Healthy Snacking: Prepping for the Whole Week

Can I have these gummies? Can I have a piece of candy? I'm huuuuuungryyyyyyy!!!!

I realized a few weeks ago that my children our family had a snacking problem.  The problem wasn't so much that we were hungry, but what we were choosing to snack on.  Crackers, leftover candy from whatever recent holiday, gummies, and cheese were our go to choices.  I preach to my children the importance of eating healthy, but I was part of the problem because I wasn't making these foods readily available for little hands to grab.  There was always a bowl of apples on the counter, but every time you're hungry you don't want an apple, right?  So I knew I needed to make a change.

I bundled up both of the kiddos and we headed to the store!  They were going to choose the fruits and veggies they liked and thought they would eat throughout the week.

Here's what we ended up with:

Healthy Snacks for the week!!

• strawberries
• grapes
• sliced cucumbers
• sliced carrots
• chopped iceburg lettuce with shredded carrots and diced cucumbers

Just buying the healthy food wasn't enough.  I knew that if they were going to eat this food willingly, I had to get it all ready for whenever the feeding frenzy would begin.  So, I got to work.  I washed, peeled, and cut every vegetable and fruit we bought; packaged them up and we were set!  But we needed the final touch...ranch dressing!  If they will willingly eat carrots and cucumbers for a snack, I am more than happy for them to pair it with ranch--whatever it takes!

Yesterday morning Little Missy came upstairs with this in her hands:

Success!!  She did this all on her own, so much better than a processed pack of gummies!


Want to load your kids up with fruits and veggies?  Try this.

1.  Take them to your favorite produce place.
2.  Have your kiddos pick out what looks good to them.  They will be more willing to eat their own selections.
3.  Once you're home, wash, cut, and prepare all fruits and veggies.
4.  Place your prepared food in kid-friendly containers and put it low enough in the refrigerator so they can get it on their own.
5.  Let them know they are free to eat these whenever they get hungry, or whatever your snacking rules may be.  I told my kids this was the food they were always allowed to have and they didn't need my permission to get it.  (Would I really tell them, "No, you can't have a carrot right now?" ?!?)
6.  Step back and give yourself a pat on the back!  Way to go Mama!

What snacking options do your kiddos enjoy?

Menu Plan: Week of 3.8.15

Menu Plan Week 3.8.15

Breakfast

Cereal, yogurt, or scrambled egg sandwiches

Lunch 

school lunch and/or packed lunch for Little Man, Miss Priss eats at daycare, homemade Taco Soup all week for me

Dinner

Chicken tacos, rice, refried beans

Omelettes, bacon, fruit

Hot dogs, baked beans, peas, applesauce

Pepperoni Stromboli, salad

Chicken nuggets, french fries, apples

Peanut butter sandwiches, chips, fruit, veggies

True Cost of Supper

Hoisin Chicken Kebobs with Bok Choy and Peppers

I found this amazing recipe here from Food Network.  I found a deal on this magazine and was able to get a year's subscription for only $5!  Score!  There are so many amazing recipes, but they can seem a little intimidating.  We absolutely love to grill and I love it because there is much less clean up in the kitchen.  I'll do ANYTHING to have less mess--well ANYTHING may be a stretch, there's probably a limit somewhere there, but I haven't found it yet!  

Here's how they turned out:

I must say the chicken was wonderful.  It tasted as good as anything you could order at an Asian restaurant and I love knowing exactly what went into our food.  The last year or so I have been really trying to reduce the processed food we eat.  It's a delicate balance between expense and health.  Isn't it so sad that we often have to choose between those two?  Eating healthy is expensive!  Thankfully, we have a garden that is able to help with that cost.

Here's the breakdown of expense for this dish.  You'll see a few processed foods in there, especially the hoisin sauce.  I chose to take the easier way out on this one.  If you have a good, inexpensive hoisin sauce recipe I would love to have it!  We will definitely be making this again!

Hoisin Chicken Kebobs

Chicken Thighs  $4.48

Soy Sauce  $.08 (a staple)

Fresh Ginger  $.24

Asian Seasoning $2.59

Hoisin Sauce $2.39

Sesame Seeds $.50

Green Onion $.59

Kebobs $.99

Total: $11.86

Sides

Rice $3.98

Bok Choy $1.58

Red Pepper $1.50

Total: $7.06

Meal Total: $18.92 or $3.15/person (My family of 4 plus my parents!)

I will happily take this total for feeding all 6 of us.  There weren't any leftovers, but everyone left the table full!

