Making a healthy dinner is tough on a good night. Factor in special diets and being scheduled to the max, and dinner time seems impossible. I know there are moms who have tricks for prepping a week’s worth of food over the weekend; and there are other ways to simplify. But I’m too overwhelmed and scattered to plan a moment in advance, let alone a week. So, bless those moms who put me to shame.

Healthy Stovetop Meals

If you are like me, you will love these easy, healthy stovetop meals. Everything is available at Trader Joe’s (it’s no secret I love Trader Joe’s since I mention it here, here, here, here, and here). And these meals contain no wheat/gluten, dairy, or grains. They adhere or adapt to most special diets – GFCF, Paleo, SCD, etc. And best of all, they are fast and super simple – all you need is a few pots and pans and a stovetop – no chopping, prepping, or peeling required!

Please note that all the vegetables mentioned are currently available at my local Trader Joe’s, but some are seasonal and I can’t guarantee that the same products are at every store. Trader Joe’s always has a good variety of both fresh and frozen ready-to-cook veggies though.

Meatless Monday

Gluten-free pasta is usually super expensive or has corn or some other ingredient you might not want . But Trader Joe’s has really good, inexpensive versions. I love their Organic Red Lentil Sedanini and their Organic Black Bean Rotini (made with only lentils and black beans, respectively). You can make a primavera using a bag of TJ’s Broccoli and Cauliflower Duet, which are washed and ready to use florets – just steam or boil. And maybe stir in some Shredded Carrots. Try your pasta dish with Organic Marinara Sauce, or with 100% Greek Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil and garlic salt. And if you really can’t live without your meat, you can brown some Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef and stir it into the sauce for a delicious Bolognese.

Turkey Tuesday

I seriously love Trader Joe’s Turkey Burgers. They are made with only turkey and a 4-pack is only about $3 (at my local store). My freezer is stuffed with these and we probably have them at least once a week. They are so easy to fry up in a little oil. I like to serve them with Carrot Spirals and Zucchini Spirals. You can put them on the side, but they look pretty piled on top. You can find everything I mentioned in the frozen section of TJ’s.

Wild-Caught Wednesday

If you can get your kids to eat fish (or make them think it’s chicken), Trader Joe’s has a great selection of wild-caught frozen seafood. I love to cook their Salmon, Dover Sole, Cod, and Mahi Mahi fillets. They are really easy to season with some garlic salt and a little lemon and sauté in a little oil or Ghee. Fish is great served with salted Organic Baby Spinach sautéed in oil, which cooks in like 2 seconds. Just flip them around with tongs. Cook TJ’s Butternut Squash Spirals the same way – sauté in oil flipping constantly with tongs – for about 5 minutes or so. Place the fillet on the bed of wilted spinach and top with the squash spirals for a gourmet looking meal that no will guess took less than 20 minutes.

Chicken Thursday

Okay, so I know that “Chicken Thursday” is the least catchy and creative name ever. But, I can’t think of anything. So if you have a great idea please comment and I’ll change it and credit your genius. Because when I try to link poultry to Thursday, or any other day for that matter, I’ve got nothin’. But is still good even if the name isn’t. Trader Joe’s Organic Chicken Tenders are another staple in my house. Like most of the things on this list, I just sauté them in oil. You can bread them by coating in oil or egg and the flour of your choice (TJ’s has almond and coconut flour), but the point of this post is “as easy as possible” so I say why bother. Try serving with steamed Organic Broccoli Florets and Sweet Potato Ribbons. Or, if you want to be really lazy (I usually do), serve with Jicama Sticks and Organic Baby Carrots with some Hummus for dipping.

Friday Franks

I know, I know – hot dogs don’t seem like the healthiest meal. But Trader Joe’s has Organic Grass-Fed Uncured Beef Hot Dogs, so you can’t feel too guilty about that. And if you add in Trader Joe’s Healthy 8 Chopped Veggie Mix, you have a great meal. It is a blend of broccoli, carrots, green and red cabbage, jicama, green bell pepper, radish, and celery. One of my favorite ways to cook this is by putting the hot dogs right in a pot with the veggie mix and adding a little of TJ’s Organic Free Range Chicken Broth. Then I just put a lid on and let in simmer (on low) for awhile and by dinner time it’s all ready. Super easy!

Saturday Stir-Fry

Trader Joe’s Asian Vegetable Stir Fry is one of my favorite things in the vegetable aisle. It is a healthy and delicious meal all prepared for you. It has just the right mix of everything. Note for grain-free people – there is some baby corn (usually no more than 4), which I just pick out. I’m not even sure if baby corn is really corn … and if not, what it is. The other ingredients are peppers, broccoli, onions, snap peas, snow pea pods, bamboo shoots, bok choy, mushrooms, carrots, and water chestnuts.

My favorite thing to mix into this stir fry is Trader Joe’s Pork Carnitas: Pre-Cooked Mexican Style Oven Roasted Pork. This Asian-Mexican fusion might seem odd, but anyone whose seen Martha and Snoop knows that unlikely pairs can be awesome. It seriously tastes fabulous. But, if pork isn’t your thing, you can always mix in some steak, shrimp, or chicken or just keep it vegetarian. I often eat this meal with just the meat and veggie mix, but if you want to make it a true stir fry you can serve it over TJ’s already Riced Cauliflower (in the vegetable aisle, or organic in the frozen section). You can even add in Coconut Aminos for that soy sauce taste. Or go nuts and serve it with chop sticks.

Sunday Brunch

Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to make gluten-free/grain-free/Paleo. And kids love breakfast for dinner. Just grab some free-range organic eggs and fry, cook over-easy, or scramble up with some vegetables. Try Trader Joe’s Asparagus Saute with Mushrooms and Onions – everything is cut up and ready to go. Fry up some of TJ’s Uncured Dry Rubbed Sliced Bacon (or even get the fully cooked version), and you can have an awesome breakfast-for-dinner dinner.

That is enough super-easy healthy stovetop meals for a full week, with options offered for your varied needs. But in case you don’t like some of them, here are a few bonus ideas for whipping up quick and healthy stovetop meals.

Bonus Meal Ideas

• Grab a pack of Ground Turkey and brown it in a pan and throw in some veggies. Try Trader Joe’s cut Seasoned Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potato Spirals or Peeled & Cut Butternut Squash for a Thanksgiving-y vibe.
• Pick up some pork chops – boneless or bone-in – and season with salt and pepper and sauté in oil. They come out really tender when slow cooked on medium low heat. They go great with steamed green beans and Organic Apple Sauce.
• Trader Joe’s Grass Fed Angus Beef Burgers (or splurge on the Ground Buffalo Burgers) are easy to cook up and go great with Butternut Squash Zig Zags in place of fries, and Grilled Cauliflower from the freezer section.

Bon Appetite and get on your way, busy mama. That laundry is not going to do itself (and clearly, no one else is going to do it either).