Moxie Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I've vented on this board one or two (or six) times about my dislike for dinner, cooking, shopping, feeding the picky children, all of it. I picked up a copy of Dinner The Playbook by Jenny Rosenstrach and I have to say, I'm inspired!! Basically, she got tired of picky eaters sucking the fun out of dinner and issued herself a 30 day challenge to cook only new food for 30 days. The kids had to try one bite of everything and then grade it. Ok, I am not a food blogger so I have no intention of cooking 30 new meals. But, I am going to quit serving dinner based on the lowest bar set by the picky eaters. I have one child who will eat anything as long as it is made of Ramen noodles and my other picky eater also takes medicine that screws up his appetite. Why am I trying to make them happy with dinner?? That isn't a thing!! Reading this book has made me realize (again) that I must have a written plan and I need a set day to grocery shop. Today is Thursday, my DH's birthday is tomorrow. I went to the store yesterday for milk and I need to go again today for carrots for the carrot cake I make for him every year. How insane is that??? Had I bothered to make a plan for the week, I would save myself an hour today. Insane!! The book says to start on the next Sunday so that is when the challenge starts. If you are brave enough to take the challenge, sit down, write out a list of meals and a shopping list and decide when to shop. If anyone wants to join me, we can start a daily 'what's for dinner?' thread to inspire one another. The author has a blog with lots of recipes. http://www.dinneralovestory.com/ I have tried a few from The Playbook and, keeping it real here, they aren't really for my family. But www.allrecipes.com works great! We start Sunday! Who is in?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 So is the challenge to incorporate new recipes or just to plan meals? I plan our dinners for the week each Sunday, and I like to try a new recipe or two each week :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 So is the challenge to incorporate new recipes or just to plan meals? I plan our dinners for the week each Sunday, and I like to try a new recipe or two each week :) Whatever you want?? For me, the challenge is a written plan including food my foodie husband will enjoy and one main shopping trip each week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Other great (IMO) recipe blogs for family food are: Deep South Dish Mel's Kitchen Cafe Budget Bytes And I love the book $10 Dinners by Melissa D'arabian. She has recipes with variations, so like a chicken with pan sauce and a bunch of variations. In that vein, the point of How to Cook without a Book by Pamela Anderson is to learn a basic technique and how to vary it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink and Green Mom Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I will join you. Every month when my husband tells me how much we spent eating out I want to throw up. And my scale is not liking it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I should do this but I'm scared to commit! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Are you going to start a weekly thread or are you going to keep posting here? I just need to know what to look for lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I'll play! But I have to go on a short trip next week so those days I won't be cooking. Also I use Plan to Eat for meal planning and it has changed my life, it goes on sale every year at Thanksgiving, and you can get a 30 day free trial too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I can do this! I already do a grocery shop on mondays, but I drop by other days too. I sometimes meal-plan, and it's always better when I do. I don't mind cooking, but I have a hard time thinking and deciding on a plan each evening. I don't have any eaters that are pickier than I am. If they are not thrilled with a meal, are always welcome to make themselves a microwave egg, or gather their own substitute items for other food groups -- so that's no big deal for me. I'll start brainstorming here, and come back to edit... Tonight: Leftover rotisserie chicken, possibly in a sauce 3 veggies: cooked carrots, frozen beans, cucumber slices Fruit: watermelon (Protein for tomorrow's lunches: leftover tacos) Friday: eating away Saturday or Sunday (option 1): Pan fried Hake (fish) 3 veggies: sweet potato fries, broccoli, tomato wedges Fruit: peaches or pears Saturday or Sunday (option 2): Tomato Soup Cheese cubes, cold meats 2 more veggies: pickles, cold carrots Optional crackers (maybe biscuits) Fruit: Apples Monday: Canadian Thanksgiving... Massive Turkey dinner, all fixings (Protein for tomorrow's lunches: steak) Tuesday: Thanksgiving leftovers 3 veggies: whatever is left Fruit: ? (Protein for tomorrow's lunches: sandwich meat) Wednesday: Not turkey 3 veggies: ? Fruit: ? (Protein for tomorrow's lunches: turkey!