Prepared meals sm
Posted By: Me2 on 2007-12-23
In Reply to: Would anyone use a home meal service? - Ideas wanted....sm
We have a new service in our rural area which has been very successful and branched out. They rent space (have taken chefs courses). There are several different types of foods already prepared and you are given a container and choose which entree and side dish you want, pack it up yourself and just bring it home. Most women working outside the home stop on their way home from the office and love it, all they do is pop it in and warm it up. You sound like you want to do it from home. I don't know what the licensing requirements would be, but busy people need help, perhaps you could check around with local rules and regulations for food handlers. This business took off really well and is expanding to other parts of the state. I will ask my sister who uses it how they charge if you're interested, I'm not sure if it's by the food choices or by the pound. They like the variety of choosing their own diverse food choices, no pots and pans, no dishes, etc.
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I have a lot, so be prepared!!!
I generally have to tape all of my favorites and watch them when I'm not working, though I will try to sneak an hour or two here and there to get some of them in!
Some of my favorites are: Gene Simmons Family Jewels, The Two Coreys, Jon and Kate plus 8, Tori and Dean, Swingtown, CSI, Ice Road Truckers, Army Wives, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Ghost Hunters, 2-1/2 Men, Intervention. I know there are a few I am forgetting, but I just can't think right now... I also love reruns of the Andy Griffith show, All in the Family, Golden Girls, Sanford and Son, Yes Dear, King of Queens (I don't watch those religiously, only when they happen to be on if I'm channel surfing!!)
Yes, I admit it. I AM addicted to TV! LOL! :)
Better to be prepared, then sorry s/m
We lost our power about 2 weeks ago for 24 hours and he was thanking me for my "thinking ahead" otherwise we would have had some really stinky bathrooms! I also make all the boys go outside to do #1 (we live in the country, so no flashing anyone). I am the only female and this helps cut down. Our generator blew up last January when our power went out and can't afford to replace it right now. Hubby was actually on his way out to rent on for $40 a day when the power came back on. Our basement was getting ready to flood because of the sump pump, so we were desperate.
In the summer time, our camper is also charged up so if we get desperate, we can use that too.
Where at in MI? I haven't followed the storm path today, but it looks like we are in for a good one tomorrow and then again on Sunday from what I understand. Hopefully we will have power for Christmas!
Be prepared to melt down there! Scorching! nm
s
Are you prepared to list every risk
How far do you want it to go? Fill out a huge form (that they paid someone to design instead of paying claims), that lists every supposedly avoidable risk imaginable, including amusement park rides, occasional bowling, how often and when you take a walk, if you might be a passenger on the back of someone's motorcycle, etc. Then they can spy on you (instead of paying claims) or encourage your fellow employees to be whistle blowers, catch you doing something that you said you wouldn't do, and deny your insurance! How often do you eat junk food - are you prepared to be completely honest and accurately estimate how often you intend to do that? How often do you exercise - and what if you say you will but for some reason don't? Prepare to lose your coverage over it because they can prove you a liar deliberately cheating the system. That's what this is coming to!
It's a smart thing to be prepared
Pantry is semi full. Could be better stocked, but we've got enough to keep us fed if something happened and we couldn't get to store for a awhile. We've been reading many sites that say people need to be more ready than they are. You never know when an emergency could happen and growing up in an area where we would snow storms lasting for days we were always prepared. Even today you never know when your going to get stuck.
Seeds are very important. If you don't plan and a crisis happens you cannot wait until then as that is what everyone else will be doing. I've read you should have at least 5 or more years of seeds on hand.
I am most definitely ready for a life without credit cards, shopping, etc. I can't even tell you the last time I went to a mall or shopping (except maybe some socks last year). I've got everything I need (clothes and stuff) and with the times the way they are I absolutely hate spending money on anything unless absolutely needed.
