{Sponsored}
The holidays are in full swing which means I’m spending a lot more time in the kitchen. Not only am I testing and prepping recipes for our holiday meals and get-togethers, I’m also preparing 3 meals a day some days when my children have been home due to school breaks. All of that cooking and baking can be quite tiresome, and I’m finding that on the weekends we’re eating out more than we normally do.
You probably know that whenever possible, I try to make a majority of our meals. Eating out is expensive and frozen or ready-prepped foods are not always as nutrient-rich as those prepared with fresh ingredients at home. Very often I’ll pick up a ready-prepped meal only to put it back down again because I can’t understand more than half of the ingredients listed on the back of the package. Which is why I was quite surprised when I picked up Walmart’s Marketside Three Cheese Tortelloni and could read every single ingredient listed on the package. Filled with three delicious cheeses, these tortelloni are made from herbs, spinach and tomatoes. There are no preservatives or artificial ingredients and the dish was actually quite delicious.
Marketside is Walmart’s signature line of fresh foods and meal solutions, and interestingly enough, they a striking resemblance to the freshly prepped meals I remember seeing and purchasing at Tesco when we lived in the UK. If you’ve ever picked up a Rotisserie Chicken from Walmart, it was probably from this line. But the line offers a variety of fresh meal solutions including produce, pastas, pizzas, soups, ready-made sandwiches and salads, breads, party trays and so much more!
Over the weekend, I had a TON of cooking and baking to do which meant lunches were going to be eaten out. Instead of spending $50+ on lunch at a restaurant, I purchased several Marketside items from Walmart including the family size portion of the Three Cheese Tortelloni, a bag of Organic salad mix, a bottle of Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, a small vegetable tray, a fruit and yogurt cup, French Beans, and a Boule of fresh bread. I spent less than half of what I would have at a quick serve restaurant and managed to have enough food for another meal!
The tortelloni was easy to prepare and simply required boiling for approximately 5 minutes. I served it with a quick pasta sauce I made on the stove in less than 10 minutes (1 can of Organic tomatoes, onion and garlic powder, and Italian Seasoning). To prepare the salad, I tossed it with the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing and added some small heirloom tomatoes, shredded carrots, dried cranberries and pine nuts. The French Beans can be steamed right inside the bag, which takes just 5 minutes in the microwave. The entire meal took less than 20 minutes to prepare and was delicious and healthy.
Prior to this past weekend, I had never set out to look specifically for Walmart’s Marketside items. I was pleasantly surprised with the diverse selections offered at my local store, which isn’t as large as some in other parts of the country. I personally like the ability to purchase the salads and fresh fruits/veggies so that I can easily put a meal together myself. Eliminating simple steps like washing, peeling, and cutting produce means less time in the kitchen!
What are your favorite healthy, easy meal solutions when you’re pressed for time? I’d love to share your ideas!
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Leave a Reply