Tips for feeding your family pls respond :)

[marnie]

Hi all,

I hope this is okay to post this here, if not, Shelley, feel free to move it to a more appropriate place

I'm looking for any tips to feed my family in a healthy way. I work full time and go to school part time and it's hard sometimes to get good food on the table (sometimes - more often than I'd like to admit - it's easier to call out for pizza!). Anyone else out there trying to feed your family while working (or busy with other things) and what is a good tip you can give me that would make things easier to get my family healthy? I have a hubby and 3 kids (13, 10 and and I do have a picky eater in there. TIA for any tips!

Marnie

[shelley]

Hi Marnie!

For people on the go, the best way to feed your family is a combination of Nourishing Traditions (make cultured foods and stews on the weekend) and Rachael Ray's 30 minute meals, which are all prepared from real, whole ingredients packaged in ways to make it easier for YOU. Like me, she is a big fan of broths in cartons, for example. If you have Tivo, start recording her show, she's such a vital person and will help to revitalize you after your busy day, and of course she has several cookbooks and her recipes are online at www.foodnetwork.com.

One thing both Rachael and I like to do is to prepare my veggies and herbs as much as I can on the day that I shop in a way that makes them easier to use during the week. For instance, I take the twisty off the celery but leave my bunch of celery in a bunch so I can just slice off what I need as I go, carefully cutting out the leaves in the center and such that I don't want in my stews and such. It keeps for 10 days to two weeks in a bag if you do this.

I also resort to using bags of assorted frozen veggies for instant meals, like a bag of stir-fry veggies for a quick turkey stir fry over noodles.

Pasta, chicken breasts, sliced turkey, ground beef, are all quick, easy and tasty.

Having the right kitchen utensils is a MUST for busy people. I would go bonkers without good knives, peelers, garlic press, microplane graters, small (2-cup? 4-cup?) food processor, RICE COOKER and anodized aluminum pans!

Check out my post on Skillet Meals. Very quick and easy and VERY tasty. Some people prefer cooking in the morning, using a crockpot, but I've never taken to that. Whatever you do, do NOT use a pressure cooker! Dangerous and kills nutrients.

[christihzlwd]

Hi, you sound alot like me, I have alot of trouble getting my kids to eat
Anything healthy and I mean anything, i am seriously considering letting them be hungry until they do (just kidding) but it is very difficult because of time, i am a single mom with 3 and a full time job. I am just starting the process of changing our lifestyle to a healthier one, whenever I start getting ideas and things I will let you know and maybe vice versa. Thanks alot from Christi.

[shelley]

Start out with the recipes in the FAQ and Kitchen forum, they're all tasty. Kids will be willing to try any new main meal if you show them the molasses spice cake waiting for dessert!

[marnie]

Great ideas Shelley - thanks so much for responding. I have 2 children who in the past would complain about stomach aches a lot. In the quest to make myself healthy, I would like to start them out right also, and that would make it easier for me to stay on track too.

Christi - If I come across any more great ideas, I will definately post it here for you.

Thanks again,
Marnie

[h0ppy]

Rachael Ray is awesome! She reminds me of you Shelley, except you have the added benefit of knowing all about alternative medicine.