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 This is a simple meal plan that has sort of revolutionized planning at my house. I finished a book about simplicity and the author suggests having a meal plan like this: Monday: beef Tuesday: tacos Wednesday: soup Thursday: crock pot Friday: chicken Saturday: grill out The premise is that you have 3-4 options from each category and you simply just rotate them in and out. It's so easy, it's great!!! Not sure if this will help anyone but it's been wonderful for me. I loathe meal planning and this makes it easy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I do something similar, taking into account the days when dinner either has to be really quicky made or has to be eaten separately. Dh takes Chinese classes MTW 5-7 and a kickboxing class on Thurs evening. Dd has extracurriculars MTWTh beginning anytime after 5 and going up until 9. Su: beef/pork (dd eats neither) or a complicated fish recipe M: ground turkey Tu: eggs W: easy/quick chicken Th: salmon (cooks quickly; we eat promptly at 7:40 when they walk through the door) F: vegetarian/beans Sa: chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 Even though - due to evening work schedules - I don't do this anymore, for years I used to make a meal plan and shop accordingly. This will save you time and aggravation and I think you are right not to let the pickiest eater dictate the menu. The others have a right to expect something appetizing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink and Green Mom Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I am so excited to start. I told my husband about it and he just laughed. He gives me two days tops before we are ordering out. Truth be told, he is probably being too generous with that estimate. When will we be starting? Posting menus on Sunday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I guess a weekly thread makes sense? I'll start Day 1 on Sunday so I need to have my plan in place before then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I'll join. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JadeOrchidSong Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I'd like to do this. Looking forward to seeing all your weekly plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I'm going to try to do this. I'm swamped with college application stuff for DS so it would be nice to use my brain power to write my counselors letter rather than try to think about what to make for supper every day.. The good news for me is that I don't have much shopping to do. I always stockpile for the winter (cause I hate the cold), and we just returned for our last trip of the season to the Amish. I had the kids carry everything in. Eldest DS was sitting down and I asked why he wasn't helping. He said I already carried in 300 pounds of food, I figured that was my share. I thought he was exaggerating and then we tallied what he did carry in and yes it was almost 300 pounds. What he failed to mention was that he left another 300 pounds for all the smaller people in the house to try to figure out how to bring in. Yes I really did buy 600 pounds of food today. Add this to the two freezers I have full of meat and fruit, I really only need to buy milk, eggs and fresh veggies for the foreseeable future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I'm in! I made a schedule where everyone had a cooking night, and I fill in the other days. It has totally change/improved dinner time. I'm no longer feeling cranky about being in the kitchen, I'm trying new recipes, the kids are making good food, and my husband is doing Saturdays, so I know I'll have a killer meal that night. Now I want to work on meal planning, reducing waste, and re-stocking my pantry. Moxie, is there a new thread for this week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I'm in! I made a schedule where everyone had a cooking night, and I fill in the other days. It has totally change/improved dinner time. I'm no longer feeling cranky about being in the kitchen, I'm trying new recipes, the kids are making good food, and my husband is doing Saturdays, so I know I'll have a killer meal that night. Now I want to work on meal planning, reducing waste, and re-stocking my pantry. Moxie, is there a new thread for this week? Yes, and if I knew how to link threads from my phone, I cod help you out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I'm in! I made a schedule where everyone had a cooking night, and I fill in the other days. It has totally change/improved dinner time. I'm no longer feeling cranky about being in the kitchen, I'm trying new recipes, the kids are making good food, and my husband is doing Saturdays, so I know I'll have a killer meal that night. Now I want to work on meal planning, reducing waste, and re-stocking my pantry. Moxie, is there a new thread for this week? Yes, and if I knew how to link threads from my phone, I cod help you out! Here you go http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/567059-30-day-meal-plan-challenge-day-1-7/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Here you go http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/567059-30-day-meal-plan-challenge-day-1-7/ And multi-quoting!! Show off!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 FYI $10 Dinners by Melissa D'Arabian is $2 on amazon for Kindle. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Yes, and if I knew how to link threads from my phone, I cod help you out! Cod...hahahaha. Wasn't cod the fish in the "would you eat this?" thread? Shudder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 FYI $10 Dinners by Melissa D'Arabian is $2 on amazon for Kindle. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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