Remember: I don't include the full price of an item if it is a staple for our family.  What is a staple for your family will obviously be different than what is for my family.  If something is not a staple for us and I buy it specifically for one dish, then I will include the full price of that item.

Family Reactions

Daddy: "I wish I could have eaten more, but I wasn't feeling the best." Bubbie: "Really good and the rice was super good." Sissy: "I didn't eat the chicken.  I ate applesauce." (Anyone noticing a pattern here? Thank goodness we're well stocked on applesauce.)

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that more often than not cooking supper at home is cheaper and better and healthier...

Brown Beans and Cornbread with Tomatoes and Applesauce

Brown Beans:       $2

Fatback:               $.15--Kickin' it old school southern with this one! 

Cornmeal:             $.75

Milk:                     $.33

Flour:                    $.23
Sugar:                   $.29
Baking Powder:    $.08
Butter:                  $.38
Applesauce:         $.50
Tomatoes:            $ FREE from the garden!
Onion:                  $.24

Total: $4.95 or $.83/person for 6 people with leftovers!!

My parents are in town so the per person total is for all 6 of us!  Not bad at all!  If you are from the South then brown beans and cornbread is most likely a nostalgic comfort food for you.  It is a great, cheap meatless alternative.  My hubby is definitely a meat and potatoes, hold the potatoes, kind of man and this is one of his favorite meals.  Top it with freshly chopped onion or a little chow chow and you're good to go!

 Tip: Try replacing one meal a week with beans and you can save a ton of money!

Family Reactions

Daddy: "Top mine with some onion!"  Mommy: "Put them in the crock pot and dinner only takes a couple of minutes!"  Bubbie: "Really, really, really, really good."  Sissy: "I didn't eat brown beans.  I like cornbread."

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that more often than not cooking supper at home is cheaper and better and healthier...

Ham & Swiss Poppyseed Rolls with Applesauce and Broccoli

Ham & Swiss Rolls
Deli Ham $2.50
Swiss Cheese $2.89
Poppy Seeds: These are expensive, but last forever.  I'm going to estimate about $.50 for this dish.
Mustard: Ballpark estimate of $.25
Worcestershire Sauce: estimate of $.15
Dried minced onions: estimate of $.10
Butter: $.75
Hawaiian Rolls: $3.99

Total: $11.13 or $2.78/person for our family of 4

Sides
Applesauce: $.50
Broccoli: $1.09

Total: $1.59 or $.40/person


Total for Dinner and Dessert: $12.72 or $3.18/person

Well this dinner didn't go exactly as planned.  Bad News: I don't have a picture.  Good News: We got home really late from t-ball and baseball games, BUT because I had menu planned and I knew I had the ingredients on hand for a quick meal, we were able to eat at home and healthier than if we went through a drive through!

So...instead of a picture of food, here's a cute picture of the kiddos from baseball!

Family Reactions

Daddy: "We need these at least once a week!" Mommy: "They were yummy and super quick!"  Bubbie: "I like the ham and cheese, but don't love the topping." Sissy: "I didn't eat it."

Tip: Make sure you maintain a well stocked pantry and buy when ingredients are on sale.  This greatly reduces your dinner costs and ensures that you aren't buying multiple staples in one week, just to make one meal.

True Cost of Supper

Here to prove that eating supper at home rather than going out is cheaper and better and healthier...

Buffalo Shrimp Salad

sorry no picture =( I completely forgot!

Lettuce: $1.79

Celery: $1.69

Croutons: $1.29

Buffalo sauce: $.50 (This is an estimate, we use this stuff like crazy, so I'm only accounting for the portion we used.)

Gouda: $5.49 (A bit of a splurge and I'm including the entire price because even though we will eat what's left, we wouldn't have bought it otherwise.)

Bleu Cheese dressing: $2.00

Shrimp: $6.24 (Buy shrimp that aren't peeled and raw, it doesn't take long to peel them and is a huge $ saver!)

Butter: $.10

Total: $19.10 or $4.78/person DEFINITELY cheaper than eating shrimp at a restaurant!

