*Feed your family high quality, nutritional food challenge*

[Miss Jasmine]

For dinner we will be having stuffed eggplant.

Cut an eggplant in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh and save. Pat a little olive oil into the shell.

Take about a pound of sausage, I am using an organic chicken sausage that has mild italian seasonings, along with two cloves of garlic diced and brown in a pan (I also a add a bit of olive oil). After the sausage is browned add in the saved eggplant along with some salt and pepper for flavoring. I also add in a 1/2 cup of wine (I vary what kind). Let cook for five minutes. Then I add a LITTLE bit of bread crumbs. I try not to have many carbs so just enough to bind, I would say less than 1/2 cup along with 1/4 cup of reduced fat shredded cheese.

Take the mixture and stuff it into the eggplant shells. Then pop in oven for 30 to 40 minutes at 350.

I made it ahead so I just have to pop it into the oven tonight.

 

[HeatherC]

This is what we had yesterday.

Breakfast: Strawberries and Cantaloupe
Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal

Snack: Watermelon and Yogurt

Lunch: Barbecue chicken salad wrap from left over bbq chicken the night before.

Snack: Frozen Fruit Bars and Popcorn

Dinner: Grilled Salmon, Sauteed Spinach with garlic and olive oil and couscous.

I spend about $150 a week for a family of five and this is a pretty standard days menu of food.

HeatherC

 

[Toby'sFriend]

last night was a meal centered around our Vegetarian son. We do family meals for him two to three times a week, the rest of the week he cooks for himself.

One bag 15 bean mix soaked over night - then saute them in a small amount olive oil cooking spray with whatever veggies I have on hand. This is a great way to clear out the veggie bin of stuff that needs to be used. Last night it was about 1/2 a red onion, broccoli, zucchini, squash, and about 1/3 of a package of mushrooms. I also had some cherry tomatoes from our garden but we don't like those cooked. I diced them up and put them into the mixture after we had cooked it.

We put these in toasted whole wheat pita bread, carrot sticks on the side. The non-Vegans in the family usually sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.

My little guy is a corn on the cob freak and it insisting we have it with every meal right now so I boiled him an ear of corn.

Some of us had organic 2% milk, Some of us had Soy milk, one person had a beer and Ice Tea was also available for after everybody drank their milk.

The rest of the bean mix my older son saved to make soup with today. He usually creates these as he goes and sometimes it turns out great and sometimes it is disastrous. He'll throw some diced tomatoes and whatever bags of frozen veggies he can find into a pot and cook for awhile. Sometimes it turns out great, sometimes blech.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone!!

Last night was Grilled Chicken with green beans (from the garden). Our Dessert was watermelon slices and our appetizer was a tomoato (Garden) and Mozzerella Salad with a touch of olive oil & Vinegar & topped with fresh Basil and Oregano (garden again!) Water to drink with hint of lime.

This morning was Mickey Head WAffles topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries and blackberries! Milk to drink (2 toddlers and a pregnant mommy means milk is a must and it goes like CRAZY!!! )

Tonight, I am still at a loss for what to make, I know we will have just a regular veggie and lettuce salad, but still can't think of the main meal Since DH works across the street, I have to get lunch ready first

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

I look forward to seeing more from this thread. We need healthy meal ideas. Both DH and I need to lose weight, and I want to impress healthier eating habits on the kids. Plus, after the shock I just got at our bills, we need to save to. So we are trying to find a balance between healthy and economical.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Morning everyone!!

Last night was Grilled Chicken with green beans (from the garden). Our Dessert was watermelon slices and our appetizer was a tomoato (Garden) and Mozzerella Salad with a touch of olive oil & Vinegar & topped with fresh Basil and Oregano (garden again!) Water to drink with hint of lime.

This morning was Mickey Head WAffles topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries and blackberries! Milk to drink (2 toddlers and a pregnant mommy means milk is a must and it goes like CRAZY!!! )

Tonight, I am still at a loss for what to make, I know we will have just a regular veggie and lettuce salad, but still can't think of the main meal Since DH works across the street, I have to get lunch ready first

Now I see how the first bold came about!!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Last night for dinner we had

Salad - romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, candy onions, yellow pepper and celery with a balsamic vinegrette dressing. Most of the veggies came from the local Amish farm.

