5 Easy Fall Dinners to Save Your Weeknights (Dietitian Approved!)

Let me begin by explaining that I’m a registered dietitian, chef, and mom. That means I have a pretty good understanding of strategies, tips, and techniques for making food that’s exciting, delicious, and nourishing. One that I use frequently is the “complete meal” strategy. It’s an idea that many of my nutrition-expert colleagues and chef friends (who also happen to be moms) share. Simply, for a meal to be considered complete, it should have the following things—a plant or meat-based protein, two or more vegetables, and one whole grain (or starchy equivalent). 

It’s an easy formula that works for two reasons. First, serving several types of foods at a meal means you’ll be enjoying a variety of flavors and textures. That keeps things fun for both your palate and your brain. It also ensures that you’re getting a variety of nutrients.

Luckily, it’s also a fun process, especially in the fall when sheet pan and skillet meals, hearty soups, and stews enter the menu. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it, but one of my favorite ways is by starting with any of the three components and building from there. For example, if you have broccoli on hand, start with that and think how you can fill in the meal with a protein—maybe grilled chicken or pork chops. Then consider a whole grain—how about whole wheat pasta—and finally another vegetable—perhaps some canned tomatoes? Treat it like a game and you might discover that making dinner is more fun than you thought. 

When I asked my registered dietitian colleagues for their thoughts on this complete meal strategy and for examples of their favorite fall dishes, they couldn’t wait to share.