Spam - grew up on the stuff and loved it. Now I know what its made of and I would never eat it unless it was desperate times. My dad told me that in other countries it's a delicacy. I said to him yea, right up there with Moxie.
not "prepaid" biscuits - prepared as in the can - tired!
..
Order of protection, change locks and be prepared
x
I have 3 rescue meals (sm)
1) Southwestern Chicken in a crock pot - 4-5 ingredients
This works either with or without the chicken. The chicken can be breasts, tenderloin strips, or legs, doesn't matter.
2 cans corn
2 cans black beans
1 large jar salsa
sour cream or cream cheese to taste
chicken if desired, as explained above
Toss it all in the crock pot, set the crock to low. Come back 3-4 hours later and eat.
2) Chicken casserole, Easy Style
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
Mix the above up with 2 cups of instant rice on the bottom of a casserole baking dish. Top it off with chicken breasts or strips. salt and pepper that chicken to taste. Add whatever other seasoning you want to the chicken while you're at it.
Bake at 350 until the chicken is done.
3) If you have an Aldi, their stir-fry chicken or shrimp in a bag for $3.99 is really good. If I'm feeling extravagant, I toss in an extra bag of jumbo shrimp for another $3.99. Cook according to package directions in about 10-15 minutes total. Cook a cup of instant rice to go with. Feeds 2 adults easy, sometimes we get the kids to take no-thank-you-bites of that one (they're not big fans of veggies, LOL!)
Well skipping meals no matter
what kind of condition you have is not good. I have also heard that thyroid problem causes weight gain, but good food choices should still override this condition. We all have vices, and we all can have excuses. Just keep trying!
Do you plan meals in advance
I'm used to going to the grocery store and just looking around (I do have a list of things I need) and deciding on what to make for dinner while I'm standing there. I've never 'planned' meals before.
I am separated and getting divorced and seriously need to cut back on the food bill. We typically spend $700-800 a month for 4 of us. (food and toiletries)
I use coupons when I have them and most things are generic, but not all. Our bill is so high in part because my husband goes to the store everyday to buy breakfast on his way to work and also has special dietary issues. Right off the top without those two factors, I think I will save about $100 a month. Also, two teenagers who eat nonstop is expensive.
I buy lots of vegetables and try to use less meat/chicken, and more veggies but it doesn't always work! I do make soup often but my kids aren't into that as a main meal, just as part of their meal.
I don't buy sodas so that's not an issue.
Should I make a lot of bean type dishes? my kids would rather starve first! Hmm, maybe not a bad way to cut back...!
Does it save money if you plan your (dinner) meals in advance? Any other tips would be great.
cheap and easy meals?
What are your favorite quick and cheap family meals? I have to bring my grocery budget down. I need some ideas for meals that can be made for about $10. My family is getting tired of spaghetti, chili, pork barbecue sandwiches and sloppy joes. What do YOU whip together on the cheap? I'm all ears.
Healthy meals for fussy 7-10 YO sm
"Yuck, ugh," sick of these words from young kids whose Mom wants them to eat healthy. They are also label readers (believe it or not), want to know where everything is on the food pyramid, yet they balk at everything in front of them. I am so tired of trying to please them and don't want to go against the Mom's rules. Anything tasty and healthy? Forget vegetables!
10 kids all demanding different meals
that would be crazy! I can't even imagine making dinner for 10 kids (I only have 1)
I don't know why many kids don't like vegetables. Perhaps if the parents don't have enough variety of them, or only tasteless overcooked ones.. raw or lightly cooked vegetables taste good and are colorful. I know you weren't recommending the force feeding. I am just reminded of the one time my father thought I should start eating scrambled eggs (which I don't like) because "everyone else eats them." I just swallowed, no chewing. He gave up after 1 time.
do you have Meals-on-Wheels in your area?
nm
I definitely agree with you there. I cook all meals and we
rarely eat out. I am very particular in what I cook and how I cook it. At least food that is eaten early in the day has a better chance of all the calories being burned off. A lot of times as well it will give them that extra boost of energy that they need. We as parents should have taught them how to make correct choices. That part is not the schools problem.
hypoglycemic child- kid friendly meals?
