No Time for Healthy Eating?

There's a commercial on tv that shows the average American mom's busy life. She rushes from work to her child's afterschool activity and then often chooses a "deep-fried bag of take-out" for dinner. Sound like YOUR life???

After going back to the full-time grind recently I can certainly identify. It is hard to get home late and prepare a healthy, tasty meal.

It is hard but NOT impossible.

This commercial suggests that mom pick up Hamburger Helper. Y-U-C-K!!!!

What cracks me up about choices such as Hamburger Helper is that people do not read the package ingredients. Processed meal helpers will cost less money than a deep-fried bag of food from a take-out joint but it won't be any healthier.

Do NOT assume because you have to actually cook part of it that it makes it healthy.

Processed/packaged meals contain high levels of sodium, artificial flavors, artificial colors and all kinds of UN natural junk.

Like the idea of one pan cooking after a busy day? It is NOT hard to do without using pre-packaged spice mixes (they actually contain more chemicals than spice) or meal helpers.

Here is a quick and easy way to make a one pan dinner.

This is MY version of Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni.

This will serve 4 along with a green salad or side vegetable.

Ingredients:

1 pound of lean ground beef

3/4 cup elbow macaroni

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon cornstarch

8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon minced onion

1 cup water

How to do it:

Brown the ground beef in a deep frying pan and drain off any fat.

Add the minced onion and stir until the onion is softened.

Add the water, milk and cheese and stir until blended and cheese is almost melted all the way.

Add macaroni and cornstarch and stir together. Make sure lumps are gone.

Cover with lid and simmer until macaroni is done. If there does not seem to be enough liquid before macaroni is cooked, add about 1/2 cup milk. Stir together. Simmer this until the macaroni is done to your liking.

You can top with additional shredded cheese before serving.

Nice and easy and no artificial colors or flavors. Kids love it.