Not every season allows for homemade meals. And that’s okay. Lately, when I sign up to take a meal, I’ve been leaning on store-bought options. I wanted to share some simple store-bought ideas from places like Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, Martins, and even a few restaurants that make it easy to still show up with dinner, even on your busiest days.
~Nadia
Credit:Thomas Obungen
When I think of store-bought meals to take, my mind automatically goes to Costco. They have so many great options, and the portions are generous enough to easily feed a family!
My top three favorites are:
You really can’t go wrong with any of them. It’s such a reliable option when you want to bring something filling and affordable.
Credit: Take Them A Meal
If you’re like me and find yourself stopping at Target at least once a week, it can be such an easy place to grab a meal while you’re already there. Not every time, but occasionally my Target has these premade refrigerated family meals that are great!
Another reliable option is grabbing one of their Good & Gather lasagnas or fresh pasta dishes and pairing it with a bagged salad and a box of bakery cookies!
Credit: Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is another favorite of mine when I need a simple store-bought meal to take. They have so many freezer-friendly options that make bringing dinner easy and reliable.
One meal I love to bring is their Mandarin orange chicken paired with a bag of fried rice. It’s a freezer meal, which means the family can enjoy it whenever it works best for them. It feels fun and a little different from the usual casserole, but it’s still simple.
Credit: Chipotle
Another idea I love is ordering a Chipotle party pack for a family. It feels generous and a little fun, and everyone can build their own bowl exactly how they like it. It’s a simple way to bring a complete meal without cooking, and it works especially well for families with different tastes.
Credit: Martins
Martin’s is another easy stop when you need something simple and ready to go. I especially love that many of their premade meals come in smaller portions, which makes them perfect for a family of two.
Two great options are their freshly made grilled salmon meal and the meatloaf meal. And while I’m there, I almost always stop by the breakfast bakery section. It’s my favorite place to grab muffins or pastries to include for the next morning!
Credit: Take Them A Meal
If you aren’t able to make a trip to buy a store-bought meal but still want to show up for someone, Take Them A Meal offers healthy, hearty, and comforting meals made with delicious ingredients that can be shipped directly to friends or family.
I recently unboxed the delicious pulled pork sandwich meal. Click here to see!
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