Whether you're working around the house or in the kitchen, having the right tools makes any job easier. Crock pots, or electronic slow cookers, are a great tool for making healthy eating easier.

Because they cook at a relatively low heat for an extended period of time, crock pots and slow cookers can easily be prepped in the morning, cook all day and be ready for dinner in the evening.

Pull out the crock pot this week for a delicious and easy family meal of Zesty Meatball Sandwiches, Seasoned Green Beans and Strawberries and Cream Parfaits. Keep your crock pot out all week for other dishes like Crock Pot Oatmeal, Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff, Slow Cooker Lasagna and Slow Cooker Vegetable Minestrone.

Don't forget to register for free at MealsMatter.org to add these and other healthy recipes to your own personalized meal plan and shopping list.

"Family Meals Matter" features recipes selected by registered dietitians from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at our free online nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter (www.MealsMatter.org), sponsored by Dairy Council of California.

Featured Family Meals

Zesty Meatball Sandwiches

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced or ¼ teaspoon

Garlic powder

¼ cup chopped onion

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 cups bread crumbs

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

6-8 hoagie-type sandwich rolls, split and warmed

1. In large bowl, beat egg with salt, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and garlic. Add chopped onion, beef, turkey, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese; mix well.

2. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls and brown in a large skillet. Drain meatballs and transfer to a 5-quart slow cooker/Crock-Pot. In the same bowl, mix tomato sauce and wine; pour over meatballs.

3. Cover and cook on low for 5 1/2 to 6 hours. To serve, place 3-4 meatballs in each split roll; top with sauce from Slow Cooker. If desired add condiments and serve.

Serves 6-8.

Condiments if desired; shredded mozzarella cheese, red and yellow pepper strips, sliced onion and olives.

Seasoned Green Beans

1 pound fresh green beans, slightly steamed

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 package Italian dressing mix

Melt butter in large fry pan. Add green beans. Sprinkle with the 1/2 package of seasoning mix and stir well while sauteing.

Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

3 cups low-fat milk

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoons grated orange zest

2 tablespoons orange liqueur

1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

1. In a blender, grind tapioca to a fine powder. Add milk, 1/3 cup sugar, egg and orange zest; blend until smooth. Pour into a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon orange liqueur and vanilla. Let pudding cool for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin from forming.

2. In a large bowl, toss berries with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon orange liqueur. Let stand for 10 minutes.

3. Layer strawberries and pudding in six 8-ounce parfait glasses or wineglasses: Divide one-third of the berries among the glasses; top with half of the pudding. Top with half of the remaining berries and then all of the remaining pudding. Top with the remaining berries. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours before serving.

SHOPPING LIST (Includes ingredients to make at least four servings of each Featured Family Meal recipe):

Zesty Meatball Sandwiches

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced or one-quarter teaspoon garlic powder

¼ cup chopped onion

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 can (16 ounces) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

6 to 8 hoagie-type sandwich rolls, split and warmed

Seasoned Green Beans

1 pound fresh green beans, slightly steamed

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 package Italian dressing mix

Strawberries and Cream Parfaits

3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

3 cups low-fat milk

1/3 cup, plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 tablespoons orange liqueur

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

Other Featured Recipes

Crockpot Oatmeal

www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/8436 Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/26519

Slow Cooker Lasagna

www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/7847

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Slow Cooker Vegetable Minestrone

www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/42992

For more healthy meal planning made simple, go to www.mealsmatter.org

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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