including omelets, egg sandwiches, and scrambled eggs.  With the increased price of eggs, she did mention they are a less frequent meal for her family than in the past.  My other friend with three girls makes oatmeal with Craisins, brown sugar, almonds or walnuts, and milk for her oldest daughter and herself.  The two year old prefers cold cereal, while the youngest is content breastfeeding.  Fresh or canned fruit is served too.  If they’re not in the mood for cereal, scrambled eggs and toast or pancakes with peanut butter and bananas or applesauce are a hit.  Eggs were also mentioned by another friend who likes veggie and cheese omelets.

A popular genre of food…MEXICAN!
Fajitas and quesadillas were popular.  Two of my friends are fajita fans – and after reading their recipes, I’m a fan too!  One grills chicken and whatever veggies she has on hand and serves it in a whole wheat tortilla.  She tops it with shredded Mexican cheese and a bit of low fat sour cream.  The other friend makes a Southwestern Fajita with canned chicken breast, canned black beans, frozen corn, salsa, low fat cream cheese, and 2% cheddar cheese.  I’ve posted her recipe below because it sounds great!

Popular with my friends outside Nebraska…
My friend in New York always has veggie burgers in her freezer.  She serves veggie burgers with a salad or cooked vegetables.  My friend in North Carolina pours herself a bowl of cereal with skim milk when in a pinch.

And a few more ideas that made the list…
Sandwiches are definitely popular, with suggestions including: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup; Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich and a glass of milk; and Turkey & Swiss Cheese Wraps.

Dietitians don’t skip dessert.  The most popular dessert among dietitians…FRUIT!
Not only do we promote fruit as dessert to others, we enjoy it as dessert ourselves!

Did you notice a trend?
Each of the meals my dietitian friends mentioned included a fruit or vegetable or both.  Frozen vegetables are a great way to ensure you always have healthy vegetables on hand.  Research shows that fresh and frozen vegetables are equal in nutritional value.  Fresh fruit that’s in season is always tasty.  Fruit canned in light syrup or juice is easy to have in the cupboard and is also a great option.

What’s your favorite meal?
Share your meal by posting a comment.

Recipe for Southwestern Fajita
– click here –