School is back in session, and most people return to their routines. We’ve come from lazy days by the pool or on the beach and easy grilled dinners to wondering, what’s for dinner? It can get crazy this time of year, and with the holidays coming up, it’s bound to get even crazier. You need some easy weeknight meals to throw together for your family and a side of Jesus to go with it. Here are some ideas for quick weeknight meals and some ways to thank the Lord for his blessing of good food and family.PastaPasta is a great weeknight meal that is quick to make and versatile. You can eat it with sauce, in soups, and in casseroles. You can even get all kinds of varieties, from traditional pasta to whole wheat and protein pasta. And you don’t have to serve it with just red sauce either. Other yummy choices include Alfredo sauce, vodka sauce, and pesto sauce. Some ideas to get you started include.Taco Mac and Cheese Dinner from The Lazy DishMillion-Dollar Spaghetti from Spend with PenniesChicken Alfredo from Spend with PenniesVegetablesWe all know vegetables are important for nourishing our bodies, but most don’t get enough in our diets. The great thing about vegetables is that they are also extremely versatile. You can also use them in stir-fries, soups, stews, and casseroles. They can also use them in baked goods and add other healthy substitutes like applesauce instead of oil or a sugar substitute (Stevia, Monk Fruit, etc.) for a sweet, veggie-packed treat.Some ideas for vegetable meals include;Stir FryBroccoli, or cauliflower, or a mix with homemade cheese sauceChef SaladsMexican Corn Salad from Spend with PenniesPea Salad from Spend with PenniesNote: If you’re looking for a fantastic homemade stir-fry sauce that tastes like it came from a Chinese restaurant, check out this stir-fry sauce recipe from Spend with PenniesSoups and StewsSoups and stews are also quick and easy to make on busy weeknights. Soups are great because you can throw everything into a pot, let it simmer for a while, and magically, dinner is done. It’s even better when you cook your soup in the crockpot all day at work. Add a side salad, a loaf of crusty bread, or some yeast rolls to complete your meal.Rotisserie Chicken Soup from Spend with PenniesThe Best Chili Recipe from Spend with PenniesPork Stew from Spend with PenniesStuffed Pepper Soup from Spend with PenniesBeer Cheese Soup from Spend with PenniesInstant Pot Beef Stew from Spend with PenniesLooking for some rolls to go with that soup? Check out this 30 minute dinner roll recipe, also from Spend with Pennies.CasserolesCasseroles are another great weeknight meal that is easy to throw together. You can make a dump casserole, where you dump everything into a pan and bake it, or sometimes you may come across a recipe needing some prep work. Either way, casseroles are a quick and easy meal that the whole family will approve of.Tamale Pie from Spend with PenniesChicken Zucchini Stuffing Casserole from The Lazy DishCreamy Chicken and Rice Casserole from The Lazy DishLazy Chicken Parmesan Baked Spaghetti from The Lazy DishEasy Cabbage Rolls from Spend with PenniesBeef Enchilada Casserole from Spend with PenniesTater Tot Casserole from Spend with PenniesA Side of DevotionWe all know we should be thankful for our blessings, including the food we eat. Most of the time, we don’t think about where it came from or what it had to go through to get to us—from the farm to the factory to the store to us. The Lord has blessed us with all kinds of delicious things to eat, and we should thank Him for this every day. Let’s Say GraceHere are some versions of grace you can use around your dinner table.Grace 1: Dear Lord, thank you for this food and the farmers who grew it. We appreciate their hard work every day. Thank you for the factories that process it so that it is safe for us to eat. We appreciate the truck drivers and stockers at our local grocery store for putting it on the shelf for us to consume. Thank you for the hands that prepared our meal tonight. May it bless us with nourishment, full bellies, and full hearts. Amen. Grace 2: Dear Lord, thank you for all the amazing foods you thought of and created for us to eat. We’re blessed to have such variety. May this meal bless our bodies. Amen.Grace 3: Dear Lord, thank you for our meal tonight. We appreciate your providing food for us to eat, and we thank the hands that prepared it. Please bless X (name, mom, grandma, grandpa, etc.) and may this meal nourish our bodies and souls as we commune with you and each other. Amen. Another option is to have your kids write their own version of grace to say. If you have one child, let them pray over the meal once or twice a week. If you have several kids, let each one pray over the meal during the week.Bible Verses About Food and ThankfulnessThe Bible reminds us that God provided us with food from the beginning and teaches us to be thankful for all we have. Here are some verses to help remind us of these principles.“Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.” (Genesis 1:29, NLT)“By the sweat of your brow you will have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19, NLT)“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and thankful heart.” (Colossians 4:2, NLT)Devotionals About Food, Thankfulness, and GratitudeThese devotionals will be great resources for growing in thankfulness and gratitude while enjoying great food.The Bible Food Truck: Serving up 75 Devotions for Kids About Food In The Bible by Vanessa Myers (Ages 5-12)Devotions for the Fall: Celebrate the Harvest Season with Gratitude and Joy by Thomas Nelson Gift BooksThe One Year Daily Acts of Gratitude Devotional: 365 Inspirations to Encourage a Life of Thankfulness by Kristen Demery, Julie Fisk, etc.What Would Jesus Eat Cookbook: Eat Well, Feel Great, and Live Longer by Don ColbertGrace Before Meals: Recipes and Inspiration for Family Meals and Family Life: A Cookbook by Father Leo PatalinghugWeeknight meals with our families are important, and adding a side of devotion will help strengthen our bond with each other, fill our bellies, strengthen our faith with the Lord, and enjoy the delicious food he has provided for us. Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/skynesherCarrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.
Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinners With a Side of Faith: Simple Meals Your Family Will Love
