Healthy, Homemade Fast Foods: Meatballs, Breakfast Sandwiches and More

Did you know that you can make your own healthy fast foods? I have tried several times to cut fast food out of my diet. The costs add up, the calories add up, and pounds add up! So not only do I kill my budget when eating fast food, but the health effects are terrible. Fast food is high in fat and grease and has very minimal vitamins and nutrients. The only good thing about fast food is that it is fast.

With a little preparation, you can make your own fast food at home. Not only will you have your own fast food for the days you are rushed or too tired to cook, but you will know what ingredients are in it because you were the one to make it. Plus you can make it the way your family likes it (extra spicy, hold the ketchup, or plain). Here are a few ideas for healthy fast foods you can make and freeze and enjoy in a hurry, or at your leisure. Foods you can be happy to feed to your family because you know they'll be eating healthy.

1. Meatballs - Meatballs are great for making and freezing because you can make lots of them and use them for a variety of things. You can cook up some noodles and spaghetti sauce for a quick spaghetti. You can make egg noodles and add cream of mushroom soup for beef stroganoff. You can make meatball sandwiches by adding your favorite Italian sauce or whip up some brown gravy and sour cream for some Swedish meatballs.

2. Vegetable Soup: Although it takes a little bit to make, this makes a great addition to your healthy fast foods menu because you can freeze it and eat it when you want. You can put most any veggie you have in your fridge in this soup. It freezes great and your springtime vegetables taste just as fresh in December as they did in May.

Soup Base:

1 quart chopped fresh tomatoes

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup diced onion

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt, optional

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon dill weed

Additional Ingredients (for each batch):

2 cups diced cooked potatoes

2 cups water

What to Do

Combine soup base ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Cool. Place 2 cups each into freezer containers.

To prepare soup: Thaw soup base in the refrigerator. Transfer to a kettle or Dutch oven. Add potatoes and water; simmer for 30-40 minutes.

3. Jalapeno Chicken Enchiladas - This recipe makes two casseroles, one to eat tonight and one to freeze for later.

You Will Need

2 cans tomato sauce, divided

4 cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted

4 cups sour cream

4 jalapeño peppers, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon onion salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 cups cooked chicken

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

20 flour tortillas (8 inches)

What to Do

*Spread 1/2 cup of tomato sauce into 2 greased pans, set aside. In a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, jalapenos, onion salt and pepper. Stir in chicken and 2 cups cheese.

*Fill the center of each tortilla with about 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Roll it up and place seam side down in prepared dishes. Top with remaining tomato sauce; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover and bake one casserole at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until edges are bubbly. Cover and freeze remaining casserole for up to 1 month.

*To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Bake, covered, at 350°F for 40-45 minutes or until edges are bubbly.

4. Pizza Dough - Healthy fast foods made easy and with variety! You can find several easy pizza dough recipes online and they are almost all freezable. Make as many as you want and use them for pizzas, calzones, strombolis or any other dough-type food. These can be filled with just about any mixture of meat, veggies and cheese, so there are many chances for variety in your meals.

5. Breakfast Sandwiches- You can easily make your favorite fast food breakfast sandwich at home. Bread freezes very well, so make bagels, English muffins or biscuits, add cooked eggs, cheese and/or bacon. Package them up individually and you are ready for a hot sandwich on your way to work.

Many foods you eat all the time are freezable. Most casserole-type dishes, soups or stews, breads, and meats can be cooked ahead and frozen. With a little planning and one big shopping trip, you can make a whole month's worth of healthy fast foods and quick meals and have dinner ready in a flash!