This is a partnered post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Making sure my family eats a balanced meal is high on my list of priorities when I’m planning the family menu. I know that the habits I create in my children now will likely follow them into adulthood and in to their own families one day. That’s why it’s so important to me that I teach them how to be responsible when it comes to fueling their bodies.
I’ll be honest and tell you that I don’t do that great of a job each and every day. In fact there are only a few days when I feel like I’ve hit it out of the park. Some days I lay my head on the pillow at night and wonder if I’ll ever get it all right. But when I open my eyes each morning, I know it’s a new day to try and get it right.
My family is like most other families in that we are always busy and on the go. As you and I both know, that makes eating healthy (or healthier) a bit more difficult. And although I try to plan out our menu, there isn’t a week that goes by that everything works just as I planned. There are impromptu play dates or doctor visits and sometimes even the smallest of deviations from the plan can put everything into a massive upheaval.
Those nights I immediately look to the freezer to see what I have on hand that is quick, easy, and offers some nutritional value.
I’ve always heard that if you can’t have fresh fruits or veggies, that frozen is the next best thing. During a recent chat I learned that freezing is nature’s “pause” button. Produce can be frozen at the peak of freshness to reduce the nutrient loss that can occur prior to consumption of fresh produce. Plus, many frozen options are lower in sodium, saturated fat and calories than quick-service meals and national chain restaurants. So think about that next time you want to run through the drive-thru.
I also learned that most Americans only meet the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for proper nutrition only 7 days out of the year. That’s just 2% folks. And honestly y’all, that statistic is pretty depressing. I don’t want my family to be a part of that statistic. And I don’t want your family to be a part of that either. Our bodies deserve so much better. Wouldn’t you agree?
Balance Your Plate
Balance Your Plate is an educational campaign to help consumers build nutritious, delicious, and convenient meals that meet the MyPlate recommendations. The strategy is simple: pair high quality frozen foods with fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, or other fresh ingredients.
I’m not telling you to cook a frozen pizza every night, serve it with a salad, and you’re on your way to a perfectly healthy diet. But what I am telling you is to simply consider that option over a drive-thru for a quick and easy meal.
There are ate least a couple times per month that we have pizza and salad night. I look forward to these nights because there’s nothing to prepare or think about. Just throw the pizza in the oven, grab a salad, and go. But remember, not all pizza’s are created equal. The strategy for Balance Your Plate is to pair high quality frozen foods. Make sure the frozen foods you are purchasing are made by reputable companies that use real, quality ingredients.
I personally love the pizza’s offered by California Pizza Kitchen. My favorite is the Signature Pepperoni Crispy Thin Crust pizza. You can see the chunks of tomato, the three cheeses sprinkled throughout, the generous amounts of pepperoni, and the zesty marinara sauce atop the preservative-free crust. There is also a gluten-free variety, y’all!
It’s important to keep serving sizes in mind when you’re learning to balance your plate. Always check the serving size on the back of the box to ensure you are putting the proper portion size on your plate. A good rule of thumb is to fill half of your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables. If you find that you are still hungry, drink a full glass of water and wait. Most times you’ll find that although you don’t have that full feeling in your belly, you’re content.
I admit that I don’t have all the answers and quite frankly I’m winging it every day. But I do like when brands offer my family help in achieving a balanced diet. At the end of the day I just want my family healthy. Don’t you?
What is your easy, go-to meal on busy nights?
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
We do frozen pizza a few times a month, too! Having it with a salad is a great idea.
JoJoJewel says
it’s times like these that make me glad i grow my own produce and eat paleo. glad to see that the pizza you rec is gf. when i realized i was celiac, gf became very important.
Jasmine says
We add a salad to our pizza too. I can’t deprive myself I just try to balance it all out.
Sara P. (@SensiblySara) says
That pizza looks delicious! We enjoy a frozen pizza at least a couple times a months – and always with a large salad on the side.
Trisha Haas says
2% is pretty bad. I have to say that I dont think Frozen is bad. It CAN be bad, but a lot of things can be bad. Just because I make a fresh cake doesnt make it good for me. I prefer Frozen pizza out of hand made actually!
