Trilogy Health Services

What’s For Dinner? Tips for Members of the Sandwich Generation

September 30, 2016

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By Team Trilogy

Do you currently have a To-Do List in your pocket? Stuck onto the fridge? Typed out on your phone? Does this list always seem to be growing? If you’re a member of the Sandwich Generation (typically those in their 30s and 40s who are taking care of young children as well as their aging parents), you could probably paper the walls of your bedroom with your To-Do Lists. Because you are taking care of multiple generations, you likely deal with more errands, more doctors’ appointments, more money related issues, and more stress. So why add dinnertime to the list of items you’re stressing over?

Below are a few tips that may help ease the stress that surrounds dinnertime, when even making a sandwich sounds like a challenge.

1. Set a concrete time and location for dinner.

2. Work together with your spouse and/or children to plan meals for the week.

3. Get your family involved in completing errands. Does your spouse have time to run to the grocery? Can your kids help put away items?

4. Keep your pantry stocked with dry goods and non-perishables. Soup is a great standby!

5. Prep menu items on the weekend to consume during the week. Enlist your family’s help!

6. Keep a few meals in the freezer for easy preparation.

7. Take advantage of a slow cooker or crock-pot.

8. On those especially busy nights, there is no shame in ordering carry-out!

There’s nothing quite like coming home to the smell of a dinner that is ready to eat! Try our recipe below fur a delicious and healthy Slow Cooker Seasoned Chicken and Vegetables recipe, courtesy of our clinical nutrition team.

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

3 cups fresh, trimmed green beans

4 cups diced, red potatoes

Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

½ tsp dried, minced onion

¼ tsp black pepper

2 cloves, fresh minced garlic

Whisk all dressing ingredients together and set aside. Layer chicken breasts in large crock pot. Pour ¼ of dressing mixture over chicken to coat. Layer potatoes and green beans and pour remaining dressing over top. Turn on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Serves 4