Below are the dinners I made over the course of the week for the entire family. I thought this week was going to be more difficult to make fresh meals because I wasn’t going to the grocery store. However, we ordered our weekly box from Thrive Market which supplied us with all the produce we needed and we ordered from Instacart and lucked out with them providing us with most of what we needed. We are also fortunate to have a small market in our neighborhood that we have popped into a few times. If you are in need of more recipes that use pantry basics this is a great resource from Bon Appétit. These meal planning pads from Rachel Rosenthal have been so helpful. We complete it each week and hang on or refrigerator to ensure we are using all of our fresh foods.

Dinners
Day 1: Cheesy Chicken Pasta from Inside Bru Crew Life {quick and delicious recipe for any leftover chicken} with Bibb Salad from Defined Dish
Day 2: Spaghetti Squash and ground chicken meatballs from Real Simple
Day 3: Crockpot Chicken Taco Bowls from Defined Dish {used veggies we had that were going bad}
Day 4: Ordered and picked up from Anju and made a batch of bone broth that I froze to make a soup with later from Defined Dish
Day 5: Bowtie Pasta from Magnolia Table with Kale Salad from Bon Appetit
Day 6: Stuffed Sweet Potatoes- here is a recipe but we just use what we have. This week we used beans, ground turkey, cheese, avocado, bacon and corn.
Day 7: Celebrated our 10th anniversary by picking up food from The Dabney and the kids made homemade pizza.

Desserts
Vanilla Cupcakes from Food Network
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins from Danielle Walker {froze the remaining zucchini as well as half of the muffins to defrost at a later time}

My kids were the chefs again when it came to the desserts. I’ve decided baking is a time I let go and allow them to measure while making a mess and be in charge of adding the ingredients while reading the recipe. They are then in charge of cleaning up the mess and after-all it just killed 30-45 minutes of time! These knives have worked great for our kids in the kitchen.

Drink/Breakfast
Smoothie bowl- We freeze Stasher bags of washed kale, mix in frozen fruit {1/2 cup of mango and a banana typically}, a scoop of protein powder, a scoop of peanut butter and about 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk for more sweet and less think we use flavored coconut water. We add toppings and eat with a spoon. Some favorite toppings include coconut chips, chia seeds, berries, sliced banana, a scoop of peanut butter and/or dried fruit.

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I am the shopper of all groceries and planner of all meals in our house. And yes, I’m also the preparer — lucky me! I enjoy meal planning because I have come to follow a few Instagram food bloggers who haven’t failed me and are also healthy. However, there are times when I loathe trying to figure out what to make for dinner. So I present to you a few tried and true options that you will thank me for later. We’ve tried them all and loved each service (the ones we didn’t favor aren’t included) just choose whichever selection(s) work best for your needs and lifestyle and don’t forget to use those discount codes we’ve included. All of these also serve as great gift ideas for friends who had a new baby, an upcoming dinner you are hosting or send to someone who may be recovering from an illness. Here’s to making meals a little easier and depending on your audience, perhaps a bit more delicious.

Gather Round Family Chef Service provides a totally customized and effortless dinner experience to help busy families eat great even when life gets crazy. Chef Ariel Voorhees cooks in your kitchen, so her meals are unique to your family’s preferences and restrictions. Gather Round takes the planning, shopping, cooking, and cleanup off your perpetual to-do list so that parents can focus on what’s important: raising a relaxed and healthy family at the dinner table and beyond. 

Gather Round also offers one-time assistance! The Pack the Freezer Service puts wholesome, comforting food in your freezer so you can feed your busy family without lifting a finger. The Pack the Freezer Baby Shower is a fun and active cooking party that provides functional and delicious support for the expectant family’s busy time ahead.

For those who have lost their cooking mojo, Gather Round’s Show Me the Way plan brings it back with weekly menu-planning help. And Chef Ariel loves teaching a group of friends how to cook new dishes with interactive lesson-feasts! 

Healthy Fresh Meals is a local meal prep and delivery service that was founded in 2016.  Healthy Fresh, aims to provide the DMV with healthy meals that are conveniently delivered to your front door! Eating clean is not always easy, so they’ve made it simple enough to fit every individual’s needs. Whether you are looking to lose weight, live a clean and healthy lifestyle, or build lean muscle mass through a natural diet, Healthy Fresh Meal service has a line of meals to fit your lifestyle including vegan and vegetarian options, whole30 and paleo, and their meals can scan in ‘my fitness pal’.  All meals and snacks are prepared weekly from scratch using only fresh ingredients. The meals are cooked, sealed, and delivered to you within 24 hours, being delivered on Sunday and because of their packaging the food can last up to one week. Each meal is a single serving portion. Use the code beltwaybambinos10 and get 10% off your order.

This was one of our favorites! My husband and I ate them for both lunch and dinner and were completely satisfied while our Bambinos enjoyed the breakfast options. The food was fresh and delicious and all very healthy.

The Scramble: Easy Cooking. Joyful Eating. is their motto.
The mission is to make healthy and happy eating a stress-free part of the lives of busy families.