Fresh lima beans streamed - Amish farm

Lean pork chops with ketchup or Heinz 57 sauce on top and then topped with the rest of the candy onion. We bake it at 325 for about 45 minutes.


Today:
Breakfast - DH bran cereal with skim milk
me - Trader Joe's oatmeal with flax seed and some dehydrated blueberries, grapes

snacks:
fruit - peaches, apple (amish farm), watermelon, grapes or bananas

Lunch
DH - left over salad from last night an maybe some of the leftover pork chops (not sure since DH packs his own lunch)
me - salad from last night topped with salt-free tuna with candy onions and fat free miracle whip. Fat free and sugar free pudding.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

I've been on the What's for Dinner thread over on the Community Board for a couple of months now. Ya'll might want to take a look there....there's some yummy stuff and a recipe index that Lindsay keeps updated in post #1.

Some meatless, alot of fish, pasta. Not all completely healthy but easily tweaked!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1058064

 

[GlennandAnn]

This is a great thread!! Last night we had boneless, skinless chicken breasts marinated in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and oregano and then grilled. We had Hawaiian rolls, baby carrots with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil sauce. and Greek potatoes. Tonight, not so healthy, but really delicious: potato pancakes and pierogies!!

Ann

 

[mjbaby]

Like many of you, we're trying to find the ideal balance between nutrition, taste, and cost. I probably could cut my food bill to the bone - but do I really want to eat the results? We buy shares in a cow and pig twice each year, and also purchase chemical- and hormone-free chickens. The total cost for our meat products comes to around $2.25 a pound. Definitely not the cheapest meat available, but excellently priced for the quality.

Anyway, tonight's dinner is pork cubes skewered with eggplant (from our garden) and red onion (from the farm market), marinated in my own herbal marinade. I'll also saute some green beans (from the garden) in olive oil and garlic and then either some rice or whole wheat couscous (Trader Joe's). My kids will eat all of this - I do not make separate meals.

Tomorrow will likely be broccoli rabe sauteed with whatever pork is left over from tonight, along with broth and maybe some onion and garlic. This will be served over pasta.

At some point, I want to make a tomato pie since I've got potatoes coming out my ears. Although I'll can a good amount of plain tomatoes and roasted tomato sauce, I still want to make sure I can find enough ways to eat them fresh and not waste (tomato and bacon sandwiches on a nice firm white bread - like eating sunshine!)

And...here's a tomato and squash recipe for those of you also up to your ears in both:

Slice however many tomatoes and squash you need to fill whatever it is you're cooking them in (I use a pie plate or low casserole) and set aside. In a bowl, mix together several cloves of chopped garlic, a tablespoon of salt, two teaspoons of ground black pepper, a cup of breadcrumbs, ahalf cup grated parmesan cheese and some chopped herbs - basil, thyme, oregano or marjaram are all good choices. Layer the veggies and bread crumbs in the pan, ending with the crumbs, and sprinkle with olive oil or even some good broth. Bake in a pretty hot over - 400 isn't out of the question - until the breadcrumbs have lightly browned and the veggies have given off some juice.

Enjoy! I like to eat this as a complete lunch with a glass of ice tea. For dinner, a nice steak off the grill is an excellent accompanyment.

 

[mickeyfan2]

This is a great thread!! Last night we had boneless, skinless chicken breasts marinated in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and oregano and then grilled. We had Hawaiian rolls, baby carrots with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil sauce. and Greek potatoes. Tonight, not so healthy, but really delicious: potato pancakes and pierogies!!

Ann

What are Greek potatoes?

 

[Toby'sFriend]

today

Breakfast
Enviro Kids Corn Flakes with blueberries and strawberries
Soy Milk for the kids
I hate Soy Milk, I used Organic 2% on mine
oldest added Flax Seed to his
Orange Juice
coffee for me

The berries are from a local farm stand. He isn't certified organic but he swears to me that he doesn't spray chemical pesticides on his farm.

