I wake up every morning and whip up some whole grain French Toast with cut up fruit and crispy nirate free bacon on the side.
For lunch I simmer together fresh cut veggies and homemade broth for a hearty soup.
Then for dinner I….
…am totally lying.
It’s true that most days I do my best to eat whole foods in their most natural state and I do enjoy cooking… when I have the time. But sometimes I just don’t have the time or the energy to stop by the grocery and create a masterpiece for dinner. For those busy weeks, I stock up on some of my favorite convenient foods. It’s true that some have more sodium than they should, but no one’s perfect, right? Well, I’m not.
So here are some of my favorite staples for those times:
I love me some Amy’s soups. They are organic, but more importantly, REALLY delicious! The Chunky Tomato Bisque with a grilled cheese is a perfect winter night’s meal- every time.
Looks delish, no? Well I didn’t buy all these ingredients, I swung by Fresh Market yesterday and picked this up from their pre-packaged deli section. It was huge and was perfect for Hubb’s and I to split for our pre-dinner salad.
I know, I should just buy stock in Amy’s. The frozen burritos are great to have stashed in the freezer and they heat up quickly for a filling lunch. I prefer mine topped with a little Texas Pete.
Fruit. It comes in it’s own package and is easy to throw in your purse. Talk about convenient. Also, I find when I have fresh fruit around… I eat it. What a concept 🙂
These Morning Star burgers are another freezer staple of mine. I microwave one of these babies, throw it on a toasted sandwich thin, and dinner is born! Sometimes I deck it out with lettuce shreds, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, pickles and mustard. MMM!
I know these cups come in just straight tuna, but I never find myself eating just a plain can of tuna (does anyone besides muscle builder like eating it like that??). So I take the uber lazy route and buy PREMADE tuna salad cups. It tastes great on crackers or straight out of the cup. It’s sometimes hard to find a grab-n-go protein source, and this tuna salad is a great option.
So share your secrets with me… what’s your favorite convenience food??
Jess @atasteofconfidence says
Amy’s micro meals- definitely!
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans says
I really like Amy’s Organic vegetarian chili as well as a few of the Blue Menu items from a grocery chain here in Canada. Ideally I would make everything from scratch but the reality is I need healthy go-to options when life gets busy (and when doesn’t it??)
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day says
Haha. I love tuna straight from the can. But I hate most other fish. Weird.
Healthy Valley has soups that have way less sodium than most soups. I usually add a touch of sea salt, because they are bland, but I love that I get to choose how much salt to add.
Those burritos are addictive!
Carly says
I love Amy’s food too! It’s my go-to anytime I want something not terrible and fast. The burritos are amazing!
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good says
My favorite convenience foods: Campbell’s Select Harvest soups (still more sodium than a home-cooked meal, but they are convenient), jarred pasta sauce served up with whole wheat pasta (not too bad, but still really quick and easy), frozen vegetables, yogurt, cereal, and you pictured my favorite veggie burgers. Yum!
Caree @ Fit-Mama says
I love anything Amy’s!! Especially the vegetable lasagna! I wish I could whip up a perfect dinner every night too…but when you gots a busy schedule you HAVE to lean on something!! 🙂
Rachel (Olalliberry) says
I like some of the boxed soups from Imagine Organics and Pacific Foods, especially Imagine’s Cuban Black Bean Bisque (which I am eating for lunch this week!). I’m not a fan of Amy’s soups but I do like their frozen pizza…
Holly @ couchpotatoathlete says
Fresh fruit/veggies are definitely good 🙂 I also like the trail mix/nuts mixes from Trader Joe’s — and speaking of Trader Joes I love their soups and some of their frozen meals — salmon, scallops, veggies, brown rice (already cooked!)
Amy’s is good too, although I don’t have as many burritos as I used to. They sure are good!
Ashley @ Cupcakes & Combat Boots says
I too love Amy’s products and Morningstar Spicy Black Bean Burgers! They are so good!! I also like to have around some of those Uncle Bens microwaveable bags of wild rice, brown rice, etc. for an easy side dish. Oh and we LIVE off of microwave steamer bags of vegetables….a lot of times I’m too lazy to go the fresh route with a veggie side dish so those are a lifesaver!
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss says
I LOVE Amy’s! I also love fruit and yogurt, museli, and your every now and then healthy choice microwave meal. We can all afford to be lazy sommeeetimes. 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
Frozen veggies, canned beans, and canned diced tomatoes or tomato sauce. It’s just as easy to pour all of those together in a pan and heat it up (or pour them into a bowl and pop into the microwave) as canned soup, but you can add your own spices, salt, etc.
Christina @ Food.Fun.Fabulous. says
love love love Amy’s soups! I have a million of the lentil vegetable one’s in the pantry 🙂
TheHealthyapron says
I have to be honest…hate Amy’s soups. Maybe I’ve just tried the wrong flavors but I’ve never found one I like. COuld be bc I’m not a big soup eater haha.
I almost never make my own hummus, even though I should, so that is probably my favorite convenience food. Other than that, for super quick dinners, we usually make some type of egg/breakfast dish 🙂 Our freezer is literally bare, minus a few bags of frozen veggies.
Becca says
I’m a “muscle builder” and dont even like straight tuna. Blech. ahahaha
My favorite go tos are greek yogurt, fruit and oatmeal and egg pancakes I make ahead of time and keep in the fridge!
LauraJayne says
I am totally addicted to Amy’s Frozen meals – I eat them every weekday for lunch!
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
These are all awesome options! I have most of this in my home at all times too! <3
Trader joes makes a frozen organic flatbread that I love keeping in the freezer when I can get it. It goes awesome with veggies and salads. Delish!
also, annie's cheddar bunnies are kind of an obsession of mine =)
Paige @ The Gravy Boat says
I love the Amy’s products too. Definitely a go-to if I’m in a hurry and my alternative option would be something significantly less healthy. I love their veggie pot pie!
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
Oh! I need to find those burritos! Those would be so easy! And they look great!
I like to make extras when I cook and then freeze them! That way I can just grab and stick it in the oven!
Corey @ the Runner's Cookie says
Love your ideas, Brittany! Amy’s soup and the veggie burgers are some of my faves too. I also love bars (larabars, kashi bars, etc), greek yogurt, and cheese sticks as quick snacks
Roz says
Favorite convenience foods? Baked bean (yum!), instant brown rice and ready made marinara sauce. Have a great day Brittany.
Sara @ Nourish and Flourish says
Amy is my best friend too. 😉 The soups are awesome, and the frozen entrees are pretty delish as well. Hmm…other staples: I buy plain tuna cups and toss them with salad dressing, or throw them into tomato /veggie soup! Sounds strange, but it’s actually really good. I’m also a huge fan of the Whole Foods salad bar (I eat there at least once/week), and precut veggies that I can throw into the microwave or skillet. AND, I recently learned that the fish counter will steam any fish you purchase for free!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
haha totally fell for that! i want french toast every morning!!
alyssa - fashion fitness foodie says
I love Amys! I try to not buy a lot of convenience foods but who am I kidding? I need them! I’m a busy girl and a hungry one too 🙂
Carrie (Moves 'N Munchies) says
i so want to try amys products but they are only in the US! hmm my convience foods are just wraps, veggies with hummus- i never actually eat premade things. but i do make very quick meals when im lazy!