ok, help me out here,please

[MerlinsBeard]

reading the how much do u spend per week on food etc thread got me thinking.

Having a crisis of cash right now. I can't spend ANY money this week or next as i need it ALL to pay for direct debits coming out. DP can get the things we need in an emergancy(formula, nappies and toothpaste) luckily i have quite a bit in freezer and random things in cupboard. not much fresh atm i have mushed it for ds2!!

This is where it gets awkward, i have a VERY fussy ds1 nealry 3 witha limited diet(no rice pasta etc), DP also fussy but will eat what is in front of him if its covered in ketchup (hmmmm)

ANother problem is my kitchen is the only room that i have downstairs which means leaving the ds's alone while i cook. can't be done for long time, ds1 is a bit of a bully to ds2(10 months....cruising) so......

i need things that i can cook very very quickly and/or during the afternoon if i can them both to sleep together so i can freeze it to have at a later date.

Also, how do u go about meal planning and sticking to it??!!!

if you email me lovelymarslady at aol dot com then I can send you a copy of my meal planner.

You just fill it in with the meals that work for you and your family. Then when you've collected your recipes you can make them, freeze them, take them out and defrost them on the days that you need them.

I don't really have any suggestions menu wise, just meal planning.

You can make things like chilli (serve with jacket potatoes if your DS won't eat rice), bologneise, casseroles etc.

My children, especially DD (20 months), are often in the kitchen when I am cooking. Even if you can't get the older one to sleep, couldn't you sit him in a corner with some crayons and paper and let him do some colouring? Or stand him on a chair and let him play in the sink? Or stand him on a chair and let him "help" you?

u know what bozza i never thought of that!!!! sleep deprivation doews funny things to ur brain lol!

forgot to sday we have a gas fire down their too but if its only ds1 then taht ok as he can be trusted.

Thanks Bozza and Mars

mom - you could build it up as a treat for him because he is a big boy etc. Although I guess getting them both to bed at the same time would still be preferable.

Message withdrawn

what kind of things have you got in cupboard/freezer right now?