After a busy day filled with work, school pickups, homework, and laundry, figuring out what to eat can feel more stressful than satisfying.
That’s often when we cave and order the kind of fast food our moms warned against, like greasy fries or a sugary milkshake.
This doesn’t have to be the case. You don’t have to decide between cooking a five-star meal that requires more effort to cook than to eat or settling for unhealthy takeout after a long day.
With the right recipes, you can prepare wholesome and delicious meals in a short amount of time.
For instance, a simple lentil soup recipe is fast, filling, and can simmer gently while you catch up on chores or unwind.
Inspired by meals like this, we’ve curated three mom-approved meals that are nutritious and easy to make.
1. Beef Stir-Fry
Beef stir-fry is a crispy dish of thin slices of beef complemented with a savory and salty sauce. It’s great for picky eaters because you can substitute different vegetables and proteins to your liking.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Beef
- Sugar
- Soy sauce
- Cornstarch
- Oyster sauce
- Mixed vegetables
- Apple cider vinegar
How to Make It
- Cut the beef into thin slices and place in a bowl containing a mixture of cornstarch, soy sauce, and a little sugar. Adjust the quantities of these ingredients to your tastes.
- Leave the beef to marinate for a couple of hours in the refrigerator.
- Chop the vegetables and heat up oil in a pan until it’s smoking.
- Stir-fry the beef for two to three minutes (or until half-cooked), then remove it from the pan.
- Add a little more oil, then toss in the vegetables and stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the beef back in with the vegetables and season to taste with oyster sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar.
- Cook until all the ingredients are done and properly mixed together, then serve hot.
2. Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is rich in fiber and plant-based protein, and requires only a few pantry staples and vegetables. Best of all, it requires minimal food prep.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Celery
- Lentils
- Onions
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Coriander
- Bay leaves
- Chicken stock
- Salt and pepper
How to Make It
- Sauté onions in oil until golden, then add diced carrots, celery, and garlic.
- Cook until soft, then stir in the powdered cumin and coriander.
- After this, add the rinsed lentils, bay leaves, diced potatoes, and chicken stock.
- Let it simmer for 35-45 minutes, until the lentils are tender and the flavors are well-blended.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken fried rice is a fast and flavorful dish loaded with vegetables, rice, and chicken tossed in a delicious sauce. It’s a great way to use up leftover rice, and you can replace it with noodles if you want variety.
Ingredients
- Oil
- Rice
- Peas
- Eggs
- Honey
- Celery
- Onions
- Carrots
- Soy sauce
- Mushrooms
- Oyster sauce
- Green onions
- Chicken breasts
- Sherry or Vinegar
How to Make It
- Cook your rice the day before and preserve it in the refrigerator.
- If the rice is made the same day, place it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours after cooking to remove moisture, otherwise it would become soggy and ruin your stir-fry.
- De-bone the chicken and cut into thin slices, then stir-fry in hot oil until it’s cooked.
- Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, and a splash of sherry or vinegar to the frying chicken and cook for one minute. After this, remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Add more oil to the pan and stir-fry the chopped carrots, celery, and mushrooms on high heat for two or three minutes.
- Break the eggs and lightly whisk them, then add to the pan and fry until they’re cooked.
- Add the rice and chicken, and mix thoroughly, breaking up any clumps.
- Add peas, salt, pepper, sliced green onions, a little more oyster sauce and soy sauce, and cook until the rice is brown.
Relax with a Delicious and Healthy Meal After a Long Day
You don’t have to sacrifice a nutritious or tasty meal when you’re tired or short on time. These meals show that a quick dinner can still be homemade, nourishing, and satisfying. To recap, here are great weeknight meals:
- Beef stir-fry: Flavorful and best served with white rice or noodles.
- Lentil soup: Best paired with a salad or bread for a balanced diet.
- Chicken fried rice: Provides a complete serving of vegetables, carbs, and protein.
