tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post5580487477040334701..comments2023-05-03T05:22:30.162-04:00Comments on Mary Haseltine: The Boring Girl's Guide to Family Meal PlanningMary @ Better Than Edenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-21756889263191942652015-09-02T07:09:44.267-04:002015-09-02T07:09:44.267-04:00We *may* be married to the same person. No "...We *may* be married to the same person. No "overly creamy" things either. I've gotten used to it but it was HARD in the first few years of being married to figure out what meals worked for us! It's a cross ;)Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-10563044401877502092015-09-01T20:03:15.431-04:002015-09-01T20:03:15.431-04:00My husband won't eat cheese either, with the e...My husband won't eat cheese either, with the exception of pizza and lasagna, and NONE seafood. I want a dip night!Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926262795822397466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-54144098540865204542015-08-19T08:59:19.807-04:002015-08-19T08:59:19.807-04:00Charlotte, I think that's a great idea for bre...Charlotte, I think that's a great idea for breakfast and lunch as long as you quietly pay attention to make sure that they are indeed eating enough and well enough. I myself made my own lunch all through middle school and high school and the result was that, even though my dad bought sandwich meat and such, I almost never packed or ate a complete lunch -- more like 2 graham crackers and a pickle -- because I was left on my own to manage it. Sounds like you are teaching your kids well, though! Just keep quietly watching, especially for the girls.Dixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05930954231663915782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-5266056141029570092015-02-06T12:47:23.074-05:002015-02-06T12:47:23.074-05:00Good idea to print out your dinner ideas- when mak...Good idea to print out your dinner ideas- when making my menu for the week or month, I always forget what I can make or what are the favorites of the family. Trying to access my brain for that info is hard some days:) kgill26https://www.blogger.com/profile/03037940425411947019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-8455958682560697682015-02-06T12:30:28.901-05:002015-02-06T12:30:28.901-05:00My kids love the simple meals more than the compli...My kids love the simple meals more than the complicated ones. It always surprises me. Jill Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919221814694982320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-69051709261505658522015-02-05T15:21:04.430-05:002015-02-05T15:21:04.430-05:00(I went through the "I hate every single pict...(I went through the "I hate every single picture of myself so what to do with the profile pic" battle a few weeks ago so I'm totally with you on that!) I've thought about trying the freezer thing. Truly I just need to buckle down a bit and start making a reasonable plan that I'm at least capable of sticking with, and then plan for using a few freezer meals in that mix. I *love* your calendar idea so I may adopt something slightly similar...WritingWillowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10087089064442209724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-91485850525273452022015-02-05T15:06:19.804-05:002015-02-05T15:06:19.804-05:00Ugh. I HATE having to have a profile picture! I ...Ugh. I HATE having to have a profile picture! I guess I don't have to but I know it's much more personal that way…but I just do not ever really like a pic of myself so thank you. I wonder if doing more freezable things would work for you? So you can make a bigger batch then freeze the leftovers in single portions for other nights?Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-63670993256373766862015-02-05T14:04:54.201-05:002015-02-05T14:04:54.201-05:00Oh, this is great. I've been telling myself fo...Oh, this is great. I've been telling myself for longer than I care to admit that I need to put together a master list of meals I like that are easy and healthy and keep them in a binder to keep in the kitchen, but I haven't done it yet. The thing I really struggle with is that it's just me that I cook for, but I grew up learning how to cook for 6 or more. I'm gradually figuring out how to adjust things and build in leftovers but it's still very much a work in progress.<br /><br />Also, I think your new profile picture is very, very pretty. :)WritingWillowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10087089064442209724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-28469717034883882482015-02-05T09:55:02.018-05:002015-02-05T09:55:02.018-05:00Wait, you mean I don't have to make all the th...Wait, you mean I don't have to make all the things hot and labor-intensive for every meal, every day?? You have liberated me from time-consuming breakfasts and lunches!!<br /><br />-McKenzieMcKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06345028033651398771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-72707708163722031692015-02-05T09:00:57.930-05:002015-02-05T09:00:57.930-05:00Oh, we have had VERY picky eaters. Gradually they...Oh, we have had VERY picky eaters. Gradually they've come around as they've gotten older but there are still nights where they choose not to eat what's given and rather choose to be hungry. It's always been an issue here, too. But I try to choose meals that they don't HATE but I also am not going to limit our meals to only things they love. They need to learn to try new things and to eat things even if they don't like the taste simply because it's good for them. When one tells me they don't like something, I just tell them that's okay, they don't need to...but it's what's for dinner. Again, I try to choose meals with them in mind so it's not a nightly battle but if they got to pick, we'd have tacos, pizza, or tuna cheesies every night. At the same time, every family's menu is going to look different which is why it's so helpful to have a personal list that is for YOUR family and works for YOUR tastes. I've never liked preplanned menus and plans from the internet because every family is different and half the meals wouldn't work for us. I don't expect that all of our meals would work for others either. Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-21658822428114284752015-02-05T08:45:05.161-05:002015-02-05T08:45:05.161-05:00Your menu sounds delicious, but my kids must be ex...Your menu sounds delicious, but my kids must be extra picky because they won't touch a majority of the dishes on your calendar. How do you do it? My kids mostly likes beans and rice, pb and j, rice and gravy, and cereal/ yogurt, with maybe a couple more things, but really that's the extent of what they'll eat. When I try something new, I feel like so little is eaten. Any tips on how to do with really picky eaters?Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208276783281736857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-60219046228466949732015-02-05T06:28:37.475-05:002015-02-05T06:28:37.475-05:00True story, they JUST started eating salad this pa...True story, they JUST started eating salad this past year and I felt like a rock star. And by salad, I mean lettuce. They take after their dad and won't do dressing or anything. It's weird. I didn't serve it for a long time for the same reason and they were all about the carbs…I think maybe that's just normal for kids and the 3 year old is still kind of hesitant on it. I've kind of taken the stance that as long as they're healthy carbs and that they're getting some sort of exposure to other fruits and veggies that it's probably okay. I mean, heck, they live on just breastmilk for however long and that's all whole lot of carbs. So our salads are very simple and they'll pick out parts they don't care for (or I'll just add the fancy stuff to my own at the table). If I serve it with bread then often they use the bread to turn it into a sandwich but whatever, it's all the same food just different form :)Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-15379975436940033602015-02-04T22:35:36.642-05:002015-02-04T22:35:36.642-05:00Can I ask an embarrassing question? How do you get...Can I ask an embarrassing question? How do you get your kids to eat salad? I've stopped even trying with my boys (nearly 3 and 4) because I don't think either of them has ever actually had lettuce cross their lips. Do you make amazing, tricksy salads that kids will eagerly consume, or are you just a tougher drill sergeant than me? I feel like my kids live on carbs...Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923751596148085363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-69022777241870502922015-02-04T21:42:34.694-05:002015-02-04T21:42:34.694-05:00I really need to make a Master List for dinners. ...I really need to make a Master List for dinners. Breakfast and Lunch is really simple in our house too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17904858990740505588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-20792760887356017122015-02-04T21:34:12.290-05:002015-02-04T21:34:12.290-05:00Boring meals here too, for years, have them typed ...Boring meals here too, for years, have them typed up for the different seasons but pretty much a rotating theme each week, same ole same ole. Sometimes I get inspired to be a little different but mostly I'm just keeping the wheels rotatingErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04448595911801738792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-57054445271327035912015-02-04T21:10:01.742-05:002015-02-04T21:10:01.742-05:00100% with you! I never understand the need for a d...100% with you! I never understand the need for a different breakfast or lunch every day - we have a few things they can choose from (sometimes) but it's usually the same old thing every day for those meals - I don't mind, they don't mind, and it's so simple the 5yo can make everyone lunch by himself if need be!Rosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12888635342531960478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-91184654880941843152015-02-04T21:08:32.826-05:002015-02-04T21:08:32.826-05:00Ha, that ITW was when Brian was gone on retreat fo...Ha, that ITW was when Brian was gone on retreat for a weekend so I planned to have some fun meals. My husband…wait for it…doesn't eat cheese. (I KNOW!) So when he is gone, I plan lots of the things that we like but he wouldn't…like dip night. I just put out different dips - hummus, bean and cheese dip, buffalo bean dip, guacamole, etc. - with some blue corn chips. We all very much enjoy dip night :)Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-71934564176470161052015-02-04T20:52:46.811-05:002015-02-04T20:52:46.811-05:00Yeah, my oldest is 10 1/2. He's just recently...Yeah, my oldest is 10 1/2. He's just recently started asking for a second sandwich at lunch so we'll see how this goes. I know both for their sake and my own, they'll have to start taking over more meal prep but I foresee (or maybe just hope :) that it will keep the same "bones". Like I can't imagine doing what some people do and making an entire cooked meal for lunch and then having to do that again at dinner…what I would *prefer* is that kind of meal learning and hands on experimenting happen for dinner. My hope is that in a few years each child will be responsible for dinner one night a week and will find some freedom to learn and grow within that framework. But who knows…I'm definitely not glued to any method and will undoubtedly have to switch things up as our family grows and changes. For now, this works…or at least keeps me sane :) Mary @ Better Than Edenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05409924891343767874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-5882285711546988992015-02-04T20:43:00.775-05:002015-02-04T20:43:00.775-05:00I am so with you on all of this. I also have a mea...I am so with you on all of this. I also have a meal plan that works for our family. It's just dinners because we have breakfast and lunch staples the kids can choose from, and I buy them each trip. I am working on compiling our meal plan into an ebook to share with people :)Jenna@CallHerHappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05587606918705423050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-3229436528240456042015-02-04T20:21:48.785-05:002015-02-04T20:21:48.785-05:00I'm just curious… how old are your kids? I'...I'm just curious… how old are your kids? I'm looking at your lunch menu and thinking that would be a first course for my teenaged son. :) Actually, it's kind of close to what he eats for breakfast. A peanut butter and jelly toast sandwich with a piece of fruit and cashews on the side. He's usually looking for a snack around 10:30am. I do agree with you on the fact that I only plan dinners, but I've turned my kids loose in the kitchen when it comes to breakfast and lunch. I teach them what makes a well-balanced meal and but they make breakfast and lunch for themselves (we count it as part of their health education). Everyone has different tastes and preferences. One of my daughters hates typical breakfast foods and prefers leftovers for breakfast. I know that you can't let your kids have that kind of freedom when they are all little, but I would encourage all moms to let their kids put together their own meals when they can. Oh… and then teach them to clean up after themselves too.Charlotte (WaltzingM)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12690056082240865041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640846201971673514.post-89749109065074439272015-02-04T20:18:26.870-05:002015-02-04T20:18:26.870-05:00I do something very, very similiar. Except my bor...I do something very, very similiar. Except my boring children complain that we always have chicken and potatoes. Oh well...it's easy and healthy and I like it. <br /><br />So what is dip night? Is that one of your meals (or was that an event)? I think I would love a dip night...so it sound fun and yummy,Amelia Bentruphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04289052534608175705noreply@blogger.com