What do you do when you can't afford healthier options?

MzMiller1215

do you do a weakly meal planner? that way you only buy what you need? i find it helps me to stick to my budget. I also buy lots of frozen veg as i found that id buy lots of fresh veg and due to lack of time etc couldnt cook them and had to chuck them. frozen is just as good and lasts you for soo much longer. batch cooking and freezing meals is a good idea as well. also say if you roast a whole chicken you could have it with some veg and potatoes and save some for fajitas the next day?

Yes, I have been writing out a menu for every two weeks for over a year now for just that reason. Some of my budget goes towards their snacks because they snack all the time!

charityaprill

When my mom was on a dieet at home, she made healthy foods, like what you did, and if we didn't like it we could either eat it or go hungry. End of discussion! You're trying to live your life healthier not only to look better but to feel better and live a longer life! This is something your kids can learn too, even at a young age. Had my mom taught me better eating habits I probably wouldn't be where I am today,

Really?? Didn't you just say your mom made healthy foods and you ate it or went hungry? How did you not learn better eating habits from that? Sorry, just sayin`....

VickiMitkins

My mom never bought us junk food or soda as a kid. If we wanted it, we had to use our own spending money at the corner store. We also ate what she cooked or did not eat. I remember sitting at the table when I was 7 yrs old staring at a plate of green beans. I did not want them and my mom said it was all I was getting. We compromised after I cried a bit LOL. I did not eat them, but I did not get anything else that night. I love green beans now. Someone else mentioned the older children planning, cooking and shopping each week with you. I think that's a wonderful idea. It gives you a little special time with each one on their cooking night. Incorporate the junk food into the shopping and planning meals with them. If they want junk food, they buy it at the store with you. You might even find (once the routine is in place) that you have a little extra time since you don't have to do it all every night.

iamhopeful

Great ideas. I would love some healthy crockpot recipes too!

amfaery

I yakea few things out of our groceries and put them on a small shelf for mommy only

amfaery

sorry.... Take a few things

AlsDonkBoxSquat

cut coupons, find a farmers market in your area for cheaper fruits and vegetables, buy lean cuts of meat when they're on sale and eat some then and put the rest in the freezer for later, cook the brown rice . . . seriously they are your children and you're teaching them how to eat what does it matter that they don't like it? The eat what you teach them to eat, now they're old enough to put up a fight but if it's between eating the brown rice and starving I bet they eat the brown rice.

jdavis193

The thing with frozen meals yes they are high in sodium. When I do eat those I just eat foods that are lower in sodium I still can get 1200-1500 mg of sodium for the day You just have to work with it.