We all know that we should create a complete weekly menu before we embark on our grocery shopping trip to insure we’ll have everything we need on hand. But, sometimes life just gets in the way. Something comes up that doesn’t allow you to get to the store when you’d planned or you forgot to add some key ingredient to your list.
You don’t have to be confined to a dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (not that they’re bad) just because life got in the way or your plans changed. As long as you keep some basic staples on hand, you can whip up a quick meal that will be just as satisfying as if you’d spent all day working on it.
What foods should you keep stocked up on at all times in case you find yourself in a pinch and too tired to do much about it?
Pasta
When you have nothing else on hand to cook, pasta can always save the day. All you need is some water to boil it in and you’ve already got most of your dinner dish complete.
There are a variety of different pastas to choose from. You can go with long spaghetti noodles, or something smaller like elbow macaroni. If you’re health conscious, you may keep wheat pasta on hand, or go for some that is organic or gluten free.
The best thing about pasta is that you can pair it with so many things. Add some protein, such as ground hamburger, diced chicken or canned tuna to it. If you want more fiber (which is good for you), include some veggies like broccoli or asparagus.
The same idea of variety holds true when it comes to sauces. Your meals can be very different based on whether you use butter, olive oil, spaghetti sauce or some sort of alfredo as your “sauce” of choice.
Rice
Like pasta, rice is pretty simple to cook as well. Throw it in the water, let it boil and then fluff it up to serve it. If you want quick, go for instant. However, if you need some time to just relax for a minute prior to eating, use the real deal and savor the time with your feet up with a drink in hand.
And, rice has healthy options as well. Choose multi-grain or wild rice for different textures and tastes. Select brown rice over its white counterpart as it has more vitamins and nutrients since it is less processed.
Add some canned tomatoes and spices to the cooked rice for a Spanish-style dinner, or put in some soy sauce and honey for a teriyaki flavor. Mix in cooked sausage, shrimp or chicken if you’re hungry for a jambalaya.
Frozen Stir-Fry Veggies
Keep your freezer stocked with stir-fry veggies and you’ll always have a meal that is just minutes away from being complete. No need to take the time to thaw them prior to cooking. Just oil and heat a pan (or wok) and throw them in.
If you’re okay going vegetarian for a meal, this may be just enough for dinner whether you eat them on their own or with some tofu thrown in. Or, if you have some leftover chicken in the fridge from last night’s dinner, you can chop it up and add it to the mix.
Serve them over rice (see above) for a meal that is a little more satisfying and longer lasting in your belly. You can also fry them up and add them to your pasta with some tomato sauce for a meatless marinara loaded with vitamins and minerals if you want.
Frozen Hamburger Patties
If you’re feeding a meat and potatoes kind of family, this one ingredient may just save the day for you. Most meats can’t thaw quickly and become excluded as options unless you’ve planned a couple days in advance. However, beef patties can go from freezer to frying pan with no problem at all.
The nice thing about hamburgers is that everyone can make their own just the way they like them, which makes for a happy family. Set out ketchup, mustard, onion, relish, pickle, steak sauce, mayo or cheese slices and let each person make their own little masterpiece. The only limit as to what you can place on top is whatever condiments are lurking in your refrigerator door.
You’re not stuck just eating them as hamburgers either. Just because they come as patties doesn’t mean you have to keep them that way. Chop them up and add them to your pasta or rice, or put them in your stir-fry for a complete, quick and easy meal.
Of course they’re going to have a little different taste and texture than the fresh stuff , but where’s the sense of adventure in that? Live on the edge a little.
Potatoes
Potatoes are often thought of as side dishes, which they are great for, but they can also be a main staple in a meal as well. And, they’re super easy to cook.
If you have some things you want to get done prior to eating, just throw them in the oven wrapped in tin foil for 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees. Or, if you’re famished because you missed lunch, microwave a spud for three to five minutes (depending on its size) until it’s soft and squishy. Either way, you’ll end up with a hot, ready to eat potato.
Top it with cooked veggies and cheese for a meal that is extremely filling and will satisfy your taste buds without leaving you hungry in an hour. Throw on a couple bacon bits and some light cream cheese to have a low-fat meal that doesn’t taste like you’re counting calories at all.
You could also slice it up and fry it with a little bit of olive oil, ground turkey and Italian seasoning for a complete meal in just a few minutes. Or, boil them with some turkey sausage and carrots for a comforting warm dinner on a blistery cold day.
If you keep these five foods on hand, you’ll always have a meal available to you at a moment’s notice. Of course, if you don’t, there’s always trusted peanut butter and jelly.
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