Lunch
Smart Balance Peanut Butter on Whole Wheat Triscuits
carrot sticks with fat free dip
Lays Baked Chips
The middle son doesn't like Smart Balance so he'll probably make himself a ham, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. Tomato from my garden, lettuce from the farmer's market
Ice Tea

Snacks
Trail Mix from Trader Joes for the little guy, the others pick and choose from the cabinets on their own
The older 2 kids will probably finish off the bag of Lays Baked Chips

We have 2 peaches left and I'm sure they'll be eaten by somebody

Dinner
won't be healthy or budget. It is the oldest son's birthday and he wants to go to Moe's Burrito. They do Tofu there.

 

[ducklite]

This is from Great Bread Machine Recipes by Norman A. Garrett. It makes a 1½-lb loaf.

Place the following in the order listed into your bread machine:

9 oz. warm water
1½ Tbls. molasses
1½ Tbls. butter (you can substitute margarine)
4 tsps. milk
1 tsp. salt
2¼ cups bread flour
1¼ cups rolled oats (quick-cook oats make a softer bread, I like the traditional oats for a chewier product)
1 Tbl. dough enhancer (optional - I don't have this, and never miss it)
1½ Tbls. brown sugar
1 tsp. active dry yeast.

*For Panasonic/National machines use 2 tsp. yeast for 1½-pound loaf.

Set the timer on your bread machine and walk away.

Nutritional Analysis (per loaf)
calories 1834
calories from fat 14%
protein 55 g
carbs 334 g
fat 29 g
sat. fat 13 g
cholesterol 47 mg (if using butter)
sodium 2182 mg
fiber 15 g

Thank you! That sounds delicious, can't wait to make it!

Anne

 

[Juliah]

Great thread. Thanks OP!

Yesterday...
Breakfast:
Homemade blueberry muffins made with white whole wheat flour, canola oil, and ground flax seed (best blueberry muffins I've ever made: http://coconutlime.blogspot.com/2007/08/virtuous-blueberry-muffins.html)
Grapenuts cereal
Toast--Low-carb whole grain bread from Great Harvest bakery
2% milk
o.j.

Lunch:
Leftover homemade pizza on whole wheat crust
water

Dinner:
Sirloin burgers on whole wheat buns w/tomatoes from grandma's garden
Mac & cheese made with whole wheat mac, ricotta, cheddar, and parmesan cheeses, and winter squash
Green bean casserole
(OK, so I lose points for the green bean casserole, but my DD is sick, and it's her favorite comfort food.)
water

Snacks:
Breyer's Carb Smart ice cream
Garcia Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips (available from Amazon.com)

So far today...
Breakfast:
Whole wheat blueberry muffins, whole wheat Morning Glory muffins, both from Great Harvest
2% milk
o.j.

 

[Beca]

What a great thread!!! My dd was a very sick little baby, and remained sick for the 1st three years of her life. In desperation, along with trying MANY things, I switched her to almost entirely organic foods....expensive, absolutely! But, she has been SOOO healthy for the last two years. I'm sure growing out of the "baby stage" has a lot to do with that....but, I think the food I started feeding her did too....the changes were instantaneous. I never realized how powerful food could be (or, should I say pesticides/preservatives could be) until I saw the changes in our family firsthand. So, we are definitely "organic" people. We are not 100% organic (my dd still loves her occasional donut and slurpee), but we are about 80% organic.

I will try to post on this thread, but I am not so good about posting daily...although I should...it would definitely keep me honest. I did want to post one of my FAVORITE super-easy soup recipes for anyone who was looking for something yummy and easy. We serve this with organic garlic toast (we really like Ruby's Organic breads...keep the bread in the freezer and pull out only what you need....microwave in a wet paper towel for 30 seconds or so, and the toast becomes super soft).

Super Easy Organic Chicken Soup:
1 box of Swanson's Organic Chicken Broth
4 frozen Organic Chicken tenderloins (Whole foods sells these in 2lb. bags)
Organic Baby carrots sliced thin (amount to taste)
Organic Celery sliced thin (amount to taste)
Pepper (optional)
Tinkyada organic brown rice pasta (sold at Whole foods and Sprouts)...I use four handfulls.

