Tuesday, April 10, 2007
I seriously need your advice...
The one thing I’ve understood about having two kids is that you can’t be disorganized. At least you can’t be as disorganized as I am. And I am the most disorganized person I’ve met in my entire life. I never know what I’m doing, what I’m eating or where I’m going. I don’t know when I’ll go to sleep, or when I’ll wake up. Everything is usually done last minute.
But that just doesn’t work with kids in the house. Believe me. It doesn’t work at all. Lack of schedule means no dinner, no sleep, no play and no life.
So, I’m seriously trying to get our life into a more structured pattern.
I wrote out a schedule.
I’m planning out a menu.
I have a “to do” list.
And no, I’m not sticking to it religiously or anything. That’s way beyond me. The schedule includes a hoped for wake-up/go-to-bed time. We aren’t anywhere close to it yet. But it’s a goal. And they say that setting goals is the first step to success…
And I’m trying to plan out a menu. Cause we can’t go out with two little kids. And we can’t afford any more take-out.
So…
The plan is to invent seven easy dinners, lunches and breakfasts.
And everything has to be really fast. Cause I have very little time or energy. Mostly time, as I’m sure you can imagine…
And I have a very-very picky toddler. Who barely eats anything. (That’s really is a whole separate sobby story I’d rather not get into cause I get way too depressed and stressed out and my hormones are not wholly balanced yet to think about it now…)
So, the question of the day is:
I have dinner ideas, but no quick breakfasts or lunches for the toddler. Please, is there anything other than cereal (he doesn’t like it…)?
What could I offer him? He doesn’t like omelets… Occasionally favors a pancake. Occasionally… What else is there? I really don’t have any ideas.
And what do kids get for lunch? Snacks? Any ideas other than apples and yogurt?
Any input is greatly appreciated, cause I’m way over my disorganized head here…
Thanks in advance.
PS: See, I really am trying… 
We had a dinner at home tonight. With fish and salad. Go, me, go!
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For lunch, you can try sandwiches, mac and cheese, cheese sticks, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, soup, ramen noodle, frozen pizza. For breakfast, there's toast, waffle, sausage, plain bread, muffin, bagel. Deli meat and leftovers also work for both lunch and breakfast. Our kids love most fruits, so we don't have any problems with snacks.
I came across this blog called wokkingmom dot blogspot dot com. She has 2 young kids and many cookie cutters to make fun stuff out of ham, seaweed etc. Maybe you can get some ideas from there.
Julia eats a lot of fruit - especially canteloupe and watermelon. She also loves hard-boiled eggs. Peanut butter toast or sandwiches are a big hit with her, too.
One of our favorite lunches here are quesadillas - a little broccoli, a little cheese, and a tiny bit of salsa heated up in a flour tortilla. Yummy!
Most of the time for lunch, I just heat up some naked pasta and a veggie for Julia - that's what she likes best.
I know things are crazy for you right now, but give it some time. Things will start to fall into place. Give yourself a month or two. By the time your new kiddo is three months old, you'll have a system down.
DaddyForever: mac and cheese were a hit! I'm off buying waffles :-)
Simcooks: The link doesn't work for me :-( I'll email you to confirm the address. Sounds like exactly what I'm looking for...
Leslie: We love fruit too. It's the substance foods that are an issue. I'll try quesadillas though - he loves broccoli and cheese :-)
I have no kids, but when my little cousins came over I made PB&J sandwiches and cut cut them up into little finger sized ones. They seemed to like them.
Iwas thinking Pancakes,Waffles and Noodles etc.But DF already gave a list of everything out there!:))
If he broccoli cheese,you could make soup,a big pot and freeze the portions for later.in the week or just cook Broccoli and sprinkle on top which tastes great too.
My kids love Mac and cheese,Ramen,Hot dogs and English muffin Pizzas too.Quesidillas are great too,fill it up with his fav food.Snacks; mini wheats, Apple jacks,baby carrots with dips.Mini savory pancakes.
Most of all relax.NOBODY is perfect.Ask him what he wants and get it.Don't worry too much if he doesn't eat a meal.If they are hungry ,they will eat anyway!:))
Hugs.
I usually make Cream of broccoli, Minestrone soup,Tortilla rollups with creamcheese and salsa and some lettuce,Other times, I go with those Lipton sidekicks stuff, with different shapes of noodles and sauces, they love that...Grilled cheese sandwich is always a favorite, fruit yogurt, cheese and crackers as a side to some homemade pasta or soup. Other days, I'll make some Indian favorites like Upma- spicy semolina, Khichdi - lentils and veggies cooked to a mush, or just plain rotis with a curry and yogurt, they like that too.
For breakfast, try the frozen waffles, or toaster strudels, muffins, scrambled eggs in a tortilla wrap, french toast sticks dipped in syrup, hot cereal-oatmeal, cream of wheat, I even give them mini fruit yogurt if I am running late, Nutella spread/other fruit spreads on bread is good too and healthy.
phew.....good luck,my dear.
Anali: my hubs loves the PB&J sandwiches, but the kiddo doesn't like sandwiches at all :-( I guess he'll grow into it...)
Asha: I'm gonna try the pancakes for sure -- I love them :-), and I have finally purchased a hand-held mixer, so that should be fun... And what are Apple Jacks?
Trupti: Wow, that's a great list! I haven't thought of a fruit spread... Do you mean jam? I'll have to check that out. Maybe if I spread something sweetish on a toast I can trick him into thinking it's a cookie :-)
You girls all have so many ideas. Your kids are lucky! And hopefully mine will be better fed now. I've already tried mac and cheese, ramen noodles and bought waffles. So, it's a good start :-) Plus, I think my scheduling is paying off -- he's actually eating his dinner now, and even had cereal in the morning! So happy...
Arr... sorry.... it's 'mum' rather than 'mom'.
http://wokkingmum.blogspot.com/