Busy Dad Dinner Recipes

"Salmon is a great source of essential fatty acids to have in your son's diet and will supply him with a good boost of protein."

There's often a big difference between your ideas about healthy eating and what you have time to put on the dinner table most weeknights. You're a busy guy with a job during the day and a job being a dad when you're home from work. Sure, we'd all love to be Mario Batali, whipping up simple rustic meals for our grinning offspring, but the fact is, most kids pretty much subsist on pasta, and most dads don't have time to scour the greenmarket for the latest seasonal produce. But giving up is not an option. You've made a commitment not to raise house full of soda-addicted, white-bread-munching sugar freaks, so it's time for some follow-through.

Providing your son with the nutrition he needs at a time when his body is growing at the fastest rate is important for not only his development, but also to ensure that he is building proper eating habits that will stick with him for a lifetime.

The following recipes are quick to make, high in overall nutrition, and best suited for a son 10 years of age and over. Here are our busy dad dinner recipes to get your son eating healthily.

High-protein mac & cheese

Rather than using the traditional creamy sauce for this recipe, we've swapped it with a healthier, tomato-based version and subbed in whole grain pasta with plenty of vegetables for added fiber and nutrition. The cheesy taste will come from the addition of parmesan cheese, which is available in reduced fat varieties.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat macaroni (or any other pasta will work fine), uncooked
1 cup low-sodium tomato-based sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cans tuna
1 cup broccoli
1 cup sliced yellow peppers
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
¼ cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese

Directions:
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in the pasta and cook according to package directions until cooked through. In a small sauce pan heat 1 tbsp oil and stir-fry the vegetables until tender.

Drain the pasta and then stir in the tomato sauce, tossing in the vegetables. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and shredded low-fat cheddar cheese over top and then place under the broiler for 5 to 10 minutes until melted. Most of your time will be spent in preparation, but if you buy precut ingredients, it’s a perfect busy dad dinner recipe to get your son eating healthily.

Simple salmon wraps

Salmon is a great source of essential fatty acids to have in your son’s diet and will supply him with a good boost of protein. We realize that busy dad dinner recipes to get your son eating healthily could consist of just baking a salmon filet for 10 minutes, but what kid likes plain old fish? Plus, this recipe has been tweaked to add a bit more protein with the cottage cheese mixed with the salmon and then spread on a whole wheat wrap. The added spinach in the wrap adds a good source of iron to the meal, which is important for active kids on the run.

Our busy dad dinner recipes to get your son eating healthily continues… Next Page >>

AskMen's Free Weekly Newsletter