Each week members receive 8 main dish recommendations that are paired with side dish suggestions and a make-ahead breakfast option to help make mornings easier, too from The Scramble. With that comes a personalized grocery list which is created based on the recipes members select and then additional grocery needs can be easily added to the list, ensuring a quick and efficient shopping trip. In addition, members can customize their plans to fit their families dietary needs and preferences, save their favorite recipes into a personal recipe box, and search our database of over 1,300 recipes. 

All recipes have been test by families to ensure that the preparation times are accurate and that the meals are appealing to all different sorts of eaters. Not only does the service reduce stress around feeding your family, but members report saving 5+ hours/week on planning and food preparation, and $90+/week on food costs (a major difference from meal kit companies, which often cost more than what families have been spending on food).

Little Green runs conscious + nourishing plant-forward cleanses promoting a healthy individual + a thriving earth. A Little Green Cleanse is about detoxing your body using the most nutrient-rich, fresh, real foods available to us. It’s about building healthy new habits in your kitchen and lifestyle that will nourish you, reboot your system, and help keep our planet sustainable. Start this journey by selecting from an upcoming 10- or 5-day Cleanses, starting on September 29th. You will remove allergens, toxins, foods causing inflammation, blood sugar disruptors, gluten, dairy, meat, alcohol, and processed foods, and will increase your intake of plant-based foods, as well as eggs and fish. You choose your recipes, cook your food, and are guided daily with a focus, a bonus recipe, and an optional meal plan. You will reboot your cellular structure, detox your digestive tract, bolster your immunity, gain energy and focus, and feel fresh, comfortable, healthy, and vibrant. Since you live in the DC area, you are also likely eligible to order food delivery and get your 3 meals a day cooked, prepared, and delivered with care by KitchKat Catering! Check out the menu here and just imagine indulging in these delicious meals, while re-booting your system at the same time!

Kat Runyan of KitchKat Catering, which we’ve featured and ordered food from several times has been cooking in the kitchen since she was 10 and soon after college turned her love of food into a career. KitchKat has been preparing well-rounded and wholesome meals for families in the DC area for almost 10 years. Through private cooking, Kat was introduced to clients with gluten, soy, dairy and other dietary restrictions which helped to cultivate her own passion for clean eating.  This affinity for healthy foods led to the collaboration with nutritionist, Christy Ross of Little Green, to bring the same clean eating and carefully curated cleanse menus to those looking for a lifestyle reset. 

The Washington Nationals launched the Kids Eat Free program, a brand-new initiative that will offer complimentary meals for children ages 12 and under beginning on July 22nd and running through the Labor Day game vs. the New York Mets. The Nationals are the first Major League team to offer free meals to all young fans at every home game.

“We are thrilled to launch this first-of-its-kind program,” said Jake Burns, Nationals Executive Vice President, Business Operations. “The Nationals are committed to providing the best game day experience, and the Kids Eat Free program will offer tremendous value for our fans. Attending a baseball game is a quintessential American experience. We hope that this initiative will encourage more families to come to Nationals Park and enjoy the national pastime in the nation’s capital.”

The complimentary meal packs will include a hot dog, a choice of chips or applesauce, and a 12 oz. bottled water or soda. They will be available at dedicated Kids Eat Free concession stands, located at Section 143 near the PenFed Kids Fun Zone and Section 304 on the Gallery Level.

In order to sign up for the Kids Eat Free program, children must be registered, free of charge, as a Jr. Nationals Kids Club member. Fans can register for the Jr. Nationals Kids Club and the Kids Eat Free program through the MLB Ballpark App or by clicking here. Current Jr. Nationals Kids Club members are not automatically enrolled in Kids Eat Free, and will need to enroll separately for the Kids Eat Free program to be eligible for complimentary meals.

Fans are encouraged to sign up online before coming to Nationals Park; however, the Kids Eat Free benefit is valid immediately upon completion of registration, which can be done at the ballpark. Any adult may register a child for theKids Eat Free program. After registering, fans must use the MLB Ballpark App to access a voucher code in order to redeem their complimentary meals.

The Kids Eat Free initiative is the latest in a line of programs, promotions, and spaces designed to offer a family-friendly experience at Nationals Park. Other family-oriented amenities include:

PenFed Kids Fun Zone

• New play structure located near the Right Field Gate to better serve families with younger children.

Kids Giveaways presented by Harris Teeter

• The Nationals host special giveaways for kids on select Sundays throughout the season.
• Upcoming giveaways include: Teddy Squeezable Toy(August 18) andKids Lumberjack Cap(September 15).

Kids Run the Bases

• Fans ages 4 through 12 are invited to run the bases following each Sunday day game, weather permitting.

Racing Presidents Photos

• The Racing Presidents and the GEICO Gecko greet fans and pose for photos outside of Section 131 during the fifth inning of every home game.

First Game, Foul Ball, and Home Run Certificates

• Fans who want to celebrate attending their first game at Nationals Park or catching a foul or home run ball are welcome to commemorate the experience with a certificate! Certificates are available at three Guest Services locations (Sections 103, 131, or 320).

Signature Sundays

• Two Nationals players sign autographs for fans at each Sunday home game all season long. Fans must obtain a free voucher to participate in the autograph sessions – vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at Section 103, starting when the gates open two hours before first pitch. Autographs take place at the top of the Nationals dugout starting one hour and ten minutes prior to first pitch, weather permitting and subject to player schedules.