Friday night is almost here and I know what you’re thinking—pizza again?
Or maybe you’re thinking, pizza again!!
Even though the kids (and your partner, and the dog, and maybe even you…) might be psyched for the flavor sensation that is pizza, eaten in front of a few binge-watched episodes of the latest new releases on Netflix, there’s more to life than Friday night delivery!
Convenience Isn’t Always the Healthiest Option
In some households, pizza makes an appearance on the regs. Or, maybe it’s take-out fried chicken that graces your Friday night dinner table, or delivery from your favorite Chinese restaurant that you spread out in front of the TV week after week…
Here’s the deal:
In case you haven’t already heard, even though relying on delivery is super convenient at the end of a long week, it’s far from the healthiest option for your family.
Take out meals also make it easy to eat and run, or to eat in front of laptops and cell phones, missing out on a perfect opportunity to bond as a family.
Have it your way, literally
Instead, it’s time to bring Friday night dinner back home.
Here are 5 easy dinner suggestions that will help you to serve healthy, delicious Friday night meals that involve the whole family.
1. Serve up a Salad
Salad for dinner? Definitely! Especially on hot summer nights after a long work week, nothing beat the quick convenience of a salad. To round out the meal, add vegetables of every color as well as nuts and seeds, cheese, or grilled sliced chicken for protein. Fruit is delicious on a salad too! Try adding dried cranberries, chunks of apple, or sliced nectarines. Check out our suggestions for summer salads here at Around the World with Five Summer Salads.
Pre-made pizza dough is easy to find in most grocery stores today and it gives you the freedom to top your pizza creations with your family’s favorites. The best part? With a little planning, making your own hot and fresh pizza at home takes less time than waiting around for the delivery guy on a busy Friday night. For this recipe, just remember to prep your veggies earlier in the week so your toppings will be ready to go. Check out some tips for homemade pizza-making success here.
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Replace the salt and fat with nutrient-dense ingredients that your family will love. Whip up a quick batch of burgers in the broiler, made with lean ground beef combined with an egg for added moisture. Baking the patties on a baking sheet or vented pan will allow you to leave the excess grease behind. Instead of frying up some thick-sliced taters, try replacing your standard Idahos with nutrient-rich sweet potatoes instead. Give them a quick spray of cooking oil before baking them in the oven until they’re crunchy, and replace the salt with your family’s favorite herbs and spices. This recipe is a definite winner.
One of the best parts about being able to make your own version of your favorite takeout meals is being able to add all of your favorite nutrient-packed ingredients, and getting your whole crew to pitch in means your meal will be on the table in no time. Smaller children can shell peas or string beans, gradually easing into more technically challenging jobs as they grow, like peeling vegetables, and eventually even manning the stove. Try this recipe for a healthier version of a restaurant-style veggie stir fry.
Fried chicken is delicious, but baked chicken is, too. Fake the fry and cut down the chicken fat content by serving breaded white meat chicken like this one, that’s crunchy, delicious, and prepared in the oven.
Pizza is my husband’s favorite food, and I would never dream of taking that away from him, unless he started eating it every day. But you’d better believe a salad is always offered alongside that pizza, and more often that not, on Friday night (or Saturday, or maybe Sunday) we like making our own pizza or chicken or Chinese or burger creations. It’s just more fun that way.
Click here now to find Friday night dinner ideas using the rememberstuff.me recipe search!
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