Divorcing Dad, TV gadgets and cooking

[Scanner]

thanks.. .I'll look into it. May be worth the $5.00

[reallyprettyhappy]

I thought is was; at least for the first six months. I found that they repeated recipies sometimes from month to month...but that was a few years ago and they might have a bigger repitoire by now. Also, the neat thing about it is that you can customize your plan to the place you shop so that the shopping list will have the aisle that the item is on and that week's price for the item at that store. Another feature is that they don't let the total amount for the shopping list for any given week to exceed around $100. Also, they have plans for specific things like low calorie, vegetarian I think, low sodium, etc.

No, I don't work for them but it just really helped me, so I like to pass along the goods and services that have impressed me.

[zetta]

have you been to e-mealz.com? It is a subscription service (I think still $5 per month). Each week you get a full week's worth of really easy, usually pretty healthy meals and a shopping list for the week. I subscribed a few years ago when we had just gotten married and really just lacked cooking inspiration and know-how. These recipies gave us a good place to start and I still use some of them from time to time.

Saving Dinner!, Your Menu Planning Solution! is a similar meal plan service. There is a free sample week you could try out before joining.

You could also try out Dream Dinners or similar franchise: Dinner Ideas - Healthy Meals - Meal Planning - Meal Preparation - Dream Dinners

They prep all the ingredients and you go to their store and assemble the meals (which allows you to adjust the spices to taste or leave out things your kids don't like), then freeze. When the kids come over, just pop it in the oven. It's more expensive than cooking on your own, but cheaper and healthier than eating out.

[LuxLiving]

Mac N Cheese w/Little Smokies was a kid favorite here.

Carrots N Ranch dip - I've not seen too many kids who won't eat this.

Beannies N Weannies - another easy fast one. Cut up hot dogs & Ranch style beans. Add cumin for decent flavor.

It's the 'N' that does it!

You'll do fine. Choices are fine - "we've got cereal or yogurt, which would you like?"

"We've got spaghetti or frozen pizza, which would you like?"

"We've got scrambled eggs or cinnamon toast, which would you like?"

I'm with Princess Perky, if they learn you aren't always gonna cave and go drive thru or order in, then they'll learn to pick from what you have available.

[fruitbowlk]

Kid-Friendly Recipes - Quick & Healthy Meals - Parenting.com