Frozen Dinners

I've entered the stage of raising a family and working where my children are developing their independent interests, but they have no means of taking their own selves to the places that interest them. Caleb and I are so freakin' busy helping our children step into the fun that their teenage years can bring, that I now see why frozen dinners are a thing.

They're a thing I was trying to avoid, but I'm just too tired and hungry sometimes (...most times...). I feel a little bad about how much heat-and-eat foods that we're consuming. However, I do take comfort that frozen meals have come a long way in terms of how healthy they are from when I was a child.

There were limited options at that time. I remember Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy were my go-to grab option on those times that I had to get my own food to eat. I imagine frozen dinners were a life saver for my mom on those super-tired or busy nights. Within minutes they went from frozen to cooked and we could all head to bed.

I cringe a little thinking about that weak plastic that surely broke down into our dinners as our microwave happily hummed along making our food. For heat-and-eat meals, I do try to avoid buying anything that can be cooked in a plastic container. Except for rotisserie chicken. There are some things I just have to accept as a part of life, and rotisserie chickens are a magical addition.

For my family, we've found a healthier version of heat-and-eat than was available in my childhood. We have a countertop oven with the air fry setting, and metal pans so my children can cook many different foods quickly, and we don't have to worry about the plastics entering their bodies. Their go-to food is crispy chicken tenders and french fries, with a large serving of whatever vegetable we have in the refrigerator.