There is some delicious irony in this post immediately followed by one on cinnamon roll recipes.

@Indy - hahaha! Yes, I noticed that too. But at least there were 5 cinnamon roll recipes - so they are well balanced!

See if you eat a balanced dinner you can have cinnamon rolls for breakfast. It all works out perfectly!

This is a great goal. For me, a balanced dinner can be whittled down to two "shortcut" requirements: vegetables and protein. Not that other elements aren't important, but if I've got two vegetables (usually one in the main course and one on the side) and a source of protein then I consider that a balanced meal. I don't eat meat so that's why the protein takes a bit of forethought for me, but I do naturally eat a variety of whole grains so I don't really worry about that. I would expect that everyone's shortcut requirements would be different.

I used to think of meals in very scientific terms of calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, food groups, etc, but that really took the fun out of it for me and made me so tired that I would just give up and eat mac & cheese from the box on a regular basis. Using these two indicators has improved the quality and consistency of my meals while still making cooking and mealtime enjoyable.

Good luck!

I find that if I start with the vegetables when I'm meal planning more vegetable-based dishes make up the bulk of what we eat. So when I think "what's for dinner?" I answer "sweet potatoes!" instead of "sausages!" I end up with a main dish made up of sweet potatoes and skip the sausages, or they become a side dish.

To keep things simple, I do a lot of one-dish meals, such as a soup or casserole with a balance of nutrients (I like this one, which I make with turkey sausage and whatever veg I have on hand: http://chickensintheroad.com/farm-bell-recipes/italian-sausage-and-tortillini-soup/). I also like homemade pizza for this; I make the whole wheat dough and sauces ahead and freeze them in one-pizza portions, then cover the dough with veg and lean meat. Also, if you make a big salad with a sturdy green like romaine or cabbage, it will keep for 3 or 4 days in the fridge; then all you have to worry about is the main dish. Like anotherjen, I tend to start with whatever veg needs to be used up, then work in something carby and a lean protein.

I keep my pantry filled with the 3 parts to a balanced meal: healthy grains ( pre-cooked brown rice, quinoa, couscous), frozen vegetables (spinach, string beans, broccoli florets) and lean meats (Costco bags of fish fillets, chicken breat, shrimp). That way I have everything I need for a good meal on hand. If I have time, then I can get fresh fish and veggies.

My Mom's rule for us growing up and something that I have carried through to my family is to have 3 things on the plate. 1 protein, 1 starch and 1 veggie/fruit.

I'm single and in grad school so I make almost all my food at home... Or if I get take out its a taco or burger or whole food salad bar items-- my balanced meals involve 3 eggs and a ton of greens, with salsa or sauerkraut or kimchee on top, big bowl of oats with seeds and coconut milk or congee if I make a pot that lasts for days. Lunch and dinner involve steamed or roasted veggies that I can have for a few meals with some meat, a salad. I put a fruit and veggie on greens for my salad, or if I'm in a rush I make miso and throw in any and all veggies and mushrooms I have sautéed, so it's easy to prepare. I'll bake yams three at a time, too. Tho I've been craving chili lately...

the biggest tip for balanced meals is planning! I work out a menu of 10 days of balanced meals i can make then I go shopping for it. i know it doesnt sound fun but its the only way i can get it done! 10 days is a lot but if you aren't sure when you will find time for shopping then its good to have them. Keep in mind this doesnt have to mean a whole lot of cooking - prep some things in bulk for the next few days, freeze stuff etc. Use up the freshest stuff right after shopping and save frozen and canned for when things are getting scarce.

For most people (myself included) its mostly about getting fresh healthy veggies into meals - dont be afraid to just throw a veggie in anything. Stir a diced zucchini and bell pepper into chili, add some carrot ribbons to spaghetti and top with sauce, mix some finely diced and steamed cauliflower into your rice. Especially when paired with something stronger you probably wont even notice.