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October 2003

When was the last time you and your family sat down to a home-cooked meal together? With our hectic lifestyles, family dinners seem to get scheduled out of existence. If Wendy or Mickey-D is fixing more than one meal a week for your family, you need to check out these suggestions. 

There are a lot of new, already-prepped foods on the market that make home-cooking a snap. There are a wide range of entrées such as roasted chicken, meatloaf, sliced beef, roasted turkey, pork roast, and meatballs. They only need to be heated and served. 

The old stand-by, frozen pizza, has been updated with a more “homemade” taste and appearance. Try our recipe below for a little different spin on pizza. Spaghetti with meat sauce, a salad, and dinner rolls is another kid-friendly, easy dinner. 

Using a gas grill or George Foreman to cook simple entrees such as chicken breasts, pork chops, or hamburger patties is convenient and adds flavor. Microwaving fresh or frozen vegetables in their serving dish is not only quick and nutritious, it eliminates the cooking utensil clean-up. 

Most of these dishes can be prepared and on the table in less time than it takes to order and pick up fast food carry out. Once your pantry and freezer are stocked, plan ahead for 4 or 5 meals each week. Home-cooked family meals are definitely worth the effort (see this month’s FYI). 

For Your Information: Family Friendly Eating meals as a family is a very healthy thing to do. Studies show that children are emotionally, mentally, and physically healthier if the family eats meals together.

 

1 can (10 ounce) refrigerated pizza dough 1/2 cup low fat (2 grams per serving) Ranch dressing, such as Wish-Bone Just 2 Good 1 cup shredded low fat (5-6 grams per ounce) mozzarella cheese 1 cup shredded low fat (6 grams per ounce) Cheddar cheese 1 cup seeded, chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup chopped green onions with tops 8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cooked, diced

Preheat oven to 425º. Lightly spray 12-inch pizza pan or 8x12-inch baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Unroll dough and press into prepared pan. Bake crust in 425º oven for 7 minutes or until it begins to turn golden brown. Remove from oven. Spread dressing over partially baked crust. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, green onion, chicken, and Cheddar cheese. Return to oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 365 Cholesterol 52 mg Total Fat 12 g  (29%) Sodium 930 mg Carbohydrate 34 g Protein 30 g