Dinner Strategy: Baseball Stadium Meals

On super busy nights when I don't have time to put together something I'd be proud to Instagram (ie. most of the time), I take a baseball stadium meal approach to food.

Have you ever heard the song, "Take Me Out the Ballgame"? Think that but instead of peanuts and cracker jacks, I serve up hotdogs, fries, burgers, etc. Paired with fruit or salad, these meals are crowd pleasers and good enough.

This week, one dark winter night, we had chili cheese dogs, fries, and cucumbers and my kids loved it. We put on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and it was a party. For gluten-free people, ditch the bun and make it chili cheese fries. Your kids will feel like they're at a carnival. And why not?

You can make the chili yourself or heat it from a can. Yes, a can. It's still better than ordering pizza.

Nachos are also a really fast and easy weeknight dinner. I make them on parchment paper in the oven on broil. Keep some seasoned, cooked ground beef in the freezer or cook it up in less than fifteen minutes. Serve it alongside refried beans or put them right on the nachos layered with cheese and beef.

My kids like nachos with sour cream and salsa verde.

For side dishes, on these busy nights keep it simple:

-apple slices

-carrot slices

-bell pepper slices

-cucumber slices

-applesauce

Other fifteen minute dinner ideas:

• Corn tortilla quesadillas (my kids like them better than flour tortillas)

• Pasta with any quick sauce

• Chicken nuggets and fruit salad

• Grilled cheese sammies and tomato soup

Save the ordering out and drive-thrus for nights you really don't have the time. Especially during the holiday break when you're cooking 2-3 times a day, these will be a lifesaver. Happy cooking!