Recipe

1. Saute shrimp with about 1 Tablespoon of butter.

2. Mix in about 1/2 cup of our favorite buffalo sauce. We love Frank's!

3. Cut up lettuce, Gouda, and celery.  Mix together in a salad bowl.

4. Top with shrimp and some of the sauce still in the pan.

5. Add croutons.

6. Use your favorite salad dressing.  Nothing can beat the taste of buffalo sauce and bleu cheese!

Family Response

Daddy: "Love it!"   Mommy: "So good and easy!"  Bubbie: "Really good!"   Sissy: "I didn't eat it."  =)

August Meal Plan and Shopping Week 2

I think I am one of those weird people who actually like grocery shopping and meal planning.  There is something so exciting about planning out good, healthy meals and knowing I am going to have food in the house for the week.  Such a stress reliever to not have to worry about rushing to the store last minute every day!  Meal planning is a must folks!  Trust me--you'll thank me later!

When it comes to meal planning, I have tried it all.  Monthly, bimonthly-meaning every 2 weeks, (does any one else get confused and wonder if that means twice a month or every two months?  Maybe it's just me...), and weekly.  I think with school just around the corner and life about to get CRAAAZY we're going to stick with weekly.  It seems that something is always popping up last minute and weekly shopping will be more flexible.

We don't necessarily plan out what meal we're going to eat which day, but just have different options available.  I know, living on the wild side, right?  =)

If you are dying to eat like us, here's our grocery list!  A little higher than I planned on, but we needed a few things that are only once a month items.

Food Lion
Whole Wheat English Muffins                         $1.50
Sugar                                                             $1.97- .35 Savings Center Coupon (hadn't planned on this,                                                                           a coupon printed when I scanned my card, so I took                                                                                     advantage of the savings.  Sugar coupons are rare!)
Butter Snap Pretzels                                       $2.50
Croutons                                                        $1.29
Wonder Bread                                               $2.39 (.25 back from Ibotta, .25 back from Savings Star)
Bleu Cheese Dressing                                     $2.00
Ranch Dressing                                              $2.00
Bagel Thins                                                    $1.99
Turkey Pepperoni                                           $3.49 (Ssshh, don't tell my family it's turkey!)
Shrimp                                                           $7.99 - 1.25 Coupon Hub digital coupon
Shaved Ham                                                   $2.50
Celery                                                            $1.69
Lettuce                                                           $1.49
Onion                                                             $1.28 (.25 back from Checkout 51)
Dozen Eggs                                                    $2.08 (.25 back from Ibotta)
Cool Whip                                                     $1.22
Whole Milk Mozzarella                                   $3.69
String Cheese                                                $3.69 (coupon didn't work...)
Milk                                                              $3.79 (.25 back from Ibotta)
Greek Vanilla Yogurt                                      $4.99
Hawaiian Rolls                                               $3.99
Gouda                                                           $5.49
Chapstick                                                      $1.89 (ooooh my sun burnt lips!)              
Kids Soap X2                                                $4.00-1.00 instant savings
coupon for $4 off when you spend $45 or more!
                                                          Total: $63.91-$1.00 rebates: $62.91

Grants
Oooooh how I love that this local grocery store is now in our town!!!
Chicken breasts                                             $5.54 (half this week, half for meals next week)
Bacon X 2                                                     $5.58(again, one this week, one next--what a great price!)
Sliced Swiss                                                  $2.89
Polish Sausage                                               $2.14
Fresh Blueberries                                           $2.00
Fresh Raspberries                                          $2.00
Fresh Blackberries                                         $2.00
Fresh Strawberries X 2                                  $4.00
Multi Grain Crackers                                      $2.50
Butter X 2                                                     $6.00 (why is butter so expensive?)
Chive and Onion Cream Cheese                    $2.69
Ketchup X 2                                                 $2.00
Bananas                                                        $1.28 (.49/lb)
Peaches                                                        $3.88 (.99/lb)
Scott Paper Towels                                       $5.00
Peanut Butter M&Ms                                    $.69 (oops...my little treat ;)  )
                                                     Total: $59.34

Weekly Total: $122.25  Monthly Total: $122.25 (BUT we were at the beach for the 1st week...)

A little higher than my goal of $100 a week or $475 for the month, but I think I'll make that up considering there will be carryover foods from this week.  Also, this is for all of our food this week, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The kiddos and I will be eating breakfast and lunch every day here, and the hubby has a separate budget for his lunch out.  His schedule is so sporadic and hectic that some days, rather most days, it is practically impossible for him to drive home.  We also don't have a separate budget for going out to dinner.  We have a $50 entertainment budget and if we decide to eat out somewhere, it comes from there.


I splurged a little on things like Gouda for $6 and a bunch of fresh fruit.  If I buy a few nicer, more expensive things at the grocery store I think I am less likely to want to go out to dinner because I don't feel like I'm missing out and it is still way cheaper than buying a meal.  Do you agree or is that wishful thinking??