Breakfast, lunch, dinner, repeat. 

The heat is making us a bit cranky, so some simple no-heat meals are needed. 

7 Lazy-Mom Summer Meals

Old-Fashioned Sandwiches

That’s right, I said it. SANDWICHES. Just slap everyone’s favorites between two slices of bread and serve on a paper plate loaded with fresh fruit! You can get fancy and add creative toppings like avocado, bacon, hummus, or pesto, but there’s really no need. Your kids won’t really appreciate it, and you will spend double the time in the kitchen (not to mention double the money!). Open a pack of carrot sticks and some fresh berries to eat on the side. DONE.

Shrimp, Edamame, and Pre-Cooked Quinoa

You can buy microwaveable pouches of mixed rice and quinoa, make it yourself earlier in the day, or use leftovers, but it’s pretty minimal effort on your part. You can let the kids top their starch with a few options: edamame, shrimp, corn, beans, squash, cucumber, avocado, hummus, the list is really endless! This is a favorite in our house and is a constant on our weekly meal plan. (Keep it al simple and cost-effective as possible, though!)

Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggie, and Meat Buffet

Make sure you have wine for your ‘Cheese Night.’ You can cut (or buy pre-cut) pieces of cheese, offer a selection of crackers and meats, such as pepperoni, turkey, ham, and salami. Include a few fruits to choose from and plenty of veggies cut up for dipping. You can have bowls of hummus, dressings, seafood dips, etc. to add to the meal.

Salad Bar

This can be hit or miss with some kids, but if you offer toppings that they like, you should be in the clear. Everyone starts with a bowl of lettuce and then you let the toppings flow! Again, the options are endless and can include cut strawberries, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, sliced meats, and any vegetables you love. The dressing is always optional and can be traditional or unique, like salsa!

BBQ Sandwiches (Hello Rotisserie Chicken!)

A quick $7-10 rotisserie chicken can be shredded and mixed with BBQ sauce for an easy meal. The clean-up may involve hosing children down outside, but the meal prep isn’t bad.

Shrimp Pasta Salad (You’ll cook the noodles earlier, but it is eaten cold)

Yes, you need to boil the noodles. Yes, that requires heat. But, it can be done earlier in the day, the night before, or whenever you have a spare 15 minutes. You take the pasta and mix in cold (cooked) shrimp, bell peppers, peas, broccoli, edamame, and any other vegetable that you love. Stir in a bottle of Italian dressing and let it marinate together in the fridge.

Black Bean and Avocado Salad

Dice up tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocado; add in corn, black beans, and shredded rotisserie chicken. Combine lime juice, cilantro, and vinegar with the spices of your choice and mix it all together. Top it with some sprinkle cheese and serve with tortilla chips.