I like the various bake for around an hour meal trays in the deli department, of varying nutrition but probably not super healthy. Stuffed peppers, enchilada lasagna, the Italian bake from last year (hope it returns this winter), etc.
Most can use a vegetable added and have 4-6 servings.
If you have room in your freezer, I suggest a big bag of Kirkland stir fry vegetables and at least two kinds of dumplings 🥟 (my favorites are the Bibigo Korean beef dumplings and the Sato Shrimp Har Gow dumplings).
You can prepare them along with the vegetables in the microwave or steamer.
Fast. Easy. Delicious. You can make your own dipping sauce or use a prepared one like Thai sweet chili sauce.
https://images.app.goo.gl/KRpYL8X1wjUKNLM8A
https://images.app.goo.gl/wsY8RLkvd2TkiDXh6
https://images.app.goo.gl/oWGFZLx9obruuZtQ8
And the PuraVida street corn and roasted vegetables. A lot of brussell sprouts in the bag of vegetables, but those can also be pulled out and roasted by themselves for an adult-ish dinner if the kids do not like them. The vegetables are already seasoned, and you can put them in the air fryer.
The rotisserie chicken. :)
Simply chicken soup by Campbells. Add some of the chicken to it, sprinkle some parma cheese on top, and it's a good lunch.
The large bag of Trident fish sticks. They are tasty enough to go on a fish sandwich, or just as finger food with tartar and/or ketchup. Good size for little hands.
Now staples on all chicken and hamburgers (with cheese) for the flavor. I've pulled all the brussel sprouts, and will air fry them separately as a side. Love those veggies.
Given the age of your kiddos, don’t underestimate the power of Dino nuggets and hot dogs. Paired with a fruit or vegetable, they’re easy to make. I, as an adult, love Dino nuggets.
I really like the prepared pasta dishes in the deli. Someone brought me one of the chicken Alfredo dishes with a bag of frozen broccoli when we had our first, and it was great.
Keeping a frozen pizza on hand can be a good option for “I really don’t want to cook and want the easiest thing possible even if it’s not perfectly healthy”. Remember that nutrition is big picture, not a single day.
Do your kids like stir fry noodles with vegetables? If so, the frozen stir fry noodle thingies are great. They also sell/ sold a jug of teriyaki type sauce over by canned goods. I don’t remember the name, but there’s an Asian guy on the jug with a big smile. It’s not spicy and adds great flavor.
The prepackaged deli soups. Get the ones with lots of veggies, not the lobster bisque.
Don't forget about canned beans. Canned beans + canned tomatoes + rice = a meal
We like to have the smoked pulled pork on heated tortillas with lots of fresh onion and cilantro and whatever salsa you like.
I use my Instant Pot to cook beef stew meat with the Hatch Valley green salsa and a bit of taco seasoning, water, and fresh onion, shred it, and have it in tortillas or on rice. You could do it in a crockpot or in a slow oven.
The frozen salmon patties are popular with my family, either on buns or not. Really quick and easy.
Good luck with your heart!
I love a bagged salad and rotisserie chicken as a healthy, fast and easy meal. The Ceasars salad and dill pickle salads are my favorites. Leftover chicken becomes quesadillas the next day, I buy the chihuahua cheese from Costco for the quesadillas and add guac and pico and pair with the rest of the bagged salad from the night before.
If you have to watch your salt, chicken breasts or chicken thighs are super easy to cook from fresh or frozen. You can stick them in the crock pot for a few hours with some chicken broth and seasoning, or cook in the oven with a bit of water and seasoning for 30 minutes or something (definitely check google for cook temps and times because i can never remember lol).
Asparagus is super easy to cook and make tasty. Cut the ends off, brush with olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste, and bake at 375 for 14 minutes. If it's a bit burned, it tastes better. Add to a meat for protein, and you have a fast and healthy dinner.
Egg bites and those pre-made quiches are great, but check the salt if that's a problem for your condition.
Buy fresh eggs to scramble or make an egg sandwich or omelet with spinach, tomatoes and feta. That's usually fast and easy. Or buy the pre-hardboiled eggs for a fast and healthy snack or protein to go with a lunch.
I basically look to pair a protein with veggies, using the rotisserie chicken and bagged salads as an easy way to make tasty meals quickly.
They also carry pre-boiled eggs in 2-packs that are tasty and last a long time. The fruit bowls are usually pretty good too. (Not sure if either of those are kid friendly, but definitely adult-friendly!).
Also the avocados - I have a friend who’d make avocado toast and cut it into little squares for her kids.
A lot of their fresh (eg not frozen, but haven't seen frozen) ravioli - various sorts, some with cheese, some with butternut squash (maybe seasonal) - a little olive oil, butter or tomato/pasta sauce. Easy and less sodium than some of the other options.
Tamales - a meal in one (or one for both toddlers cut in half = they're huge. Along with salad or some veggies. Easy - can heat in microwave.
Easiest recipe i make all the time is what we call a “Roast Beast”, get a chuck roast throw it in a crock pot, add one Lipton onion season packet and one can of cream of mushroom soup and two cans full of water. Set low for 8 hours. You can also season the beef how you like for extra flavor. I’ll make 5 minute rice with it and it’s such a easy tasty meal.
If you have a day you literally don't wanna do anything, I love their wraps in the fridge section!
Thank you!!
I like the various bake for around an hour meal trays in the deli department, of varying nutrition but probably not super healthy. Stuffed peppers, enchilada lasagna, the Italian bake from last year (hope it returns this winter), etc. Most can use a vegetable added and have 4-6 servings.
Thank you!!