Liz Mays says
I’m a huge fan of frozen foods. The convenience can’t be beat, and there’s no denying just how tasty the meals have become.
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
This is such a great campaign! It’s a great way to have the best of both worlds!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
That is definitely a good balance. I have never tried California frown pizza before, I bet my kids would love them, my little pizza junkies!
Victoria Sconion says
We have a salad with pizza too. I like to make sure the kids are full not just with the yummy pizza, but also good stuff like veggies.
Amber Edwards says
I love using frozen meals for the nights that I”m just rushed! They make a great quick and easy meal! Throw in some veggies and you have a great family dinner in no time!
Liz Mays says
I totally agree that the veggies make it a complete meal. It’s such an easy meal solution.
Terry says
I don’t do any processed foods. But the rest of my family does. It makes it nice to have something frozen to pop in the oven when they are home.
Gingermommy says
I like to mix up our weekly meals with some fresh and some frozen. it usually depends on what we have planned for the night and how much time I have to cook
aimee fauci says
I LOVE LOVE California Pizza Kitchen’s frozen pizzas. They are the real deal. I always buy one each week and hide it in my freezer and cook it when no one is looking and eat it all to myself (the mini ones, of course)
Marcie W. says
It truly is all about balance and that is something I try to incorporate with our family during every meal. It is a great way to teach kids proper food decision making too.
Rosey says
I do like a frozen pizza every now and again. There’s one brand I love and they didn’t have it up north. When we moved back south again, it was no longer here either, lol. Tough break!
Stacey Werner says
They have been teaching kids a lot about balancing your plate in schools now- which is great! That pizza looks so good!
Ellen ThatChicMom says
I agree balancing your plate is super important. Even though we need to save time we still need to think about proper balance and nutrition.
LyndaS says
I guess my go-to meal would be chili. I can put everything in it in the morning and come home to a nice, cooked meal. 7 days?! That is awful, and I am sure that I am probably guilty.
Jennifer says
That statistic IS super scary. I can’t believe it. I do love having frozen meals on hand that are quick and easy. Mostly, just for days when I think I have all of the ingredients I need for another meal then turns out, I don’t. So a quick pizza is great. Or for those days when I burn or ruin dinner lol
Patty says
Pizza can be really healthy – as long as there aren’t too many fatty additions to it. I make it all the time. These California Pizza Kitchen pies look so good.
Naomi says
2% is a depressing number! However, I’m trying to make a point to get my kids to eat better, and it seems to be working.
Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says
If it is a really busy night we will order pizza or chinese food. Otherwise, I will make a pasta salad with meats and veggies in it.
Ashley - Embracing Homemaking says
I feel no guilt in having a frozen meal once a week. Everyone needs a break sometimes. We had California Pizza last night for dinner and it was sooooo good! My daughter was actually sad today when she found that her daddy ate the rest of the pizza last night for a late night snack and she didn’t have any left over for lunch. 🙂
Andrea Kruse says
We just had a pizza night tonight and we had a big garden salad and fresh fruit, peaches are in season here. We always strive for balance.
Karen Coutu says
I love CPK pizza! We dine at the local restaurant and buy the frozen pizzas. I miss the Peking Duck pizza they used to have. That was a long time ago (and I’m probably dating myself by mentioning it). 😛
Michelle says
I love having salad with pizza! I grew up in a family that had pretty horrible eating habits that have been very hard for me to unlearn, so I have to say thank you for helping your kids learn a healthy balance!
Chelle OJSA says
I love pairing pizza with salads. I didn’t realize that it doesn’t happen as often with other families as I thought though. The margherita CPK pizza is our favorite right now.
Jennifer H says
I love their pizza – it’s so tasty!! And we always pair frozen meals with fruits and veggies – so important!
Debbie Denny says
That is a neat campaign. We eat pizza now and then
Michelle says
We do frozen pizza every now and then too. I love California Pizza Kitchen!
Valerie Remy-Milora says
We love stocking up on frozen meals from Trader Joe’s for those nights when there just isn’t time or energy to cook a meal from scratch… and we always have plenty of fresh greens on hand to serve along side our favorites 🙂