There’s a lot going on! Like most of you I am following the news and watching gas prices as well as food prices go up, up, and up! As we continue to live in a pandemic world of mask wearing and no mask wearing, as conversations shift from adult vaccinations to whether or not a vaccine will become available for children under the age of five years old, life continues to go on. Adults must continue adulting as we care for children, manage households and budget wisely as we watch the ever increasing rise of prices in EVERYTHING.

Like some of my readers, I am a parent and I also work full time. There are evenings where the very idea of turning on the stove is met with an eyeroll and a “hell nah” from me. However, I am committed to trying to make healthy choices and avoid take out on a regular basis as this can be costly.

I would like to share some ingredients I keep in my kitchen that allows me to cook quick meals that I can make while running after my toddler and prepping ourselves for the next school and work day.

Here’s a list of items I try to keep stocked:

• chopped garlic
• scallion
• thyme
• scotch bonnet pepper sauce
• scotch bonnet peppers
• olive oil
• smoked paprika
• bulgur
• jasmine rice
• basmati rice
• Carolina long grain rice
• plant based butter
• couscous
• pasta (angel hair, bow tie, rotini, rigatoni)
• spinach
• broccoli
• mixed greens
• precut carrots (saves me time to not have to cut them myself!)
• canned tuna
• colossal frozen shrimp
• green peas
• sweet corn
• Brussel sprouts
• individually frozen filets of salmon
• avocado
• plantains
• canned red kidney beans
• canned black beans
• artichoke hearts
• jalapeño stuffed olives
• Tamari Soy Sauce
• organic frozen wontons

As I have shared in previous posts before I am extra! I love the art of entertaining, going out and really having a good time with friends and family. However, during the work week I try to keep my toddler on a strict schedule as it relates to dinner time, play time, bath time, reading time and most importantly bed time! Therefore, the ingredients I listed above allows me to throw together really simple meals that take very little time to prepare. Harper does not eat meat and often he enjoys soup (just the broth) different variations of rice, pasta, avocado (his favorite) along with puréed fruit and veggies. I will have whatever carb he’s having (or a mixed salad) with sautéed veggies in garlic, olive oil and pepper with shrimp, salmon or beans. I throw a piece of avocado and slices of pan fried plantains and BOOM, dinner is served. Quick, nutritious with an easy clean up (which is very important).

What about you dear reader? What’s your during the week routine? Whether you’re a parent or not, feeding just yourself or a large family; dinner time can get tricky with the lives we lead. I am looking forward to reading about your go to quick meals. Blessings.