Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

I'm so bored with what we eat. DD has no more interest in jar baby food and she eats table food espeically things she can pick up with her fingers - she isn't so good with the spoon yet, though she tries. She likes peas a lot, we give her the purdue baked chicken nuggets with whole grain breading, DH got her some "organic" fish sticks, she eats most age appropriate (13 months) fruit (cut up of course), I can tell she's bored with Ego whole wheat waffles that I usually just toss in the toaster most mornings. She loves bananas, american cheese - 2 staples when I'm just out of ideas - I'll make her a cheese sandwhich on whole grain bread and a banana for "dessert". I find myself eating less every day b/c I have no idea what to eat and focus my attention on feeding her. DH is putting on some weight b/c of this. He's resorting to cookies when he's hungry. It's not good, and soon I'll be doing the SAHM thing and I really should be putting some effort into my families meals. Even if they are easy to make (which I prefer b/c I'm no chef), it's better than ordering out (cheaper too I'm hoping).

Any easy recipe ideas? I try to feed her and us as healthy as possible and very balanced when I do cook. I just want more variety and less "emergency" orders to the nearby deli b/c we are starving with no food in the house.

Also - what do you do with a young child to entertain them while you cook? DD follows me EVERYWHERE around the house. I vacuumed today and she "pushed" the canister around while I vacuumed... but after a short while she got out of sorts b/c I wasn't paying attention to her. Granted, she's not feeling well right now. But, if I turn on the stove she's right there, and I haven't tried to turn on the oven when she isn't napping or sleeping for the night - I know she'll be right up in it and get hurt. She's too old for like an exersaucer (which used to be great), but too young to toss a coloring book at and ask her to work on that while mommy cooks. Sometimes I can get DH to keep her occupied, sometimes during the week he's too busy with work stuff.

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

My kids aren't walking yet so no help there-but whhy don't you buy a book...or look online for meal ideas

Here is a google search I did

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

I make DS chicken meat balls 2 ways -
1 - chopped spinach and cheddar cheese
2 - chickn parm - petite diced tomatoes and grated motzerrlla cheese

I make them bite size (which takes a looooooong time) but they freeze well - just zap them for 10-20 seconds and dinner is ready
DS will try to shred them if he has to bite them
I just put my regular meatball stuff in - breadcrumbs, egg, spices, salt, pepper.

If you want a meal idea for you and DH, last year i found a buffalo chix dressing, so i made a buf chix salad- chicken, lettece, celery, crumbled blue cheese and the buf dressing -

Also, you can do a lot of variations of "Mexican Chicken" - chicken and salsa

add corn, black beans and serve over rice
add black beans and make tacos (hard/soft) and cheese
smush black beans into a paste - spread on pizza crust, top w/ chic and salsa and cheese
layer chix, salsa corn and beans with soft tortilla shells and make a "lasangna"


My DS liked sweet potatoes (baby food) so I make him baked sweet potatoe fries. Then you could season yours/DH's up a little more.

ETA: Breakfast
Maybe crepes -
Blueberry pancakes
cottage cheese
cream cheese and jelly
yogart
eggs (as doc first)
fruit smooties

Message edited 6/20/2009 8:11:41 AM.

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

As far as DD when you cook - maybe put her in the high chair and let her watch

she is still young, but maybe she could help by holding something. plus you could tell her what you are doing - even though she doesn't really understand, she'd still feel included.

give her a plastic bowl and spoon

try playing "simon says"

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

Try eggplant, DS loves eggplant so if I remember I will pick it up and its a quick meal to bread and bake with some sauce....


As for when I cook, I try to do anything I can in advance, DS takes a nap around 2:30-4ish so If I can cook something and then heat it up great, or if I can do all the prep work like cutting veggies, maraniading meat etc.
I also bake alot of my meats so all I have to do is throw it in and then DS has my attention.

Or if I need more time I will pop in a movie, give him a small bottle of milk and some veggie sticks and that sometimes occupies him. Also DS has a drawer in our kitchen with his cooking stuff so he plays while I cook.
He is 18 months so its not easy but we jsut push through it, some days me cooking involves him crying but it has to be done.

ETA: For breakfast DS will eat a scrambled egg, occasionally I make an omelet with cheese or tomatoes, french toast, waffles, blueberry pancakes (frozen) or regular not frozen pancakes...I try to minimize his use of syrup but he likes to use the fork and dip his bites so I give him yogurt to dip it in.

Message edited 6/20/2009 1:05:02 PM.

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

These are all great ideas... thank you!! I'm excited to try them. Yes, prep is the tough part... but I look forward to a day where the kids can help out and participate... for now, keeping her occupied and out of trouble is key. I'm always afraid of using certain kitchen appliances such as blenders, mixers or food processors when she is sleeping for fear I'll wake her - we have a ranch style house... so her room is just 2 rooms behind the kitchen.

Re: Putting together my food shopping list - need ideas

Two of my DD's faves are beans & rice & hummus sandwiches. I cook the beans in the crock pot the night before & use a rice cooker (such a fabulous appliance for a mom of a toddler!).
I used to make my own hummus - so easy - but Trader Joe's is farrrr easier. They sell it without tahini, so you don't need to worry about the sesame seeds.