Dinnertime can be stressful.
When you’re still trying to learn how to get organized and plan ahead for meals, sometimes you need shortcuts. I plan ahead for my dinners every week, but sometimes plans change and I need something fast to pick up on the way home from work. So whether your preference is to stop by a restaurant or a grocery store, I pulled together my list of favorite meals that can be picked up on the go or prepped at home in minutes.
Grocery Stores
1. Caulipower Pizza
This frozen pizza has a crust made mostly of cauliflower. Definitely a better option if you have a craving from pizza. A couple slices of this pizza alongside a salad will make a meal in no time.
2. Healthy Choice Power Bowls
Not all frozen “TV dinners” are created equal, and Healthy Choice is doing a pretty good job with their Power Bowls. They’re full of whole grains, dark leafy greens, and protein. Some varieties will give you as much as 8 grams of fiber per bowl!
3. Whole Foods/Fresh Thyme/Kroger Salad Bar
A lot of grocery stores now are offering salad bars. Typically the cost is by weight and you can choose whatever you want. No pre-made salads here!
4. Evol Frozen Entrees
Evol does a great job of incorporating whole grains, vegetables, and protein in each of their frozen entrees. I appreciate that I can easily recognize all the ingredients in their bowls and burritos. They’re so simple I can usually make a copycat version at home when I have more time!
5. Homemade Bento Box
A Bento Box is a traditional Japanese take-out meal that has started to grow in America. Basically, you have a single container with small portions of a variety of foods. I like to make mine with nitrate-free deli meat, nuts, hummus or nut butter, raw vegetables, and fruit. Head over to my Nutrition with Megan Pinterest page for even more easy Bento Box combinations!
Restaurants
1 Chipotle Taco Salad
Chipotle offers lots of options for fresh vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and humanely raised animal proteins or vegetarian proteins. I think even hard core meat lovers will enjoy their sofrita taco salad!
2. Panera Bread Salad
I’m a huge fan of salads from Panera Bread. They offer new options when the seasons change so you never get bored!
3. Starbucks Chicken and Quinoa Protein Bowl
This bowl is a great, nutritionally well rounded meal of high fiber carbs + protein + healthy fats. There’s also a Lentils, Veggies, and Brown Rice Bowl if you’re looking for a vegetarian option.
4. Texas Roadhouse 6 oz Sirloin and Vegetables
A steakhouse might not be what first comes to mind when you’re wanting a quick meal but hear me out. Texas Roadhouse now offers To-Go meals and since it’s not a fast food restaurant, you have a lot more healthy choices available. Assuming it’s not a busy Friday or Saturday night, my meal is usually ready in about 20 minutes. I like to order a 6 oz sirloin, a sweet potato with cinnamon butter, and a side salad. If I want to make the meal stretch a little further, I’ll order a larger steak but only eat half alongside half the sweet potato and leftover vegetables I have at home. That way I have a salad topped with leftover steak and half of a sweet potato for my lunch the next day.
5. Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Sometimes there’s not time to eat a salad, steak, or bowl on the go. In my opinion, Chick-Fil-A not only has the best tasting fast food sandwich, but you have healthier side options available besides fries. Their side salads don’t look sad like they’ve been sitting in a cooler for a week and are made with dark leafy greens! Plus, when the employees are actually friendly that just makes your whole day better!
Let me know in the comments what meals on-the-go you enjoy or if you want more healthy suggestions from you favorite restaurants and grocery store brands!
And if you want to learn how to make meal planning a less stressful situation to begin with, click the link below!
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