Are your children in youth sports? If so, the drive thru can be pretty tempting. When you’re spending several evenings a week sitting at the ball field for your kids’ games and practices, convenience can easily win out over healthy family suppers.
But just because you’re not home over the dinnertime hour doesn’t mean that you can’t pull together a respectable, satisfying meal. Here are some of our top dinner ideas for those busy nights when you’re sitting in the stands and cheering on your favorite up-and-coming athlete.
This month we’re partnering with Isernio’s, which has just launched a new line of fully cooked chicken sausages. They are made from chickens that are certified humanely raised, fed a 100% vegetarian diet, and were given no antibiotics ever. Plus, they have no MSG, gluten, nitrates or nitrites, contain no fillers, and are free of preservatives so you can feel good about feeding them to your family. Isernio’s has sponsored this post.
DIY Graze Box
Think outside the box when it comes to nourishing meals. Instead of making a traditional meal, cut up a bunch of grab-and-go foods that will keep your kids coming back. We do this in our home even when we’re not going out. My kids love feeling like they have control over their food choices and they always pick way more healthy options than I expect them to.
{I don’t have the heart to tell them that they’re basically eating a deconstructed salad.}
So package up a bunch of food and set it out once you’re in the stands. Your kids will take what they need as they run back and forth between you and the playground.
Some ideas include:
- Isernio’s fully cooked chicken sausage, sliced (tastes great even if it’s not heated!)
- Sliced fruit
- Cut veggies
- Nuts
- Cubed cheese
Sausage, Onion, & Pepper Sandwiches
If you crave a hot meal every evening, then make friends with your thermos. Slice up:
- Isernio’s fully cooked Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage
- 1 green pepper
- 1 red pepper
- 1 onion
Saute the peppers and onion in oil until they soften. Then, toss in the chicken sausage until it is heated through and the rounds develop a crust on the outside. Place the ingredients in a thermos and take some rustic outdoor buns with you to the ballpark. Spoon the sausage and onions into the buns for a dinner all the other parents will envy.
Pizza Pita Pockets
Everyone loves pizza, and this option will be lighter and fresher than your typical delivery pie. Slice some Isernio’s fully cooked chicken sausages into rounds, heat them in some store-bought pizza sauce, and spoon them into pita pockets and top with cheese. Warm the whole thing in the microwave just long enough to heat the pita and melt the cheese, then wrap them individually in aluminum foil and transport in an insulated bag.
Mini Skewers with Dipping Sauce
Let’s be honest – who doesn’t love petite foods? Create a super simple and super portable meal on toothpicks! They can be served hot or cold, depending in your preference. And bring along some dipping sauce to bump up the flavor and make you forget you’re not eating a “real” dinner. Some flavor combinations include:
- Greek Skewers: Feta cheese, cucumber, olives, and Isernio’s fully cooked Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage {pair with a Tzatziki, dill, or ranch dressing, or a store-bought pesto}
- Cheddar and Apple: Cheddar cheese, apple pieces, and Isernio’s fully cooked Chicken Apple Sausage
- Pasta and Sausage: Cooked tortellini or ravioli and fully cooked sausage {dipped in a tomato or pesto sauce}
- Sausage and Peppers: Peppers, red onion, and fully cooked sausage {dipped in ranch dressing}
- Caprese: Fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and Isernio’s fully cooked Caprese Chicken Sausage {dipped in balsamic dressing or pesto sauce}
Hot Dogs
What says “take me out to the ball game” better than a hot dog? But while the kids may love a regular dog, you may tire of it and want something a little more elevated. You might pack a regular hot dog for them, but make sure to pack a fully cooked chicken sausage for yourself. Heat them up, toss them in a thermos with hot water to keep them warm, and grab some buns to take with you to the park. Quick and easy!
What’s your favorite meal to bring to your child’s sporting events?
Learn more about Isernio’s fully cooked chicken sausages here.
