HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (TENNESSEE VALLEY LIVING) - When life gets busy, getting a homemade dinner on the table can feel like one more thing on an already packed to-do list. Meal prepping doesn’t have to mean spending an entire day in the kitchen or eating the same leftovers all week. With a little planning—and a few simple strategies—you can make busy weeknight meals easier, more flexible, and a whole lot less stressful.
Registered Dietitian Maika Luongo stopped by to chat about three simple meal ideas designed with busy families in mind, along with practical ways to make meal prep work for your schedule.
Luongo shared the recipes for Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, Mediterranean Chicken Bowls, and Pesto Ground Beef Pasta!
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Bell peppers
- Onions
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground black pepper
- Olive oil
- Tortillas
Optional toppings include avocado, salsa, shredded cheese, and Greek yogurt.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
Ingredients
- Baked chicken
- Microwave rice
- Quinoa or another favorite grain
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Hummus
- Feta cheese
- Tzatziki sauce
Pesto Ground Beef Pasta
Ingredients
- Cooked lean ground beef
- Your favorite pasta
- Pesto
- Cherry tomatoes
- Parmesan cheese.
She shared that her favorite approaches are to keep things simple by building meals around a basic formula: protein + vegetable + carbohydrate.
Keep up with Maika Luongo on her website and Instagram!
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!
Copyright 2026 WAFF. All rights reserved.