If I had all the time in the world, an unlimited budget, and kids who weren’t ever picky about what they eat, I’d happily make all our meals from scratch. I enjoy cooking and like knowing what’s in our meals, as well as having the ability to change recipes to our taste and to make them healthier.
But I do have restrictions on my time and budget and my kids can sometimes be picky. Sometimes we’re racing from school to a sports practice. Other times, I’m working from home and don’t want to spend much time making a meal that’s just for me. Sometimes I’ll eat something that feels a little more like a snack instead of a meal, like carrots and crackers with hummus. Which is okay on some days, and can leave me feeling hungry on others.
I want to eat a real meal! I’ve tried stocking my freezer with frozen meals to have those easy choices, but they were often a little bland and didn’t taste at all like anything I’d make in my kitchen. But, this past week, I tried SMARTMADE ™ by SmartOnes (R) for my lunches. These meals were more like what I would make, if I had the time. The first one I tried was White Wine Chicken with Couscous. It’s grilled white meat chicken with roasted zucchini, eggplant, onions, and tomatoes over pearled couscous lightly tossed in a white wine sauce.
SMARTMADE™ meals are made with real ingredients that I know how to pronounce (and know what they are!), with no artificial flavors or preservatives. By grilling their protein and roasting vegetables, you get more flavor, which makes for a SMARTMADE™ and delicious option for when I don’t cook. There are also smart swaps in these meals: like couscous or brown rice instead of white rice and white bean puree instead of cream. Other SMARTMADE™ meals available are: Mexican-Style Chicken Bowl, Rosemary Grilled Beef & Vegetables, Roasted Vegetable Enchilada Bake, Turkey Sausage & Roasted Vegetable Lasagna Bake, Roasted Turkey & Vegetables, and many others, that you can see here.
What is your go-to lunch on a busy day?