17 Quick Dinner Ideas from Fresh Direct

Fresh-Direct

If you’re the typical New Yorker with a crazy schedule, you probably don’t even have time to go the supermarket. And cooking dinner is out of the question. So what’s for dinner? Seamless or picking up not-so-healthy on your way home from work. And while those meal kits like Blue Apron sound like a good idea, you don’t have the 40 minutes to prepare them. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have healthy food delivered to your door- food that is either ready to heat and eat or requires minimal preparation? Fresh Direct may be your answer. Nutrition student Kathleen Villarino did a little research and came up with her top 16 quick dinner ideas using Fresh Direct.

Make healthy quick dinners using Fresh Direct

Fresh Direct is a grocery delivery service that offers a wide variety of foods, beer and wine and household staples. Order online, pick your delivery date and time, and voila – you have your groceries
waiting for you. You can save your order for reorders. Fresh Direct is perfect for those people looking for

healthy foods to put together for a quick meal – or for those people who want to cook but don’t have time to get to the supermarket. One of my favorite items are the Stir-Fry Meal Kits as they contain all the ingredients ready to be cooked. It’s great for people who want to cook a meal in 10 minutes or less. Check out the website for a $25 off your first order of $99.  (note: we are not  affiliated with Fresh Direct)


Our favorite things about Fresh Direct – the nutrition labels

As nutritionists, what we love most about Fresh Direct is the variety of food it offers and the fact it provides the nutritional content of all foods, as well as allergens and ingredients! Under the Nutrition tab, it displays the calorie, fat, sodium, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, as well as vitamin and mineral contents of pretty much every food item. Reading the nutrition label is a great source of information especially for those who are watching their calorie, fat, carbohydrate or sodium intake.

For instance, if you are watching your weight, go to the Meal section and click on the Under 500 calorie tab. Click on the Vegan or Vegetarian tab if that is your preference. If you’re watching your sodium, fiber or carbs – check the label. No more guesswork.  

So, the next time you want a meal that’s quick and healthy, ditch the seamless and order Fresh Direct instead. Below, we’ve compiled a list of quick dinner ideas using different products and meal kits from Fresh Direct.  There are a variety of meals to choose from to satisfy even the pickiest of palates!No matter what your food preferences are, we’ve included something for everyone. Happy cooking (or “assembling” your healthy meal)!

 

16 Quick Dinner Ideas from Fresh Direct

Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is the most versatile food when it comes to planning quick delicious dinners.  Fresh Direct offers rotisserie chicken in different flavors such as plain roasted chicken, roasted garlic and herb, roasted maple and mustard, roasted lemon herb, barbeque, and jerk rotisserie chicken.  Use it to make chicken salad, tacos, fajitas, or eat it with sides of vegetables.  It’s quick, convenient, and oh so tasty!

 

Veggie noodleAre you looking for a low-carb pasta option?  Nowadays, zoodles are all the rage! Try Fresh Direct’s zucchini noodles.  Not a fan of zucchini?  Use spaghetti squash instead!  Both are low in carbohydrates and are lower in calories which means you can eat more!

 

Stir-fry
Probably the most popular weeknight meal for anyone in a time crunch, stir-fry is quick and easily customizable.  Fresh Direct offer a variety of pre-cut frozen vegetables to use for your next stir-fry. If you have more time, use fresh veggies.  Add your choice of protein(s) or make it all vegetables for vegans and vegetarians. The choice is yours

 

Pre-cut Meats
Pressed for time? Buy pre-cut meat or meat strips to use for stir-fry, soups, stews, or fajitas.  Buy a family pack and divide it up into portions, freeze, and defrost for your next meal!  Pre-cut meats are a great addition to your meal prepping plan!

