Help! I Need Ideas!!

M.,

I get this free magazine every quarter or so from Kraft Foods and they have lots of food ideas to get your kids interested in eating healthy foods. Here's the website too: www.KraftFoods.com

There are lots of crockpot recipes online too. Here are a few websites: www.recipezaar.com, www.cooks.com, www.foodnetwork.com

Hope this helps...

Hi M., I'm constantly struggling with ideas too. But one of my saving graces is to buy rotisserie chicken (I get it at Costco). I buy two and shred the meat as soon as I get home when it's still warm. I freeze into ziplocks, three bags per chicken. I use this in quesadillas, enchiladas, salads, over baked potatoes with cheese and steamed brocolli, sandwiches, soups, anything that calls for cooked chicken. My kids like it plain with ketchup instead of chicken nuggets. If you want my Cheese and Chicken Enchilada recipe send me a message. It's make-ahead easy, family friendly and delicious.

I'm a sweet-tooth girl who's been trying to change my ways. I have a 5 month old baby that I'm hoping to breastffeed till he's 12 months & @ that time we're hoping to try for another baby too. Soi I've been trying to give healthier eating a good go.

As for meals, I try to eat chicken salads alot & P. B. & J sandwiches on 100% whole wheat bread (Crowheat makes a yummy one & I like the Sarah Lee 100% whole grain bread too). For snacks I've been loving string cheese, yogurt (light is good & yoplait makes some yummy ones including orange cream), fruit & veggies (which I've always loved), trail mix & unsalted popcorn is supposed to be pretty healthy too.

Good luck =-)!

Check out Trader Joes or Henry's Markets. They have lots of quick meal options and lots of healthy snacks. Plus their prices are good.

Hi M.,
I love to cook and have lots of slow cooker recipes...I don't
know if your kids would eat them or not but I can email you a bunch of recipes I already have on my computer if you email me at ____@____.com I'll send them to you!
One of mine and my husband's favorite quick recipes is pretzel dogs. It's just pretzel dough wrapped around plain old hotdogs and baked in the oven. I also have a really good bbq drumsticks recipe, beef skewers and meatballs that could cook in a slow cooker. Email me if you want the recipes.
R.

try www.tasteofhome.com/search and click slow cooker for an option....

We take lunches so like to have leftovers. I do food prep on weekends. Two meals using same ingredients. Steamed rice (cooked), 1 can black beans, small bunch green onions and hamburger. Sunday I took 3lbs of hamb. 1 lb went into the skillet with left over corn, green onions, rice, a 1/2 can of black beans and taco seasoning to brown. The remainder 2 lbs went into a mixing bowl. Add your favorite spaghetti sauce, left over corn, green onions and steamed rice. Add any herbs you may like. Briefly blanch a head of cabbage and tear off leaves. Wrap a cabbage leaf around a small handful of mixture and place in a baking pan. Cover cabbage rolls with more spaghetti sauce and top with parmesan cheese. Bake (uncovered) at 350 degrees for about an hour. Serve with baked red skinned potatoes or mashed potatoes with your favorite veggie. NOW back to the skillet of taco meat. Prepare in a 2nd pan your favorite red beans & rice mix. We always have both corn and flour tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and hot sauce. Perfect taco dinner. I usually make myself a taco salad for lunch.
I find tons of great crock-pot recipes online. In fact, I'll print them, 3 hole punch and put them in a 3 ring binder.

Healthy snacks and perfect for breakfast: Blend a frozen banana with chocolate milk or soy milk in the blender. Another blender idea for the kids, blend yogurt (any flavor) with frozen strawberries and a dash of vanilla or plain soy milk. Enjoy, Shannon C.