Are you settled into your back to school routine yet? Evenings can be the most stressful times of the day – after school, homework, bath time and of course – preparing dinner for the family.

Being organized and preparing ahead of time can save you the stress of dinner time and for many children, the witching hour. Trying to get dinner on the table with hungry kids – if you’re not planned in advance, and nothing is in the fridge, doesn’t make for a happy meal.

Healthy meal plans can help you save time and money during those busy weeknights. Doing all the prep work over the weekend can also help relieve some of the evening stresses.

Longo’s has created simple step-by-step healthy meal plans where you prep a week’s worth of nutritious meals to enjoy all week. Not only that, their shopping list comes in at under $100! Shop once – eat all week! I love this idea but I must admit, I’m not so disciplined enough to keep this routine going but it’s definitely worth getting organized to make it work. By having all of your groceries and ingredients stocked in your pantry and refrigerator along healthy meal plans scheduled in advance, weeknights can be less stressful.

I’d suggest doing your grocery shopping on Saturday and then Sunday is your prep day for your healthy meal plan for the entire week. Better yet, order online at Grocery Gateway and have your groceries delivered right to your door. Imagine having ingredients arrive fresh to your front door, delivered by Longo’s partner, Grocery Gateway? If you have a hectic schedule, you can shop online during your lunch break and have fresh, local groceries delivered to you. Talk about saving time!

Here is Longo’s weekly menu:

Healthy Meal Plans with Longo's

All of the recipes can be incorporated into our household, with a few tweaks for me since I have some food sensitivity issues. A simple, healthy recipe which is packed with protein is the Potato Cauliflower Frittata. What a great idea to have some cauliflower and potato steamed and baked in advance on Sunday ready at hand for recipes during the week, like this frittata, ready in under 30 minutes. Here is the recipe:

Potato Cauliflower Frittata

PREP 5 min COOK 25 min SERVES 4

1 tsp Longo’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil

8 eggs

1/4 cup milk

3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

1 cup cooked potato, chopped

(reserved from Sunday’s prep)

1 cup roasted cauliflower,

chopped (reserved from Roasted Lemon Cauliflower)

1 small red bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

BEAT eggs with milk, parsley, salt and pepper. HEAT 8-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. ADD oil to pan and quickly heat chopped potato for 2 minutes, add chopped cauliflower.

POUR eggs into skillet and reduce heat to low. Top with red peppers and feta.

BAKE in preheated 375°F oven for 20 minutes or until knife inserted in centre comes out clean.

PER SERVING: 247 calories, 16 g protein, 16 g fat, 10 g carbohydrate, 1 g fibre, 4 g sugars, 486 mg sodium

Doesn’t it look scrumptious?

Healthy Meal Plans with Longo's

Make sure to get your copy of Longo’s weekly menu in stores now or find it here online.

ENTER TO WIN

Which of the 5 recipes from Longo’s is your favourite?

Tell me for the chance to win a $100 gift certificate from Longo’s!  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter this giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Longo’s Markets are in the Greater Toronto area – see website for store locations. Ends September 27, 2014.

Good luck!

Author

Maria Lianos-Carbone is the author of “Oh Baby! A Mom’s Self-Care Survival Guide for the First Year”, and publisher of amotherworld.com, a leading lifestyle blog for women.

32 Comments

  1. Seems such a shame to pick one, but I will go with Baked Tilapia with Mushrooms and Tomatoes on a bed, I presume, of Confetti Rice. I saw some salmon on sale recently and think it would be possible to sub the tilapia for it.

  2. michelle galante Reply

    The sheppards pie poutine looks so famtastic amd I know my picky eaters would love it too.

  3. Dianne / Smilenwaven Reply

    It ALL looks yummy! Especially the meatloaf and chicken!

  4. The Baked Tilapia with Mushrooms and Tomatoes looks very yummy. I love tilapia!

  5. Rachel Croutch Reply

    The Potato Cauliflower Frittata is perfect! Have all the ingredients 🙂 found tonight’s dinner!

  6. Jenny Butler Reply

    Hello. this article is so useful I would always run out of something in the middle or weekends. Now I shop once a week following you now I can eat well and not run out. The biggest benefit is no wastage, almost all of the food is eaten. Thanks.

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