 

Seasoned chicken / Plain chicken breasts
Fresh Direct also offers seasoned chicken.  Tikka-marinated chicken breasts that are ready to cook. Pair it with vegetables, brown rice, sweet potato, or cauliflower rice.  It’s a quick and tasty dinner option.
Calories: 140 cals
Carbohydrates: 2 g
Fat: 3 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sodium: 340 mg
Plain chicken breasts are also extremely versatile.  Add it to stir-fry, soups, tacos, or grill it and add it to your salad the possibilities are endless! your own pizza!  Add vegetables, cheese, and whatever protein you’d like! It’s a great customizable meal for the family!

 

Fish/Shellfish
Who says cooking fish should be complicated? Purchase frozen shellfish or fish filets and whip up a quick tasty dinner.  Serve it with pasta, cauliflower rice, vegetables, or add it to your salad.

 

Pre-packaged greens
Who said salads are boring? Mix and match different greens such as kale, lettuce, watercress, spinach, and arugula.  Add vegetables, protein, nuts, and fruits! Dress it simply with oil or balsamic vinegar.

 

Premade salads with vegetables, grains and/or beans.
Looking for a healthy side dish to go with your protein? You’ll find numerous options including:
Kale, Farro, and Roasted Artichoke Salad

Curried Lentil, Quinoa, Chickpea and Kale Super Salad
Curried Cauliflower “Rice” Salad
Green Vegetable Couscous Salad

 

Cauliflower riceLooking for a low-carb rice alternative?  Cauliflower rice is all the rage these days and for good reason!  Fresh Direct’s cauliflower rice contains:
Calories: 35 cals
Carbohydrates: 7 g
Fat: 0 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sodium: 42 mg
This is a great starch alternative.  Pair it with any of the vegetables and proteins on this list and you’ve got a quick and delicious meal

 

“Meat”
For vegans and vegetarians, Fresh Direct offers a variety of meat alternatives.  Add it to your pasta sauce, salad, or incorporate it to your sandwich.  You’ve got plenty of options!

 

Soups
Craving a light and hearty dinner?  Try one of Fresh Direct’s ready-made soups

 

For pizza lovers
Buy ready-made pizza dough and customize your own pizza!  Add vegetables, cheese, and whatever protein you’d like! It’s a great customizable meal for the family!

 

Meal Kit: Wild Swordfish with Chimichurri,
Smashed Butternut Squash
& Roasted Vegetables
We love all the meal kits. They’re great for those of you who want an entire meal planned!
Calories: 720 cals

Carbohydrates: 43g
Fat: 43g
Fiber: 10g
Sodium: 770mg

 

Meal Kit: Dijon Salmon and Roasted Asparagus
Calories: 330 calories

Carbohydrates: 6g
Fat: 15g
Fiber: 2g
Sodium: 890mg

 

Meal Kit: Yogurt Chicken and Roasted Vegetables
Calories: 440 calories
Carbohydrates: 3g
Fat: 16g
Fiber: 11gm

 

Meal Kit: Double bundle
Fresh Direct also offers meal bundles that will last you 2 meals. The Meal Kit Bundle pictured below features Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken with Warm Vegetable and Spinach Salad and Bucatini with Fresh Tomato Basil Sauce and Burrata.  These portions may be much bigger than recommended so these kits may last you more than 2 meals!

Entrees for One Under 500 Calories
If you have ZERO time to prepare meals, then these “heat and eat” are for you! Check out the wide variety of under 500 calorie options. Some of them are on the small side, so you may need to add a cookcd vegetable or salad. Examples:
Lemon Herb Shrimp with Saffron Cauliflower “Rice” and Asparagus
Turkey, Kale and Quinoa Meatballs with Grilled Vegetables
Citrus-Soy Chicken

 

Download your 17 Quick Dinner Ideas from Fresh Direct  HERE

I’d like to thank Kathleen Villarino for writing this blog post. Kathleen is currently a Dietetic Intern at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health.  She has a Bachelors degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Nutrition Education.  In her free time she enjoys baking, exploring New York’s vibrant food scene, and trying new cuisines.

 

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