The ped endocrinologist said to cut out all processed sugar. Does anyone have experience with this? Would post any snacks/meals/names of cookbooks?
I'm going to see if our public and church libraries have any diabetic diet cookbooks. I've never liked cookbooks because they always list at least 15 items per meal that would cost a week's worth of our food budget to buy!
It's just the two of us so I don't have to worry about cooking for other family members.
Thank you :)
does your local grocery store off meals you can
buy that you just have to pop in the oven for a little while..I did this last year because I was so busy.. and it was a hit, we had prime rib and fixins, they also have turkey/ham dinners, it might save time and the dinner I got was tasty....(Obviously I am not much of a cook) Just a different idea.
I can't imagine affording all those meals out, but I have some suggestions sm
I usually cook from scratch. My idea of "fast food" is a can of lentil soup, and I have that about once a month, occasionally twice. I make crockpot soups a lot because I am busy.
I will tell you, there is a place that is sort of between a restaurant meal and home cooking. I used to have kids at home, lots of them, and I would get too tired to cook. My answer was to hybrid the dinner, so to speak.
You can get Stouffer's lasagne which is good. You can pickup some ready-made stuff in your grocery store deli or freezer case. We liked the frozen Banquet chicken back in the day. I might get that, a box of flavored instant potatoes, potato salad or ready-made mashed to go with it. We might get a bag of salad too. Fresh fruit cups were nice if they were on special. You know, make a nice meal you don't have to 100% cook, but isn't going out.
These days, I see that you can get beef tips in gravy, or sliced beef in gravy and other prepared stuff at the store. It just takes looking. It is more expensive than doing it all yourself, but it is much cheaper than going out.
You can try another thing that is NOT everyone's cup of tea, and that is OAMC or Once A Month Cooking. This is my favorite website:
http://snider.mardox.com/plans.htm
I don't have the energy to do this one a month, but the above site doesn't advocate for that. They advocate for "mini plans" using what is on special in a given week. They have breakfast plans, muffin plans, potato plans, chicken, beef, pork plans, ground meat plans, even some dessert plans. With planning, you can do this in bits and pieces. From people who have done far more of this than I have, they tell me that with soup already made, no chopping or messing, they are more likely to make fresh rolls, salad and even a quick dessert...round out any meal because the work is done. Obviously, it saves money.
As for the meals you've made that you end up tossing, sm
why don't you freeze leftovers in single-serving sizes, in microwave containers? I do this for lunches with leftover main meals, and it works quite well. Almost everything is freezable - chili, spaghetti, etc.
Do you plan your week's meals in advance?
I try to, but I don't cook every night so I don't do a good shopping list.
I usually think of 2 or 3 meals before I head out to the grocery store and just wing it the other days.
My meals include the main dish and a side or two, plus a bread (for DS1, who loves biscuits, rolls, etc.). I never do desserts but I keep ice cream on hand for the boys and WW fudge bars for DH & myself. Dessert isn't part of our meal, but we may have it - or not - later in the evening.
I'm amazed at those who prepare full meals every single day plus dessert! Even though I was brought up that way, it's just not the way we eat. I'm not a big dinner eater, sometimes DH and I skip it altogether. I always feed the kids, though!
I love Mix N Match Pasta for summer meals
Just boil up a big batch of tricolor rotini pasta and add whichever of the following that appeals to you, or whatever you happen to have on hand.
Chicken, tuna, ham, shrimp, crab meat
Celery, carrots, onion, green peas, mushrooms
Ranch dressing, Italian dressing, mayonnaise, Miracle Whip
It's a great "clean-out-the-refrigerator" meal! 
Oriental, Thai, Indian meals. Pasta primavera. Hummus w/
s
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