New to MFP! Need help with inexpensive meal choices, kid friendly please! Open diaries...

pickeypoo12

Hello, im new here! One of my biggest problems with weight loss is not eating right! If anyone with open diaries have any inexpensive, kid friendly meals to share...it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

melimomTARDIS

what do you already eat? What does your kid like? I can help make suggestions from there. In my household we have one child's food allergies, and another child with a restricted diet due to sensory issues. Oh, and we dont eat meat. so I get food challenges, trust me!

pickeypoo12

Chicken, ground turkey, pasta...I cant cook very well so I never have any ideas on what to make so its always whatever is in my cabinet that is easy or eat at moms and her meals are definitely not healthy choices! I cannot have egg yolk unless its baked in...makes no sense but i get horribly sick. My 3 year old is very picky!

melimomTARDIS

he's 3, so I wouldnt worry about his pickiness. My kid with sensory issues is 7, and just starting eating pizza a year ago. (plain cheese ONLY mind you) LOL

First off, buy a food scale (10-15 bucks at walmart) to weigh your food, and so you can log it accurately.

I find it helpful to have quick and easy stuff ready to eat. For example you could cook a bunch of chicken breasts in the crockpot or oven, and then have a tupperware container full of chicken to go for the week. Add it to pasta, stuff it into sandwiches, etc.

If you dont enjoy cooking/have time for it, I find it helpful to have some processed foods on hand.

We always have canned soup, boxed cereal, sliced cheese (for the kids) etc. If your little guy loves chicken nuggets, go ahead and buy a bag of chicken nuggets. Serve em' with a salad,or some baby carrots, and call it a day.

In the summer we do alot of sandwiches and wraps for dinner. A wrap is just a big ol' tortilla, spread with hummus or mustard, and stuffed with your favorite sandwich fillings.

In general, I like to have fruit with breakfast and dessert, and veggies with all my other meals, but that isnt required, its just a personal preference.

I buy cheap fruit-orange juice, raisins,applesauce, apples, bananas

and cheap veggies-heads of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, peas,radishes, white potatoes etc...

I am not above buying frozen or canned, it just depends on what I am using it for,

melimomTARDIS

And remember, you dont have to "eat healthy" to lose weight. You can eat hotdogs, and nutella chocolate spread every day, as long as you are counting your calories, and eating the amount that MFP tells you to. So when you go to your mom's for dinner, even if the food is high in calories/low in nutrients, it all depends on how much you choose to eat.

Out on a limb here- if you eat fast food, I recommend looking up the calories of some popular items at your favorite fast food places. quite a few low calorie items on those menus, it just takes a little digging.

RodaRose

http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2013/03/13/slow-cooker-chicken/

pickeypoo12 wrote: »

Chicken, ground turkey, pasta...I cant cook very well so I never have any ideas on what to make so its always whatever is in my cabinet that is easy or eat at moms and her meals are definitely not healthy choices! I cannot have egg yolk unless its baked in...makes no sense but i get horribly sick. My 3 year old is very picky!

Buy the rotisserie chickens at the grocery stores. Buy some veggies and maybe make some rice or pasta if you want.
You can lean to make chili or even whole chickens in the crock pot. Try google-ing "Four Ingredient Meals."
One of my favorite easy meals is a stuffed baked potato (with chili on top).
Do some planning so you have a panty with food in it that you like to cook.
Maybe aim for three home cooked meals a week eventually.

pickeypoo12

Thanks ladies! You both were a great help! Im going to buy a food scale definitely! I like the chicken idea to always have it on hand AND the 4 ingredient recipe idea! That will help me be able to cook inexpensively!