will you help me with my shopping list?

Question

i have to go grocery shopping tomorrow, but i have no idea what to get. i will be shopping for a 2 year old and myself. i don't eat as much as i used to anymore, so i would like some ideas for light and healthy meals. we have been doing the typical mac n cheese, hot dogs, ramen noodles..you know, kid friendly meals(plus the hubby is deployed, so i haven't cooked much lately). what would be an alternative to this? i want to get some classic green veggie salad ingredients for me, plus i have been drinking a lot of all fruit smoothies...but what about my son? he can't eat salad very well.
any ideas for a happy medium dish for the both of us? just food ideas(besides my regular milk, eggs, cereal, etc.)..i have the rest of my list set. thanks! :-)

Answer 1

Just because a meal is "kid-friendly" does not mean it is healthy for your child. Mac n cheese, hot dogs, ramen noodles, chicken fingers, fries and fish sticks may be easy, but you can make quick meals that provide a lot more nutrition for your toddler.

However, since you have been feeding your baby unhealthy foods that are high in sugar, salt and msg, he or she probably won't have a taste for good, nutritious food. You will have to start introducing healthy foods into your toddler's diet slowly, and be persistent.

No-sugar applesauce, small fresh fruit pieces, lowfat cottage cheese, steamed veggies (cut up) hard boiled eggs (chopped), sprouted-wheat bread, almond butter, chopped lowfat, low sodium meats, plain yogurt with a little honey and dry oats mixed in, nutritious cereals (nothing sugared), hot cereal like zoom and cream of wheat and brown rice are a few examples.

For both of you, go with whole grains, naturally grown meats, and buy organic whenever possible. Good luck! :-)

Answer 2

Toddlers love finger foods. Meals don't have to be cooked to be healthy. Cheese and crackers with cut up fruit have been staples for my niece and nephew, probably 5-6 meals a week. They also like chicken fingers or fish sticks and fries sometimes as a treat. Rice and bean dishes are healthy and fun in a messy way. There are cookbooks and parenting mags out there (probably online also) that will give you lots of other kid-friendly tips. Good luck!

Answer 3

Have you tried a tater tot casserole? Kids like it because its got tater tots. all you do is put about 1lb grd beef or turkey along the bottom of a small cake pan, flatten it down, add either cream of mushroom or chicken soup and then top the entire thing with frozen tots. then all you do is bake it at about 375f until meat is thoroughly cooked, usually takes about 35 min. you can also add shredded cheese after its done, colby jack is awesome w/it.
Have you made pigs in a blanket? Just use pillsbury croissants or biscuits and dogs. I've noticed that's a good one for football sundays.
Have you tried making all kinds of different pastas? What about rice with low fat cream of chicken soup and diced chicken brst? That one is so easy to make, and you can make extra and divide it up for freezing.

I try to make these as healthy as possible, either low fat or reduced calorie. My fiance is diabetic, and also having pancreatic troubles. So I have had to make many substitutions. But despite that, most of the meals are still very good.

Answer 4

i was at the store yesterday and they had hamburger helpers on sale i didnt realize they were so many different ones and cheap....i brought a couple to try and they are not that bad...and they have tuna....so i was thinking that a person that didnt have much cooking experience could manage quite well with these..you could use ground turkey....pork sausage like for the taco...i made the strognaff and used strips if a beef steak and added some mushrooms and green peppers...with a little expermentation gourmet meals (good meals could be made like add peas to tuna helper..........i was in service i retired msgt 1986 2 0 years air force...i presume your using the commissary the meals will be even cheaper and i know the 2 year old will like them as they are so much like spaghetti...good luck &God bless..........

Answer 5

Ready made pizza dough- choose your own toppings. Crescent rolls- wrap the dough around hotdogs and bake. Quesadillas- very kid-friendly. Grilled cheese sandwich (or any other kind)-I use my George Foreman grill for a panini effect- then cut it into small pieces (quarter). Hope some of these ideas will help.

Answer 6

buy alphabet soup for the kid and animal cookies, too. Also buy fruits and vegetables especially potatoes. Cut the potatoes into animal shapes and fry.

Answer 7

my 2 year old likes steak, meatloaf, chicken, Loves smoked sausages, some fish, pork, she loves ribs, roasts, broccoli, carrots, peas, corn, Brussels sprouts, she loves Mexican foods, well just about anything that I will eat, (only I don't eat the veggies)

Answer 8

the crinkle cut carrots, steam and put on a bit of butter if you like or the baby carrots done the same way, my daughter loved green peas, and ate them with her fingers, try him on fish sticks or chicken nuggets. tater tots, chunky applesauce, pudding, see if he might like cherry tomatoes raw, cut in half. yogurt

Answer 9

Paleo diet its a diet based around eating real food unprocessed

Answer 10

Sounds like you already know what to buy, so just buy it. Try different methods of preparation, not just 'plain'. Use spices like cumin & thyme. You already know what to buy!