Help needed. Food rut hell!

[dogsagoodun]

I really need some help. I am a decent cook; can turn my hands to most things. We have always.ate well and had meals cooked from scratch.

However, something's gone wrong. My meal planning has gone to pot. We are not eating a balanced diet. I am spending too much money and wasting too much food.

I think the reasons for this are:
My five year old had turned into the world's fussiest eater.
DH is never home for dinner so I seem to make less effort for me and the kids.
I am on my own all week with three children and I am shattered.

My beautiful six month old has just started weaning and I want to get her into good habits. We're BLW.

Can anyone help? Where do I begin?

[Vibbe]

I get inspiration from food blogs or www.bbcgoodfood.com/

With regards to meal planning, I'd start with looking at what needs to be used and how that can be turned into healthy meals (for instance by searching for the ingredients on bbc goodfood).

I tend to make our meal plans on Fridays, then do a big shop on Saturday morning.
I make big batches of some of the meals that take longer to cook, then freeze them in batches, so they are easy and quick to reheat and serve during the week - things like bolognese, lasagne, stews, baking and so on.

I don't know if there already is a thread about meal plans, but maybe it would help with inspiration if people shared their plans for dinners?

[dogsagoodun]

Thank you so much. That website is really helpful. Feeling inspired!

[CarolBornAMan]

I would recommend the book everybody everyday.. Best cookbook i own and perfect for you as it is aimed at families with weaning kids and yiunger children. Basically build up meals so you can adapt for everyone without having to make 3 different meals. I own about 100 cook books and this is only one i would keep. Lots of good recipes and lots of ideas on how to vary meals with just a few ingredients.. He has a great pasta basic re ipe where you use it to make like a risotto which is just lovely.. Lots of ideas for chicken, fish and lentils..

[Lookslikerain]

I also love the bbc good food website. And meal planning. I actually have no idea how I shopped before I meal planned! I think I must have just wandered aimlessly around sainsburys.

I meal plan and do my online shop over the weekend then get it delivered on a Monday. Shopping online means I can keep an eye on the total and if it's getting a bit high, jig things around, put back non-essentials and maybe alter the meal plan to include something cheaper. We generally have very little food waste as I only buy what I know we'll need.

Have you got lots of cook books? If so, maybe try picking one new recipe each week to try. I LOVE recipe books but it is easy to end up buying them, having a flick through then never cooking from them.

In case it helps with inspiring you, this week we have eaten:

• macaroni cheese with bacon
  
• sausage and puy lentil casserole
  
• crispy breaded chicken and asparagus
  
• lamb mince curry with peas
  
• Singapore noodles
  
• turkey and cranberry meatloaf

[Lookslikerain]

I thought I'd just add that my DH is not usually home for dinner either so I eat with the children, then he heats it up when he gets in or takes it for lunch the next day.

My DD is 16 months and we did blw last year. She's always eaten proper meals with us and she loves it. I like trying new recipes and so the DC are always trying new things too. My DS is 3.5 now and has only recently come out the other side of super-fussiness so I totally sympathise!

[dogsagoodun]

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate your replies. I will check out that cookbook Carolbornaman, it sounds right up my street!

Here are my meals for this week. What do you think?

Lasagne and chunky salad (apple, grapes, cucumber, raisins - the only way I can get.ds to eat salad)

Salmon, broccoli and lemon tray bake with homemade wedges.

Homemade meatballs (using leftover sauce from Monday's lasagne)

Lemon chicken, roasted veg and wedges (to use up potatoes)

Homemade pizzas on Friday using fridge leftovers.

There doesn't seem much variety, although I am limited with fussy ds.and I can't stand making more than one meal.

What about breakfast ideas? I think is probably our unhealthiest meal of the day!

[50shadesofbrown]

I've just discovered meatloaf. A lot cheaper than a joint of meat, especially if you can get the mince on special offer, & cooks quicker.

Get your food processor out.

Skin 2 onions & put through the slicer blade on the processor. Or roughly chop by hand before putting them in.
Add 900g minced meat, about half lean beef & half pork.
Add 1 raw egg
add 75-100g bread crumbs
add big pinch of dried sage & thyme, or small bunch of fresh thyme & 2 fresh sage leaves
Add 1 tsp English mustard
add a dash worcester sauce

Turn on the food processor & blend until it's reasonably smooth.

Turn out onto a roasting tin, Shape into a smooth long 'loaf'. Cover with 250-300g unsmoked streaky bacon.

Roast in the oven (preheated) at 200°C for 1 hour.

This is good hot, with normal things to have with a roast. Also good cold, in sandwiches, with salad etc.

[dogsagoodun]

Thanks lookslikerain. I BLW my other children too and loved it. They have always eaten a huge.variety of things. The fussiness is driving me mad. He would happily eat a roast chicken dinner five nights a week if I'd let him.

I eat with the children too and save DH's.

[dogsagoodun]

Meatloaf sounds lovely except I.don't have a food processor. Maybe time for an investment!

[Crunchymunchyhoneycakes]

I make meatloaf and I don't use the food processor to mix it. I think as long as you chop the onions (I put grated carrot and some celery in mine too) then mine turns out ok, I make mine in a loaf tin though.