Pour the chicken broth into a sauce pan, and add the frozen chicken, celery and carrots. Bring to a boil. When the chicken is cooked, add take out the chicken and add the pasta. Shred the chicken and return to the pan.

Serve with garlic toast (I don't know why....but, chicken noodle soup is SOO yummy with garlic toast).

This is a staple in our house.

Thanks again for the thread!! I cannot wait to read other meal ideas!!

 

[jennyf917]

My son started Kindergarten this week, and I've decided that rather than let him buy gross fatty school lunches we'd pack his. He told me what to pack, but I'm reading this thread for ideas for next week's lunches. So if you have any, let me know! This week he is taking: peanut butter (natural) and strawberry jam sandwiches on whole wheat (organic, free of corn syrup) bread, celery sticks, strawberries and raspberries (both on sale 2/$4), and juice box sized soy milk (he's allergic to regular milk) that I got at Whole Foods for $14 for a case of 18. I'm jealous of his lunch!

Anyway, for dinner tonight we are having grilled chicken with rice and black beans (I steam the rice in low sodium chicken broth for extra flavor) with salsa verde. We'll probably have some broccoli or steamed stir fry mix vegetables with that.

 

[ladysoleil]

I've been lazy since it's just me at home lately, so I've been eating a lot of takeout, last night was sushi. Probably not the greatest but still beats McDonalds.

I did have a good pasta dish over the weekend though- pasta tossed with a bit of olive oil. We had it with sauteed mushrooms, a bit of turkey sausage and plenty of broccoli. I'm going to make that again this week, it was really good and easy. I topped mine with some cracked black pepper and a bit of fresh grated Parmesan, DH skipped that since he doesn't like either. I use the Barilla Plus pasta to sneak a little more nutrition in there.

Keep the easy ideas coming, I've been too unmotivated to cook so healthy and quick stuff is inspirational- it feels doable to me.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

What a great thread.


Breakfast

Cheerios, banannas, strawberries w/ organic milk

Lunch

Grilled cheese w/ bacon & tomatoe on whole wheat with some baked chips.


Dinner

Lemon caper chicken w/ basmati rice and a caesar salad.

Veggie daughter will have caesar salad w/ grillled shrimp


Snacks- I am pretty lenient w/ snacks they get to pick what they want within reason. Fruit, pretzels, yogurt etc.

 

[mjbaby]

My son started Kindergarten this week, and I've decided that rather than let him buy gross fatty school lunches we'd pack his. He told me what to pack, but I'm reading this thread for ideas for next week's lunches. QUOTE]

Oh, don't get me started on school lunches! Mercy, I could go on and on...and my son's school is less than a mile from two large CSA-type farms and within 5 miles of three large farm markets. And yet....lunch is nuggetized, fried, battered, whatever into total unrecognizability.

For his lunch, I'm planning on bento-style things. The school is a nut-free environment and I'm not interesting in buying lots of lunchmeat so there will likely be minimal sandwiches though the year. But things like fresh veggies and hummus for dipping are on the menu, along with apple slices, homemade biscuits and jam, soup in a thermos, stirfried veggies and either noodles or rice (don't need to be kept hot, but should still be warm at lunchtime), rice balls (sticky rice molded in the palm or in a special mold - I've seen stars and all kind of shapes - sometimes with meat or other filling inside) and soy sauce for dipping.

Lots of great lunch ideas at veganlunchbox.com (even if you're not vegan) and cookingcute.com - check 'em out!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Great thread.

Tonight will be Chicken Marbella:
5-6 chicken breasts
½ garlic, minced
1/8 c. diced oregano
¼ c red wine vinegar
½ c olive oil
½ c pitted prunes, chopped
½ c sliced Spanish olives
¼ c capers with a bit of juice
3 bay leaves
½ c brown sugar
½ c white or red wine

Marinate over night. Bake 350 for 40 minutes.

Last night I made a soup in the crockpot:
1 box of Swanson's Organic Chicken Broth
1 pound ground turkey (browned)
Baby carrots
Celery
White onion
Pepper (optional)
3/4 cup Brown Rice

Throw everything in the crockpot and turned it on low.