Super Simple Spaghetti (Squash) Dinner

There have been a LOT of changes around here.  My second child is off to school all day.  My husband started school again.  My youngest is starting preschool and I started 2 part-time jobs to help us survive a little better.  I must say I haven’t worked out of the home since I’ve had kids so this has been a huge adjustment for me.

Dinner time always seems to roll around so quickly and if I haven’t meal planned well, then dinner time can be really stressful.  When you commit to eating unprocessed foods, you end up spending quite a bit more time in the kitchen.  After a long day of getting used to 2 new jobs, taking care of the home, running errands and hanging out with kids you just want to put your feet up and relax!

But, the family has to eat…

I’ve simplified my meal planning strategy, which I’ll cover in a post soon, and have stopped trying out new recipes as often as I used to.  This cuts back on the time spent on actually finding the new recipes, in addition to the extra time it takes to make a new recipe as you have to keep referring back to the recipe itself, double and triple checking for the right amounts.

I’ve just made a list of about 40 stand by recipes, that I KNOW are good, I KNOW my family will kind of eat (darn those picky eaters), and these recipes are already in my giant recipe binder.

I’ve also wanted to keep a few recipe ingredients handy so I can just whip them up at a moments notice. Unfortunately it’s hard to keep an entire meal of ingredients stocked because often times the ingredients are perishable when you’re eating a whole foods unprocessed diet.

Spaghetti is a great thing to keep in the cupboard for hectic nights.  I bought a few jars of organic spaghetti sauce at the store, as well as different types of pasta, and a spaghetti squash for myself.

These days I follow a “low grain” diet.  I’ve been eating some grains, mostly gluten free, but I find I just feel better when I don’t load up on carbs from grains.  Instead of having a heaping plate of spaghetti I opt for spaghetti squash.

Anyone else reading this do better with low-no grains?

I then topped it with the store bought spaghetti sauce and some grated parmesan cheese and olives that I get from azure standard.  They are my favorite!  They don’t taste like a tin can;)

Cut up some fresh veggies from your fridge and lay them out on a plate and you’re good to go.

Every dinner doesn’t always have to be super fancy.  I gave up that expectation a long time ago;)

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Simple, easy, delicious, fast.  What’s not to love!

Share your favorite simple, real food recipes in the comments below!