Need easy, healthy meal ideas! Whats your favorite recipes?

[1love4ever]

I am pregnant, and still BFing my 13 month old.  I am hungry Constantly, and trying to keep up with my child and college.  I find myself reaching for less than nutritious foods because they are quick and easy, but I feel so guilty that I am not always eating healthy.  I would like to know what others have found that is quick, easy and NUTRITIOUS!  Thanks!

[ammiga]

For quick, out the door snacks, I grab a Lara bar.

My go-to easy meal at home is a quesadilla. I put butter in a frying pan, drop in a whole wheat tortilla, add shredded cheese and black beans, then top it with another tortilla. Flip when side one is cooked (pretty much like making a grilled cheese). Serve with avocado, sour cream, salsa, whatever.

I also put hummus, feta, and chopped red pepper in whole wheat pita for a quick sandwich.

[HollyBearsMom]

The easiest thing for me was to keep healthy alternatives on hand at all times and to invest in a little prep work.  When I was nursing and hungry all the time these were my go to staples and could always be found in the fridge/pantry:

• cut up veggies- carrots, celery, bell pepper, etc.  the key was taking them time to cut them up in advance so I could grab and go
• whole wheat tortillas (easy to make or buy ready made)
• bananas and peanut butter-use a whole wheat tortilla, spread with PB, roll up banana and slice to make pinwheels.  Use nutella for a sweet treat.
• hummus and bean dips.  easy make in your cuisinart or buy ready made.  Use as dip for the veggies or as a spread for sandwiches
• hard boiled eggs- I kept a few on hand to eat on their own or use to make a quick egg salad
• roast chicken- I roasted one every sunday to pick on all week.  You can use to top a salad, make sandwiches, quesadillas,
• Amy's brand low sodium soups- especially like the cream of tomato and black bean
• Morningstar veggie burgers
• block of xtra sharp cheddar cheese- for snacking, topping a veggie burger, shedding in a quesadilla, etc

[bonjourmama]

I second the sharp cheddar! I eat like a preschooler. My go to "quickies" are pb& j on whole grain toast. Cheddar and apples. Chicken soup. Kale and Quinoa. Yum. Both Kale and Quinoa I just set on stove and they steam away. I put two table spoons of water in my pan for the kale, and fresh garlic. Sometimes if I am feeling adventurous I splash red wine vin and evoo on top!

[june'smom]

When I was in college (also with tiny kids and pregnant), I ate like my toddler did.  We ate lots of PBJ with whole wheat bread and home-made jams.  Lots of noodles with marinara (I like Newmans Own).  We ate a ton of eggs.  I also used to make things like lentils and rice or beans and rice and then eat left overs for days.

We also ate some meat, but were really too poor to buy much of it. 

[kennalyn]

I've had this same struggle in the past. I'm a FT working mom and just don't have time to spend an hour+ making healthy dinner every night for my family. I started collecting FAST recipes that are very nutritious for my own sanity. If you want to try some, I just post them on my blog: www.totallyhealthyrecipes.com feel free to use any of them and good luck with your healthy eating!