Simple, Healthy, Tasty Food

Are you working too hard at dinnertime? Try this easy and tasty assembly line dinner.

After a long day, it’s time to relax and enjoy dinner with the whole family. But how? Here’s a menu plan that works nicely – it’s on the table quickly, it’s satisfying and nutritious and cleanup is easy. There are many variations of this dinner, too, when your kitchen has a well-stocked pantry.

First, get out your dinner plates. Then form an assembly line with one family member dishing 1-2 items, with clean hands, that is. Kids will get a charge out of ‘cooking dinner’ tonight.

Layer 1 is a handful of salad greens.

Layer 2 is 2 heaping tablespoons of canned, drained chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans).

Layer 3 is 4 well-rinsed grape tomatoes (be sure to cut them in half if kids are under 3).

Layer 4 is ¼ – ½ can tuna, drained and flaked with a fork. Or, substitute simple canned, drained chicken.

Layer 5 is 1 heaping tablespoon raisins or dried cranberries.

Layer 6 is a small pinch of garlic powder, dried basil or pepper.

Layer 7 is 1 tablespoon of light salad dressing or, healthier yet, ½ tablespoon each olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

To complete your meal, add a slice of bread or crackers and a glass of 1% milk.

With dinners this easy, mom and dad can relax after a long day, too!

Important Note: For kids <3 yrs, cut the salad greens, tomatoes, raisins into tiny pieces, and mash the chickpeas.