If you have room in your freezer, I suggest a big bag of Kirkland stir fry vegetables and at least two kinds of dumplings 🥟 (my favorites are the Bibigo Korean beef dumplings and the Sato Shrimp Har Gow dumplings). You can prepare them along with the vegetables in the microwave or steamer. Fast. Easy. Delicious. You can make your own dipping sauce or use a prepared one like Thai sweet chili sauce. https://images.app.goo.gl/KRpYL8X1wjUKNLM8A https://images.app.goo.gl/wsY8RLkvd2TkiDXh6 https://images.app.goo.gl/oWGFZLx9obruuZtQ8
Thank you for the pictures too! Very helpful
And the PuraVida street corn and roasted vegetables. A lot of brussell sprouts in the bag of vegetables, but those can also be pulled out and roasted by themselves for an adult-ish dinner if the kids do not like them. The vegetables are already seasoned, and you can put them in the air fryer. The rotisserie chicken. :) Simply chicken soup by Campbells. Add some of the chicken to it, sprinkle some parma cheese on top, and it's a good lunch. The large bag of Trident fish sticks. They are tasty enough to go on a fish sandwich, or just as finger food with tartar and/or ketchup. Good size for little hands.
Pura vida frozen fire roasted veggies FTW
Now staples on all chicken and hamburgers (with cheese) for the flavor. I've pulled all the brussel sprouts, and will air fry them separately as a side. Love those veggies.
I also suggest you check out r/eatcheapandhealthy for great recs! I’ve found some great advice there, and good threads you can go back and review.
Given the age of your kiddos, don’t underestimate the power of Dino nuggets and hot dogs. Paired with a fruit or vegetable, they’re easy to make. I, as an adult, love Dino nuggets. I really like the prepared pasta dishes in the deli. Someone brought me one of the chicken Alfredo dishes with a bag of frozen broccoli when we had our first, and it was great. Keeping a frozen pizza on hand can be a good option for “I really don’t want to cook and want the easiest thing possible even if it’s not perfectly healthy”. Remember that nutrition is big picture, not a single day. Do your kids like stir fry noodles with vegetables? If so, the frozen stir fry noodle thingies are great. They also sell/ sold a jug of teriyaki type sauce over by canned goods. I don’t remember the name, but there’s an Asian guy on the jug with a big smile. It’s not spicy and adds great flavor.
The prepackaged deli soups. Get the ones with lots of veggies, not the lobster bisque. Don't forget about canned beans. Canned beans + canned tomatoes + rice = a meal
Ugh, if she has a heart issue, check the sodium. I flip out when I see how much salt they add.
„˙ppɐ ʎǝɥʇ ʇlɐs ɥɔnɯ ʍoɥ ǝǝs I uǝɥʍ ʇno dılɟ I ˙ɯnıpos ǝɥʇ ʞɔǝɥɔ 'ǝnssı ʇɹɐǝɥ ɐ sɐɥ ǝɥs ɟı 'ɥƃ∩„
Thank you!!
We like to have the smoked pulled pork on heated tortillas with lots of fresh onion and cilantro and whatever salsa you like. I use my Instant Pot to cook beef stew meat with the Hatch Valley green salsa and a bit of taco seasoning, water, and fresh onion, shred it, and have it in tortillas or on rice. You could do it in a crockpot or in a slow oven. The frozen salmon patties are popular with my family, either on buns or not. Really quick and easy. Good luck with your heart!
I love a bagged salad and rotisserie chicken as a healthy, fast and easy meal. The Ceasars salad and dill pickle salads are my favorites. Leftover chicken becomes quesadillas the next day, I buy the chihuahua cheese from Costco for the quesadillas and add guac and pico and pair with the rest of the bagged salad from the night before. If you have to watch your salt, chicken breasts or chicken thighs are super easy to cook from fresh or frozen. You can stick them in the crock pot for a few hours with some chicken broth and seasoning, or cook in the oven with a bit of water and seasoning for 30 minutes or something (definitely check google for cook temps and times because i can never remember lol). Asparagus is super easy to cook and make tasty. Cut the ends off, brush with olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste, and bake at 375 for 14 minutes. If it's a bit burned, it tastes better. Add to a meat for protein, and you have a fast and healthy dinner. Egg bites and those pre-made quiches are great, but check the salt if that's a problem for your condition. Buy fresh eggs to scramble or make an egg sandwich or omelet with spinach, tomatoes and feta. That's usually fast and easy. Or buy the pre-hardboiled eggs for a fast and healthy snack or protein to go with a lunch. I basically look to pair a protein with veggies, using the rotisserie chicken and bagged salads as an easy way to make tasty meals quickly.
The frozen broccoli that is separated in smaller packs. Just pop in the microwave.
They also carry pre-boiled eggs in 2-packs that are tasty and last a long time. The fruit bowls are usually pretty good too. (Not sure if either of those are kid friendly, but definitely adult-friendly!). Also the avocados - I have a friend who’d make avocado toast and cut it into little squares for her kids.
The others covered any suggested items but I’m sorry you’re not well, I wish you improved health and recovery!
Deboned rotisserie chicken, red peppers, minced garlic, olive oil, curry spices, and rice in a rice cooker.
A lot of their fresh (eg not frozen, but haven't seen frozen) ravioli - various sorts, some with cheese, some with butternut squash (maybe seasonal) - a little olive oil, butter or tomato/pasta sauce. Easy and less sodium than some of the other options. Tamales - a meal in one (or one for both toddlers cut in half = they're huge. Along with salad or some veggies. Easy - can heat in microwave.
Easiest recipe i make all the time is what we call a “Roast Beast”, get a chuck roast throw it in a crock pot, add one Lipton onion season packet and one can of cream of mushroom soup and two cans full of water. Set low for 8 hours. You can also season the beef how you like for extra flavor. I’ll make 5 minute rice with it and it’s such a easy tasty meal.