I am a member of the Balance Your Plate team and helping spread the word about Stouffer’s Family-Size Lasagna with Meat and Sauce. As a team member, I receive product and incentives for participating in brand-related activities. 

Frozen meals are convenient for me to make. It’s nice to be able to do minimal prep work (meaning take Stouffer’s Lasagna with Meat and Sauce out of the freezer, put in the oven) and serve a delicious dinner about an hour later.

I have found that it’s a good idea to keep Stouffer’s frozen dinners in my freezer for the nights I don’t feel like cooking. It helps me avoid the temptation to go out to eat at a restaurant. There are six people in my family, and going out to eat takes a big bite out of our monthly food budget. It makes more sense to eat at home. We can save a lot of money that way.

Another reason it is better to eat at home is so that I can make sure my family is eating a balanced meal. Quality frozen meals like the ones we buy from Stouffer’s are quick frozen to lock in taste and nutrition. It’s important to ensure everyone in your family is getting the nutrients they need at mealtime. One easy way that I do this is to serve a green salad, steamed vegetables and/or fruit alongside Stouffer’s lasagna. 

The Balance Your Plate with Nestle is an educational initiative to help meal planners build nutritious, delicious and convenient meals that meet American dietary guidelines. Consumers can learn simple ways to add more nutrition throughout the day, while managing portions and calorie intake. Visit Balance Your Plate for helpful meal planning tips, products and recipes.

Want to learn more about meal planning and the Balance Your Plate initiative? Join me at the Stouffer’s Twitter party on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. ET. Tweet along with hashtag #Stouffers

Follow @Stouffers and RSVP for the Twitter Party at http://vite.io/themotherhoodchats

Balancing Our Plates with Baked Apples.

My kids love apples, so I try to always have them on hand. Sliced apples are an easy way to add a fruit to any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner. While your frozen meal is cooking in the oven, take a few minutes to give apples an easy cinnamon sugar makeover. Microwave baked apples are hardly any trouble at all to make. They can be served alongside the main entree or at the end of dinner for dessert.

Easy Baked Apple Recipe

Ingredients

• A large apple
• 2 T. Butter
• 2 T. brown sugar
• Cinnamon (sprinkled to taste)

Directions:

1. Core a large apple and cut it in half. Place it open side up on a microwave-safe plate.

2. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in the center of each half apple. Sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon evenly on top of each half apple.

3. Microwave for 5-6 minutes, until apple is baked soft. Serve warm.

What is your favorite way to balance your plate? Could Stouffer’s Family-Size Lasagna with Meat and Cheese help you serve a delicious, nutritious meal?