meals in a box

in our house, we really try to make our meals as fresh and healthy as possible. this usually entails lean meat (chicken, lean ground beef, ground turkey), whole grains, and veggies.

i'm not too staunch of an anti-processed-foods person, but i do think that whole foods in general are better for our health.

all of that doesn't mean i don't love a good boxed meal though. there are a lot of good options for "meals in a box" out there that you can change or add to to make surprisingly healthy!

these are great when you're in a pinch for time or just can't figure out what to make and need to use something you already have in your pantry.

here are 3 of my favorites:

annie's homegrown cheeseburger skillet dinner

this annie's meal is basically a healthier version of hamburger helper. i grew up on hamburger helper and really like it, but i know it's probably not the best thing for you in the world.

while the annie's version also isn't as good as a fresh meal, it does use organic pasta and 100% real cheese. it also doesn't have artificial flavors, preservatives, or synthetic colors. 

annie's has several versions of skillet dinners (alfredo, cheesy taco, and lasagna), but i've only tried the cheeseburger mac so far. will definitely try the others in the future!

old el paso hard & soft taco kit

this is another one that i grew up on and still love: old el paso's taco kits. my favorite is the half crunchy/half soft kit (michael likes crunchy; i'm soft all the way!)

this kit is great because it gives you the shells, seasoning, and taco sauce, so all you have to have is the meat and add-ons. we typically use lean ground beef or ground turkey; shredded chicken is great too. we always have salsa, avocado, and cheese to put on top, and usually serve with sides of black beans and/or corn. you can really make it as healthy as you want!

michael's favorite way to eat this meal is to put a bunch of shredded lettuce in a bowl, pile the meat and toppings on that, then crunch up some crunchy shells in the mix.

betty crocker suddenly pasta salad

while this isn't technically a whole meal in a box, it's a great base to build a meal on, or just to use as a side. 

i can't tell you how much michael and i both love this stuff. it is so fast and easy to make, and it's so so good! it's even better after a few hours of sitting in the fridge, so the leftovers are especially yummy.

we eat this a lot when we make really simply grilled or baked chicken for dinner, along with a veggie. it's a perfect starchy side that's different from the usual rice or potatoes. you can also use it to build a cold salad. we make one pasta salad meal with cold chopped chicken and artichoke hearts...yum! this would be a perfect base for that.

i think buying a few boxes like these and keeping them in your pantry for a rainy, lazy day are a great way to make sure you're cooking at home more often than eating out. they've saved me in a pinch several times!