As working Mom& no time to prepare meals, unhealthy to dine out especially with my 6-yr old kid?

Answer 1

My roommate and I do the frozen food thing when we're too busy to cook. Healthy Choice has some great, kid-friendly meals. Try not to buy anything like Lunchables, because they come with candy and sugary juice. I would recommend you go to Sam's Club or Costco if this is something that will happen often and try to find some healthy frozen foods. My niece is 7 and she learned to prepare them herself in the microwave when she's hungry, and her favorite things are the Broccoli & Beef meal from Healthy Choice and Breakfast Hot Pockets.
Besides being healthier than dining out - when I eat out I usually drink a soda or end up ordering more than I really eat - it's also cheaper.
Good luck!

Answer 2

I'm a working mom with 4 kids, and we rarely eat out. Crock pot and slow cookers are great. I also cook double meals on the weekends when I am not working. Giveing them fruit for a snack when I get home and then preparing a meal that will be a bit late is also an alternative. Breakfast for dinner can be fun too!

Answer 3

Here is a ton of suggestions/ things i do
Do meals on your day off like Sat or Sun or when ever you have a day. Make several things and freeze them and or put in microwave containers. Also start looking for quick meals and complete meals like Casseroles. They can be filled with veggies and made low fat. Also buy a vegetable steamer and buy frozen veggies they will be done in 15 to 20 min and nice and healthy and serve with a TV dinner or burgers you make on like a George Forman Grill. Salads are quick and easy and you can make them interesting with frozen chicken fingers or pieces of meat. Also try to take the meat out before you leave for work so when you come home it is deforsted and you just start to cook. You can do boxed sides like mac and cheese or stove top stuffing and scalloped potatoes. Throw the veggies in the steamer and you have a meal in like 30min to 45 min. Also remember leftovers are your friend. Make more than just enough for one night. Meatloaf last like two to three days and you just make new veggies every night.
Crock pot is allways a good choice and you can get the crock pot bags that make clean up easy
Also i make homeade pizza once a week . Store Pizza crust and sauce pepproni from the deli shredded carrots, and mushrooms with a salad takes like 5 min to prep and 15 min to cook.
Working parent that does all the cooking

Answer 4

On the days your home cook foods like casseroles, roasts etc. Freeze the left overs and then make meals from them by mixing and matching and adding different vegetables with each meal. It makes nights so much easier when all you have to do is throw a few freezer packets into the microwave! Get creative the possibilities are endless!!

Answer 5

Healthy meals can be really fast to prepare. Especially if you take the time to prep things for the coming week.

What has helped me save tons of time is having a meal schedule. For example Monday is "gnocchi night" and Friday is "pizza night" and on my time off I spend an hour chopping/cutting/pre-cooking things to save me time.

There are lots of cookbooks w/ healthy fast meals in mind too. Try getting one of those to get things started.

Answer 6

You can use a crock pot and put something on before you go to work..... do a yahoo search for Crock pot recipes.

Another thing you can do is a search for 20 minute meals or quick meals....

sometimes you can make a healthy meal from a good sandwich and soup, salad or cut up fruit....

it's cheaper eating in.

lots of alternatives. maybe check into these things in your spare time. and take care!

Answer 7

Don't make it a habit. a lot of meals can be made rather quick. look for quick made recipe books. one way to do it also is to find ways to allow 6yo to help around to make the meals. it is a lot of fun for the kids (they usually eat what they make) and allows you to bond more and teach them to cook at the same time.

Answer 8

just order healthy