Typically I talk about all the things out of the house that we're doing, from soccer to gymnastics. More and more, families are scattered about after-school. The reasons are "good:" the kids are attending religious youth group organizations, taking music lessons, or participating in team-building, obesity-fighting sports. But so much research has said that a strong family unit is the key to success, and that sitting down at the table as a family is a must.

I admit this is very difficult. Usually Husband has meetings, so I know that at the least I should sit down with my kids to eat. But we end up grabbing something on the way home from gymnastics, or on the way to soccer. I end up snowed-under in work and fail to make dinner, so tell the kids to go grab a Balance bar (which is a fabulous snack) or I quickly make pasta (yes, I use the Bertolli pasta sauce I received when I met Rocco.)

All too often, Husband comes home to a hungry family and will end up either bringing us takeout or cooking us something (yes, he's the chef in our house.) But by then, we're so tired and otherwise occupied that we might be in the same room, but aren't really "eating together."

Via Mom Central, I received some Libby's canned vegetables and information about their Get Back to the Table resources. Check out their "CANvenient" Recipe Section, with gems such as "$10 Meals in 10 Minutes."

I need meals that are:
- quick
- inexpensive
- healthful

Fortunately, Libby's recipes and products deliver on all three. Of course, the Cat has some dietary concerns in that we follow the Feingold Diet, so that is always a concern with recipes, but we can alter where necessary. For example, the tasty "Kicked Up Mac & Cheese" doesn't specify the brand of Mac N' Cheese, so I can easily insert in some of the organic non-artificial stuff like 365 or Annie's. And Ian's makes great panko bread crumbs. I can omit the pimentos for the Cat since he is allergic, but can add-in later for other family members if they are interested. Meanwhile, the Libby's corn and peas remain the same. Since canned veggies have such a fantastic shelf-life without those petroleum-based preservatives to which the Cat is allergic, it is a great option for "stocking up" the panty and then grabbing when needed to make dinner in a flash.

Some people have a negative association to canned products. But the truth is that different recipes do better with canned, fresh, or frozen. The different consistencies of these vegetables can aid in various recipes. So while I admit that I like to buy fresh, the truth is that it often wilts on the counter or rots in the fridge, whereas if I have some frozen or canned vegetables around, they'll be handy for when I finally try out whatever recipe I've been meaning to prepare. (And those canned and frozen veggies end up having more nutritional value than old soggy "fresh" ones.) Meanwhile, although the Cat is very picky about food in general, "mixed vegetables" is an amazing fall-back for him. Having cans of mixed vegetables in the pantry or bags in the freezer is imperative for us.

Convenience foods need-not be unhealthy. Using canned vegetables, such as Libby's, along with other easily-stored things like pasta and canned chicken broth, can be very easy and economical. Many recipes can also incorporate fresh ingredients and allow flexibility for personal preference.

Check out Libby's Get Back to the Table tips, and print out a coupon for 50 cents off a can of Libby's!