A carrot, an egg and a piece of string ...

sunshine38_2

Hi Everyone :hello:

I'm new to the site and I have been "reliably" informed that you can do some interesting things with the "ingredients" listed in the title . I have been over on the DFW board and of course the lovely people there suggested that I pop over to this board and see what tips/advice I can get on menu planning etc.

In our family there are 2 adults, 2 children (9) and (4), two cats, one hamster (bless him) and a new addition of a hedgehog (aptly named fluffy, of course!) lodging in our garden for the last 2 weeks - so I have been putting cat food/water out for him/her too.

I've managed to cut our food/household bill down to approximately £200 per month. We are all totally bored of the same repetitive foods. Both myself and OH would like to be losing some weight but I find it expensive to "cater" so apart from reducing portion sizes (and increasing exercise) I'm a bit stuck as to what to prepare that's healthy and reasonably cheap to buy/make.

A boring typical weekly menu goes something like:

For me and OH:
Chicken curry & boiled rice / kids = nuggets & smiley faces & beans
Spaghetti bolognaise & sometimes garlic bread (DS loves/DD dislikes but I encourage her to eat it - she only has a tiny portion separate on her plate)
something frozen with some frozen chips - that we will all eat
scouse (made with mince) with crusty bread (DD loves/DS hates! so I offer something else for him)
takeaway - usually something chinese or pizza cos we are bored with what's in/no inspiration to cook (and usually end up not happy because (a) we spent money we shouldnt have and (b) it's usually not all that "great" when you start eating it:o
sausage, egg, chips & beans - usually no complaints with that one although kids wont eat eggs
chicken roast dinner with 3 veg, gravy and yorkshire puddings - (DS will only eat peas/DS will only eat the carrots)

So, I've figured out where the egg and carrot goes in - what about the string :rotfl: !!

Seriously though, I find it hard work trying to plan, sticking to the plan because usually by the time we are in from work it's a mad rush trying to get anything ready. OH wont eat steak, pork, lamb, beef (but strangely enough will eat frozen burgers and mince?!). He will mainly eat chicken (but only sliced/diced!). I like all of the meats but there is not much point getting any red meat just for me.

Oh, I could bore you - can anyone offer any suggestions/help in finding a way forward? Oh, we do have fruit in, usually bananas, grapes, strawberries. DS will eat any fruit - it's another story for DD and I am concerned that she is not getting the right balanced meals.

Hope I haven't frightened you all away

Sunshine x

Irisheyes648

sunshine38 wrote: »

Hi Everyone :hello:

I'm new to the site and I have been "reliably" informed that you can do some interesting things with the "ingredients" listed in the title . I have been over on the DFW board and of course the lovely people there suggested that I pop over to this board and see what tips/advice I can get on menu planning etc.

In our family there are 2 adults, 2 children (9) and (4), two cats, one hamster (bless him) and a new addition of a hedgehog (aptly named fluffy, of course!) lodging in our garden for the last 2 weeks - so I have been putting cat food/water out for him/her too.

I've managed to cut our food/household bill down to approximately £200 per month. We are all totally bored of the same repetitive foods. Both myself and OH would like to be losing some weight but I find it expensive to "cater" so apart from reducing portion sizes (and increasing exercise) I'm a bit stuck as to what to prepare that's healthy and reasonably cheap to buy/make.

A boring typical weekly menu goes something like:

For me and OH:
Chicken curry & boiled rice / kids = nuggets & smiley faces & beans
Spaghetti bolognaise & sometimes garlic bread (DS loves/DD dislikes but I encourage her to eat it - she only has a tiny portion separate on her plate)
something frozen with some frozen chips - that we will all eat
scouse (made with mince) with crusty bread (DD loves/DS hates! so I offer something else for him)
takeaway - usually something chinese or pizza cos we are bored with what's in/no inspiration to cook (and usually end up not happy because (a) we spent money we shouldnt have and (b) it's usually not all that "great" when you start eating it:o
sausage, egg, chips & beans - usually no complaints with that one although kids wont eat eggs
chicken roast dinner with 3 veg, gravy and yorkshire puddings - (DS will only eat peas/DS will only eat the carrots)

So, I've figured out where the egg and carrot goes in - what about the string :rotfl: !!

Seriously though, I find it hard work trying to plan, sticking to the plan because usually by the time we are in from work it's a mad rush trying to get anything ready. OH wont eat steak, pork, lamb, beef (but strangely enough will eat frozen burgers and mince?!). He will mainly eat chicken (but only sliced/diced!). I like all of the meats but there is not much point getting any red meat just for me.

Oh, I could bore you - can anyone offer any suggestions/help in finding a way forward? Oh, we do have fruit in, usually bananas, grapes, strawberries. DS will eat any fruit - it's another story for DD and I am concerned that she is not getting the right balanced meals.

Hope I haven't frightened you all away

Sunshine x

Well I am not suprised you find it hard work catering for everyones needs!!

Firstly the children need to eat what is put in front of them or they go hungry until next feeding time:p you must be cheesed off catering individually for them, sorry you need to be really strong here they will soon get the message that it's not a hotel!!

