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10 Go-To Meal Ideas Our Family Loves @ AVirtuousWoman.org

My Go-To Meals for Busy Days

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

10 Go-To Meal Ideas Our Family Loves @ AVirtuousWoman.org

These days of trying to juggle it all, I realized some time ago that something had to go. For years I made everything from scratch. I like to feed my family healthy food and we try to avoid foods that have a lot of unnatural ingredients.

And while I still work to feed my family the very best ingredients, I’m not so particular about everything being “homemade” or “from scratch.”

I still cook delicious meals on a regular basis. I still make a lot of homemade food. But I rely on quick and easy meals a lot. The thing is, food doesn’t have to take a long time to prepare to be delicious and sometimes it’s okay to get a little help from your favorite store. And really, what you serve at meal time is not nearly as important as the time your spend together eating.

Everyone needs a handful of Go To Meals for those days when you just need something quick that you don’t have to think about.

My Go To Meals

1. Tacos are always a hit and so easy to make, it’s almost like not cooking at all. We buy Taco Bell brand shells because they are all natural. Taco Salad is similar to Tacos, but I mix everything together and add Thousand Island dressing to the salad. It’s quick – can be made in less than 15 minutes!

2. Trader Joe’s Naan Pizza is amazing and only takes a few minutes to prepare. 15 minutes in the oven and you’re ready to eat! Serve with a tossed salad.

Trader Joe's Homemade Chorizo Naan Pizza @ AVirtuousWoman.org

3. Spaghetti is always a favorite. We had it today for lunch. I usually buy organic Classico jarred sauces and saute some veggies to add to the sauce. If I’m in a real hurry {like when I’m trying to get out the door for choir practice} I’ll cook up a pot of angel hair and just add some jarred alfredo sauce or pesto sauce. Serve with steamed broccoli or a tossed salad and a loaf of bakery bread or homemade bread if you have it on hand.

4. Trader Joe’s Palak Paneer with rice is one of our absolute favorites. We buy the frozen Palak Paneer from Trader Joe’s and heat it up in the microwave and serve with Basmati rice. This is one of those meals we eat after a long day at the ice rink.

5. Trader Joe’s Tiki Masala – again this is one of thos AH-MAZING frozen dishes from Trader Joe’s that we often eat after a long day when everyone is tired and just wants a yummy meal. Serve with Basmati rice and you’re good to go.

6. Progresso Artisan Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or crusty bread. We’ve been buying this soup by the case at one of our local favorite salvage stores 3 for a $1.00!

7. Chili Mac. So, my husband isn’t crazy about this, but I love it and the kids do too, so I usually make it when he’s not home and I’m needing something quick! Basically you just boil some elbow macaroni noodles and serve with your favorite chili. We like Chili Man Chili and Meatless Select Chili.

8. Taco Soup in the Crockpot is delicious, easy to prepare and is waiting for you when you get home. I like to serve it with my famous cornbread and maybe some sour cream and shredded cheese. Other crock pot favorites are Enchiladas, Potato Soup, and Bean Soup.

9. Earth Fare Market is my other go-to place for prepared meals. At least one day a week we drive 2 1/2 hours one way to Knoxville so my daughter Hannah can ice skate for eight hours. We are typically gone from home about 14 hours. It’s a long day. I try hard to pack delicious and healthy lunches and food for our supper to save money, but sometimes I just run out of time and/or ideas! Earth Fare is right around the corner {within walking distance} of the ice rink. It’s a great excuse for me to get more steps in and pick up supper.

10 Go To Meal Ideas Our Family Loves @ AVirtuousWoman.org

What we love:

  • Kids Meals – only $3.00 each – and your child gets {see in top of photo above} her choice of an entree {we like the grilled cheese sandwiches and the veggie wraps}, grapes, and carrot stick with either ranch dressing or hummus.
  • Vegetarian Sushi Rolls – only $5.00 on Wednesdays!
  • Hot Soups
  • And the Meal Deals {see above} from the deli are amazing.

10. And finally, whenever I am able, I like to make meals ahead – like on a Sunday afternoon and stick them in the freezer. Especially for breakfast.

What are your favorite Go To Meals?

10 Go-To Meal Ideas Our Family Loves @ AVirtuousWoman.org

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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Crystal Beamon

    April 17, 2015 at 6:28 am

    I would have to say some of my go to meals are pizza and my husband's favorite hamburger and baked beans
    Reply
  2. MargaretLouise Woods

    July 27, 2019 at 12:48 pm

    Some of my on the go meals are all homemade and they freeze well. Whey Powder Shake with fruit Hamburger with seasoned fries Chili and Jalapeno Cornbread Soup and Jalapeno Cornbread or Saltine Crackers Beans and Ham Hock in a slow cooker Most of these can be made in a slow cooker
    Reply

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Freedom from perfection. 🪁
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Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
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Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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