Basic Stir Fry

Ingredients:

Chicken (or other meat), cut into bite size pieces

Bag of frozen, mixed vegetables

Oil

Seasonings

Rice

Brown Chicken in oil (I usually use Sesame), then add vegetables and seasonings, such as Soy Sauce (or other seasonings as desired).  Cook until vegetables are tender.  Serve over hot, cooked rice.  Round out meal with sliced fruit and milk.

A very simple and inexpensive breakfast

Toast a piece of bread (preferabely, whole wheat).  Spread peanut butter on top, drizzle a little honey and mix in with peanut butter.  Slice up a banana.  Seve with juice.  This is one of my favorite breakfasts!  Quick, simple and nutritious!  :-)

Healty Oatmeal Start

For about $2.00 or less, you can get a big container of generic quick or old-fashioned oats from your grocery store.  Fix a serving (or more) according to the directions on the box.  Then sprinkle with a 1 teaspoon brown sugar and half of a banana cut into small bits.  Round out with a cup of juice or milk.

B.R.A.T.

For when the bug hits your house, remember the B.R.A.T. diet to get things going again.  B.R.A.T. stands for Broth Rice Applesauce Toast.  And don't forget to be sipping (not gulping) down the water!  One of my biggest problems with bug related nausea (and pregnancy too) is taking down the water so fast that it just comes right back up, leaving me more dehydrated (and more nauseated) than I started with!  Bananas, Plain potatoes are also great foods on the next step after keeping down the B.R.A.T.

Tuna Melts

Canned Tuna

Enough mayo to lightly coat

Horseradish to taste

Sliced block cheese

Whole Wheat Bread slices

Mix tuna, mayo and horseradish.  Spread over bread slices.  Top with cheese slices.  Bake at 375 Degrees for approximately 20 minutes (times and degrees may vary depending on oven, altitude and taste!).  Round out meal with carrot sticks, celery sticks and a cup of juice.

Food on a Road Trip

I took a road trip with my kids recently.  I was very pleased I only spent approximately $25.00 total on food for all of us!  How did I do this?  I will share my plan of action. 

--I had a case of bottled water in the car.  

--I only drank bottled water while driving.

--I filled my kids' sippy cups with water and refilled with water every time we stopped.

--At each stop for gasoline, I allowed the kids to pick out ONE packaged cracker snack.  Each of these cost 50cents to $1.00.  I also picked one up for myself.

--I planned to stop for lunch.  We paid about $10.00 total for lunch, each way.  We ate chicken sandwiches, fruit slices and juice.

Tip I learned:  stopping every hour or so is not only good for everyone to stretched their legs and use the "potty," but it also helps in alertness.  One of the dangers of drinking so much soda and coffee (and consuming high sugar snacks) is while they initially give you a burst of energy, they also bring your alertness even lower than it started--causing you to consume yet another high sugar energy "booster."  Drinking water, eating fairly healthy and stopping freqently had the same effect, was healthier and cost soooo much less!  This tip seemed to work great on this trip.  We'll see if it holds next time I find myself on the road.  I would be curious if anyone else has any great nutrition and cost saving tips for road trips, with or without kids! 

Peanut Butter/Honey

Heres's an old, yet nutrition stand-by for lunches!

Peanut Butter Honey Sandwiches:
Whole Wheat Bread (check to make sure first ingredient is whole wheat flour)
Peanut Butter (I use natural peanut butter)
Honey

Spread Peanut butter on bread slices. Drizzle, then mix in honey on top. Cut sandwiches as desired. Serve with apple slices and oranges. Round out meal with a cup of milk.

Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad:

Ingredients:
Cooked Black Beans
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Co-Jack Cheese
Organic Corn chips (I get these at Walmart--Corn, sunflower oil and sea salt)

Spread chips on plate, top (in any preferred order) with the warmed beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. This is surprisingly yummy! I had my doubts when I first tried it, but my entire family (including my picky toddler) devoured it! Serve with fruit slices and you got a complete meal!

Chicken Noodle Soup

With colds and runny noses, we've made this in our house a lot over the past few days!  It is very yummy and easy to make!  This is a recipe adapted from the Campbell's Collection cookbook.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

2 Cans (14.5 oz each) Chicken Broth

Generous dash of pepper

1 medium carrot, sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1 stalk celery, sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup uncooked medium egg noodles

5 oz cooked chicken, cut into small pieces.

In a medium saucepan mix broth, pepper, carrot and celery.  Over medium-high heat, heat to a boil.  Stir in noodles.  reduce heat to medium.  Cook 10 minutes, stirring oftern.  Add chicken and heat through.  Serves 4.  Double as needed for larger families.

Basic Beans and Rice

Apologies for not getting this up yesterday---internet connection problems!  

Basic Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 lb beans

1 medium onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, crushed

Brown Rice

Shredded cheese

The night before-sort, rinse and soak the beans in a slow cooker.  Next morning turning the slow cooker on for 7-9 hours on low.  At some point (either early or at least two hours before it is finished cooking) add the onion and garlic.  Also add any other spices you desire for extra flavor.  Serve over rice, top with shredded cheese.  Round out meal with cooked, chopped carrots and green peas.  Pour cups of milk for a complete meal!

Picante Chicken

Ingredients:

Chicken (any cut)

Jar of Salsa

Brown Rice

Shredded cheese (any kind)

Place chicken in caserole dish and pour salsa on top of chicken.  Bake for about an hour (more if using frozen chicken).  Meanwhile, cook brown rice.  Spoon brown rice on plate, then spoon chicken (cut up) on the rice, then place some shredded cheese on top.  Serve with green peas and corn.  Round out meal with a glass of milk.

(hint)--buying frozen peas and frozen corn are much cheaper.

Egg Scramble Meal

Ingredients:
Eggs (beaten)
Shredded cheese (Cheddar, Co-Jack, Monterey Jack, etc.)
Splash of Olive oil
pinch of Salt
dash of Pepper

Splash oil in a skillet (non-stick is preferable). Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper and scramble over medium heat. Add cheese just before eggs are done. Spoon onto plates. Compliment with slice of whole wheat toast, apple slices and grapes. Serve with juice (one part juice, one part water).