As for food that might please everyone you could try

Chicken casserole
Sausage casserole
Sausage pasta
Sweet and sour chicken
Chicken paella......really quick
Home made chicken coujons with chips
Home made turkey burgers....make them up and freeze them
Toad in the hole
Try your hand at home made pizza loads of recipes on here
Meat balls made with turkey mince
Home made tomato sauce (with secret veggies) and pasta
Pasta bake

Invest in a slow cooker, that way you can bung things on in the morning and it will be ready when you get home with no fuss, batch cook also, make double of things and freeze half, that way you always have something in the freezer instead of sending out for a take away. Menu plan a week in advance and only buy what you need. HTH sorry if I sounded to harsh and rambled on too much

nopot2pin

Irisheyes648 wrote: »

Firstly the children need to eat what is put in front of them or they go hungry until next feeding time:p you must be cheesed off catering individually for them, sorry you need to be really strong here they will soon get the message that it's not a hotel!!

Gotta agree with this ..... unless they have severe food allergies, which you have not mentioned. Give them 2 choices .... take it or leave it... and nothing else till next meal.
Althought if your OH only eats certain foods, then the kids with pick up on this... so good luck:rolleyes:

Softstuff

We mostly eat foods made with mince, since it's so cheap, and it tends to be lamb mince. To make it healthier (and cheaper still) we add veggies into the mince mix, and usually you can't see them.

So if I make a lasagna, for an 8 portion one I use about 250g mince, a couple of carrots grated, a courgette grated, an onion chopped, some mushrooms chopped, a tin of tomatoes and some tomato puree plus garlic, herbs and spices for the sauce....

Meatballs are made with herbs and spices again, and for about 60 balls I use an egg, 250g lamb mince, a grated carrot, a grated courgette, finely minced onion....

I make a mince mix which goes on nachos and gets microwaved with grated cheese on, and that's with about 250g mince, a couple of carrots grated, a courgette grated, an onion chopped, some mushrooms chopped plus garlic, herbs and spices ....

There's a bit of a theme here with the ingredients, which means you can bulk buy on some of them, but the way they are served means you don't get tired of them. Other recipes the combo of mince and veg can be used for include spag bol, cornish pasties, meat pies, shepherds pie, samosas, curried lamb, kofte sausages.... etc etc.

sunshine38_2

Morning everyone

Thanks for the tips so far. I know what you are saying about take it or leave it. Will try again with the pair of them - its so hard isnt it to have tears and tantrums at meal times (and that's just me !)

Have got to go to work shortly so I will probably pop back later to check out some recipes etc.

Hope you all have a sunshiny day :hello:

Sunshine x

tiff

You said the kids wont eat eggs. Both of mine told me they dont like eggs and then I realised they didnt like the runny yolk. They also dont like the texture of scrambled or omelettes. So, everytime DH and I have eggs, both of the kids have hard boiled. That then moved on as hard boiled egg and chips was not as nice as the lovely eggs Mum and Dad were having and dipping their chips into! They now eat them poached, fried or soft boiled!

What a palava, but maybe your kids will eat them in some form or maybe youve tried that already!

Robothell

:rotfl:

Perhaps it's a bad reflection on myself but I swear I thought the title was the first line of a joke and was waiting for a suitably smutty punchline!!!

moanymoany

Irisheyes is absolutely right, you will run yourself ragged if you make different meals for everyone. By encouraging them ro expect just what they want, fancy or like today you are making a rod for your own back. It will start off with food, but the idea of getting their own way will spill over into other areas.

I didn't make food the children didn't like, but they had the two choices mentioned - take it or leave it. If they didn't fancy something I did not make something else. I also included lots of vegatables, again nothing they hated, but they ate most things - not sprouts! I also did not dish up, the food was served at the table.

I understand about tears and tantrums at mealtimes, but they will get over that. They are forcing you to comply with what they want - they are in charge when they do this.

Life will be much easier when you only have to make one meal for everyone.

Must say, I don't envy you a picky OH.

Crazychik

Hi, I totally agree - invest in a slow cooker, bung things in before leaving the house, and dinner will be ready when you get home. I have an ebook of crock pot recipes, which, I can email to you for inspiration. Just PM me your email add. Ive offered before on other threads, and its always been appreciated.

It is hard with the tantrums, but stick with it, and they will learn to eat what's put in front of them, it never did me any harm, and certainly, not my children.

Also, have a look on the campbells website, they offer fantastic recipe ideas (cheap & quick too), its amazing what you can do with Soup these days, other than just re-heat in a pan and eat with bread! Next time your at the supermarket, have a look on the tins, as sometimes, recipes are on there also.

Im like yourself, Im open to ideas and will try anything. Myself &kids aren't fussy eaters, but OH is, but at age 35, I tell him he has to eat it or go without :rotfl: I have to put my foot down on this, cause if the kids see him getting away with it, they will try it on.

luxor4t

I really sympathise, my 3 were absolute horrors with food and DD still is: fortunately, she does her own cooking now!
They used to take stubborn to an art form. I remember one glorious day when DS2 (aged 2) threw up on MiL when she tried to force him to eat icecream.... I found small steps and a calm attitude helped me cope with the pressure from the kids, and I did my best to ignore other people's criticism (OK= MiL's !!)

Rather than spending money on frozen chips, you could make your own - it is a bit of a hassle but they are far nicer, healthier and cheap!
-peel the potatoes & cut into chunky chips
- boil for about 4 minutes
- drain, then place in a hot ovenproof dish sprayed with lots of frylite or similar
- bake for about 30- 40 minutes in a hot oven, turning & spraying regularly

You can add cajun spices to make 'chilli chips' or leave the skins on to make wedges. My kids were never seduced by the 'if they make it they'll eat it' school of thought, but they all helped peel potatoes.