A plate with a salad

Easy Dinner Recipes for Your Family

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Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications

Between juggling work, housework, and helping the kids with their school work, getting dinner on the table can sometimes create a challenge! When you add in activities and sports, it's hardly surprising to feel tempted to hit the drive-through when hunger strikes. Eating too much fast food or junk food in general not only impacts your overall health but also has consequences for your teeth. In fact, food, in general, has an impact on your teeth. We know you care about your family's well-being, and so we're here to make things easy for you. Putting together some yummy and healthy dinner recipes and keeping the ingredients on hand is the simplest way to ensure that you can always get a healthy meal to your loved ones in no time.

We've put together some suggestions for you to make prepping dinner fun, simple and family-friendly. Hope you enjoy the process as much as we did in putting it together for you. We've also sprinkled in some facts about the foods and how they support your oral health!

Salad

Making a salad requires little to no cooking. And veggies are always a teeth-friendly option. Let's start with greens. To make things easy and quick, we suggest using baby greens, kale or spinach, so you don't even have to chop them! Having pre-washed greens on hand can help too.

Next, add the veggies. Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, peas, radishes, and celery are all tasty options. Pick some that excite you and give them a good chop. Pro tip: eating local and seasonal makes for an even richer and healthier experience.

If you have leftover chicken, steak, or fish, you can always throw them in for some added protein. Phosphorus-rich foods like meat, fish, and poultry can help to make your teeth strong. So, why not?

If you want to avoid meat or don't have any on hand, remember that beans also contain protein. Try black beans and corn for a Latin inspired salad! We also love chickpeas (AKA garbanzo beans). Adding shredded cheese is always a fun option. It ups the calcium content in your salad, which is a vital nutrient for your teeth. You can also throw in some nuts and seeds! Chewing nuts stimulates the production of saliva, which can reduce your risk of tooth decay.

Rice

Cooking a large batch of rice and keeping it in the refrigerator gives you the base for an easy dinner recipe any night of the week.

Steam a bag of mixed vegetables and stir them into warmed rice. Add shrimp or chicken and top with a bit of soy sauce for an easy version of your favorite takeout. Easy as pie.

Rice bowls are another way to go. One bowl we love is Mexican-inspired. All you need to do is add pinto beans, pre-shredded cheese, and diced avocado to a nice warm bowl of rice. Serve it with a warm tortilla! Quick, easy, and yummy.

Eggs

Eggs are versatile, yummy, and easy to make. They're also full of protein and other nutrients that protect and rebuild tooth enamel.

Scramble a couple of eggs with cheese. Add it to sourdough toast for an easy breakfast dinner on a busy night. Another go-to egg dish is a quiche. Scramble about eight eggs. Then, stir in some fresh veggies. And pour the mixture into a prepared pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until the eggs are set in the middle. Top with a bit of pre-shredded cheese just before serving. Hardboiled eggs are super easy to prepare ahead of time and can instantly be made into an egg salad. Just add mayo, mustard, onions, salt, and pepper. Wrap it up in a whole wheat tortilla with some lettuce, and done!

We hope that getting dinner on the table, even if you're juggling a lot, now feels like an easy feat. Remember to keep some healthy recipes on hand and to keep your fridge stocked with the key ingredients to make them. The truth is making a healthy meal can be quick, easy, and fun. Especially if you make things extra easy by doing things like getting pre-washed baby greens or having something quick and easy for dinner like eggs. So, go collect some easy recipes and stock up on easy to make foods! You and your family will be enjoying your easy-to-make and teeth-friendly meals in no time.

Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider. 

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