Family Meals – Fresh and Fast
Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN Senior Nutritionist
September is a time the majority of us hit the reset button, pull out the calendar and get back to school and work routines. No doubt, many of us find we are already overcommitted before we even get started! Catching up around the dinner table is a great way to reconnect after these busy days, but getting that organized can be one more thing on that already long list. Don’t worry, we have your back with #TimeBetterSpent solutions to kick off National #FamilyMealsMonth, an annual celebration of all of the benefits every occasion you can eat together with family and friends can bring.
Sunday – Get ahead and power up Monday breakfast with a delicious, easy overnight oats and berries recipe (see below). September is also #WholeGrainsMonth! Give everyone the protein and #wholegrains they need for brain power, and know some morning time eating together will get the week off to a great start!
Monday – Go Can Crazy with a quick family and budget friendly chili recipe. Crunch some #wholegrain chips or fresh baked corn bread from the bakery and get all the news of the day at dinner.
Tuesday – First night for sports, Scouts, homework – way too many things to think about cooking too! Rustle up a fresh Rotisserie Chicken, bagged Fresh Express salad, and the leftover corn bread. Fresh and fast!
Wednesday – Mac and Cheese please (see below)! Comfort food that connects the dots – time and kid-friendly, make it with #wholegrain PICS whole wheat rotini so they get what they want, and you get what you want – healthy, happy kids!
Thursday – Dinner is in the bag! Seal and Cook fresh seafood meals made daily in stores include cut fresh vegetables, 4 different seafood choices, and are made with or without garlic butter. They can be steamed in the store, microwaved or baked at home. Seafood is brain food, smart families are enjoying more with this no muss, no fuss solution!
Friday – Rotisserie Turkey (Bonus AdvantEdge points!) or chicken and bagged Fresh Express salad close the week with a fresh family favorite.
#TimeBetterSpent on #FamilyMeals pays off with a lifetime of benefits for your whole family. Learn more about #FamilyMealsMonth at https://www.pricechopper.com/time-better-spent/. You bring the kids, and we’ll bring you the meal solutions!
Overnight Oatmeal and Berries by Jodie Fitz
2 1/2 cups PICS Greek plain or vanilla yogurt
2 cups PICS old-fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup PICS honey
1 teaspoon Full Circle cinnamon
1 cup PICS frozen blueberries or strawberries
In a large bowl, stir the yogurt, oats, honey and cinnamon together. Divide the mixture among 4 airtight containers*. Add the frozen berries on top. Seal the containers and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. Grab and go in the morning for a quick and easy breakfast!
*Small canning jars work great!
Macaroni and Cheese
8 oz. PICS whole wheat rotini
4 T. PICS unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
4 T. PICS all-purpose flour
2 cups PICS milk
Salt and pepper to season
Pinch Full Circle organic nutmeg
2 cups PICS shredded macaroni and cheese blend
1 cup crushed PICS snack crackers
2 T. PICS melted butter
2 tsp. smoked paprika
Cook pasta until tender, drain and rinse.
Meanwhile, melt 4 T. butter in a sauce pan and add the flour to make a roux. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the milk and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheeses.
Toss the pasta and sauce together to coat well. Spoon into a lightly greased casserole dish or 4 individual ramekins.
Combine the crackers, 2 T. melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over macaroni and cheese, and place in a preheated 375° oven and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Serves 4.