Cooking for two, how do I plan, and shop?

Question

I have a 4 y-o daughter, and it is just the two of us. I am really busy as I work 3 jobs and go to school full time. I don't have a lot of money to spend on food, but would like to make things that we can make together. She is good at following directions, and excited about helping. We need stuff that is healthy, quick, and inexpensive. It would be great to find stuff that is fun to make, and some things that she can make on her own, like for breakfast when we're in a hurry. She already makes her own toaster breakfasts, but something else would be nice.

Answer 1

Wow, your a good mom!!! Teaching her how to cook is awesome in itself, but that time is something she will never forget!!!! I am going to give you some ideas, and I hope they help.

Italian dressing is a staple in my home....it works with so many things!!!

On shopping day, buy alot of different veggies and canned beans, like lima, chick peas, butter beans,

Buy pastas.

When you get home from shopping, prepare the veggies, even if it is a pain in the butt. So they are in storage bags in the fridge.

When you come home from work, take the veggies out, toss with salad dressing and add pasta's....add beans into this for protien, or top with pre cooked chicken strips that are not frozen.

Or the veggies can be sauted, add rice and a sauce you both like and there you have stir fry.

The chicken strips in a bag that are pre cooked are a life saver and easy to deal with and they are really good.

You can also have MEXICAN nights, tacos are cheap and easy and she will have fun "building" them. Beans in a can are not expensive and box of Mexican rice, well its heaven in a box if you buy Zaterains Mexican Rice.

You could have appitizer night, roll up ham and cheese rolls, turkey and cheese rolls, have a special bowl for mayo or mustard and add pickles, chips, pretzles, crakers, some fruit, fruit dip (it lasts a long time in the fridge, so you will get several uses out of it.

Make roll ups. add anything you want to tortillas and roll, buy a condiment to dip them in and have fun.

Easy as heck good baked spaghetti, take noodles, cheese, spaghetti sauce and you could add meat with onions and garlic and spices and bake, or just opt for noodles sauce and cheese...bake at 350 for 30 minutes, yum....or add some diced pre cooked chicken....all these things, she can do with you!!

I hope these suggestions were good for you...there is no secret to shopping because your always going to buy to much.....its the law of averages!!!

Let me know how it works out!!

Answer 2

You can make pancakes together in the morning (just 2 cups Bisquick, 1/2 cup applesauce, to texture that you want for pancakes soymilk (can be cow milk) and 1 tbsp oil - mix and fry in frying pan). You can put the left over amount in a container and use it again next day.
You can make quite a few meals- baked chicken (2 chicken breasts), baked potatoes, veggies - I buy in bulk items that are frozen and take out only what I need, then leave the rest frozen.

Answer 3

Try www.foodnetwork.com and look for some choices or look through different shows where they plan out meals even breakfast. Try like 30 minute meals Rachel Ray always has good affordable meals you can make in a half hour.