Weekday meals can be hectic for anyone during 2020 and especially for us working moms with kids. From juggling zoom calls to juggling toddlers, my schedule has been completely unpredictable and full of uncertainty just like all the other moms I know.
Despite all of this, one thing I can control is what my family eats. I know that in 2020, self-care (especially as a busy mom), has been a high priority for myself, and one way I do that is by eating great quality food and doing it as easily as possible.
My family loves to eat fresh seafood and veggies and quality carbs whenever possible. As a Lowcountry native, I am pretty particular about my seafood and love using The Fresh Market as my go-to specialty grocer when I want to cook like a chef and also get a fresh-prepared meal on the table in 20 minutes or less.
One of my favorite items that they have is their Market Meal Kits. Each kit contains a different entrée and sides and features quality ingredients from their store—like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, succulent shrimp, sirloin beef steaks, Atlantic salmon fillets, and fresh veggies—so you can feel good about what you’re cooking.
They’ve done all the prepping, planning, and packing for you, so all you have to do is pick what dish you like, follow the step-by-step instructions, and enjoy. It’s a convenient, all-in-one meal solution that’s ready in 20 minutes or less and requires minimal clean-up.
This is especially important when you have two toddlers keeping you busy in the store or causing a raucous in the car while they bellow in unison over the conference call I am taking with a client no less. No matter how many variables I can’t control, The Fresh Market’s Market Meal Kits allow me to control what my family eats and how much I time I have to spend preparing it.
If you want to make it even easier, you can also shop for their Market Meal Kits online at www.shop.thefreshmarket.com and have your groceries delivered right to your door in as little as one hour.
Want to try something different than your normal dinner in the kitchen or living room? Why not try a front porch party. Here are a few of my favorite Market Meal Kits that are perfect for dining on the front porch with your kids.
Tips for Hosting a Front Porch Dinner with Your Kids
- Snacks are a great idea: Have snacks available for your kids as they wait for you to cook. During COVID we all deserve a little dessert before dinner. We picked up a few fun snacks from The Fresh Market including cheese muffins, mini chocolate cupcakes, and sweet potato pie for dessert along with few a sips of The Fresh Market’s peach sweet tea. My husband also went a little wild shopping for his gourmet coffee collection and pressed juice obsession (caffeine and juice are a must when taking care of two little ones and parents need snacks too).
- Ample Comfy Seating: Kids are unpredictable so the more seating the better, especially if you have a traditional southern porch swing. I love bringing out some of my favorite fall throws to play peekaboo with the kids while we eat and hang out.
- Games to Play: Be sure to bring out some of your kid’s favorite toys on the porch to enjoy while you enjoy your own dinner and hopefully a glass of wine.
- Market Meal Kit Menu Options: The Fresh Market has over 10 different Market Meal Kit options, but these four are my favorites that even the pickiest kids or husband will enjoy.
Ginger Glazed Salmon – Atlantic Salmon Fillets are tender, mild, and flaky, and topped off with a ginger sauce alongside fresh asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes. My husband loved this one and volunteered to sear the salmon which I am sure he was sampling at the same time. For the spouse who doesn’t love to cook, opening the packages and microwaving the mashed potatoes are a great way for them to help and make cooking even quicker.
Shrimp Scampi – Garlic, lemon zest and tangy capers come together with white wine, butter and cream to create a traditional scampi sauce that blends perfectly with the shrimp (that also come peeled and deveined for convenience!). Pre-cut zucchini and yellow squash and Wild Rice Pilaf round out the meal.
Chicken Marsala – This kit includes boneless, skinless chicken breasts, a pre-made marsala sauce, homestyle mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli. Everything was delicious and flavorful and I was able to prepare it in 15 minutes!
Parmesan Basil Chicken Penne – This meal could not have been easier to pull together. It comes with penne pasta that is already cooked, so all you have to do is toss it in the pan for a few minutes before serving. Add the side of saute-ready zucchini and yellow squash and pan-seared chicken with the creamy Parmesan sauce and dinner is done! If you want to get a toddler to eat and hopefully sit for a few minutes, a bowl of past and parmesan is a great way to do it, even if a few end up on the floor. 
I personally loved all of these dishes and especially loved the freshness of the seafood. I grew up with farmers and fishermen and love knowing I am giving my kids the fresh food I grew up eating. The sauces included in the dishes were more than ample enough for the meals and had plenty of leftovers for dipping sauces the next day. Would recommend these meal kits for any working mom or dad looking to find more quality time with their family during the holiday season.
In less than 20 minutes you and your family can have a healthy, fresh meal on the table so you can spend more time together laughing and playing and less time cooking and prepping. With the holiday season and virtual school in full swing, Market Meal Kits can take a few things off of your to-do list to make more time for memories with your kids.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Fresh Market.
All Opinions are my own.
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