https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:42:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890756 Fri, 12 Jul 2019 06:08:30 +0000 greencraftycello 2890756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: I tried the sloppy joe recipe last night, it was really good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890620 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 07:44:31 +0000 kayla0416 2890620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to love to cook and it was a hobby for me pre-babies. Now with a 3 and 1 yr old there's just no time for it and it's become a chore. Breakfast food is a hit for the whole family, so we do big breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings and usually one weekday dinner. We rotate breakfast burritos, a big egg/potato/meat scramble, waffles, french toast, and pancakes. </p> <p>Other common weekday meals are spaghetti and meatballs (just Costco frozen meatballs), grilled cheese and tomato soup, tacos, chicken nuggets, mac n chz...easy stuff that toddlers will eat. My husband travels a lot for work so I solo parent usually 2-3 weeknights per week. When he's home we eat slightly more like adults - lots of grilling in the summer (meat served with baked beans, potatoes, or rice usually) and EASY casseroles/soup/crockpot meals in the winter. We also do a ton of fresh fruits and veggies - everything we eat is served with a fruit and veggie. </p> <p>Every once in a while I'll feel like we're in a bad rut and I'll branch out with a few new pinterest meals, but that doesn't happen very often, haha. </p> <p>We rarely eat out because $$$ and also because it's just not worth it with a 3 and 1 year old (behavior)! About twice a month we'll get Papa Murphy's (take &amp; bake pizza) or BWW takeout. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890608 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 04:00:43 +0000 cyoung 2890608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cook sometimes but actually my husband does most the cooking. He loves it. </p> <p>We makes spaghetti<br /> Alfrado<br /> Mexican chicken and rice<br /> Tacos<br /> Rice and chicken casserole<br /> Chicken fried rice<br /> Sweet and sour chicken<br /> Homemade pizza<br /> Stuffed bell pepper<br /> Steak and sauteed onion<br /> Sloppy Joe's<br /> Bbq and mac and cheese.<br /> Roast with potatoes, carrots and onion.<br /> List goes on....</p> <p>....we eat white rice with every meal. My husband is half Korean. We are working on adding more veggies. My kids don eat a lot of this yet cause my son has texture issues and my daughter hates meat but we are working on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890447 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 11:25:19 +0000 cake2017 2890447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: Food aversions bothered me quite a bit. Also, the raw meat yuck! I can’t stand to be around it right now. I’ve cooked a few things involving it but it’s really hard for me. DH doesn’t cook but we eat out quite a bit </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890446 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 11:23:37 +0000 cake2017 2890446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I know, I know... I try not to listen to their comments. I feel guilty at times when I’m not cooking an extravagant home cooked meal but honestly no one would eat it anyway 😂. The boys are so picky and I rather use that time doing something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890429 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 09:00:49 +0000 SweetiePie 2890429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t cook a lot, but we just moved to the burbs so I’m trying to since we don’t have a shower much at our fingertips as we did in the city.<br /> But my main comment is - why do you care what your family thinks??? You’re pregnant with your 2nd kid. You work. If going out or ordering in works for you, tell everyone else to mind their own business. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890421 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 08:50:12 +0000 graceandjoy 2890421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We probably order take-out like at least once a week night, and then 1-2 times over the weekend. It's also an ebb/flow... DH does all the cooking and we can eat out more if he's really busy one week, or he could cook everyday for a whole week the next. </p> <p>Currently I am pregnant and DH is picking up a lot of the chores as well, plus I have so much food aversion, it also really swings both ways as to whether we eat out or cook. But even then our grocery bill has gone up b/c I only want to eat specific things haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890403 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 06:48:27 +0000 hilary 2890403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We cook a lot but mainly because I don't like a lot of repeats. Like others above, I'm a big fan of making something that can be used multiple ways (huge pulled pork can be sectioned out and frozen and then used for pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, stir fry, egg rolls). Also when we make burgers I'll make 2 stacks - 1 for the first night and another in the freezer. I also roast a chicken every other week because the leftover chicken can be shredded and used in various meals. If I ever made something labor intensive like lasagna, I make 3 and put 2 in the freezer for a later date. As you can tell nothing is better to me than being able to pull something out of the freezer and just heat up and tack on some sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890199 Sat, 06 Jul 2019 19:23:35 +0000 Hypatia 2890199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat keto, so the main dish is almost always keto friendly, and then we add cornbread or potatoes or another carb for the kids. </p> <p>Chili Egg Scramble<br /> Goat cheese, rosemary and mushroom stuffed pork chops<br /> Charcuterie (deviled eggs, cheeses, salami, berries, etc.)<br /> Gyros with low carb tortillas<br /> Chicken and broccoli Alfredo<br /> Bunless philly cheese steaks<br /> Tacos with low carb tortillas<br /> Grilled chicken and bacon ranch kebabs<br /> Bunless burgers<br /> Tuscan chicken<br /> Salad with chicken or shrimp (Cobb, Caesar, Greek, etc.)<br /> Keto pizza</p> <p>If we could afford it, I would never cook again. We’d eat steak, lobster, chicken wings, etc. from a restaurant every night—when you’re on a limited diet, eating the highest quality food helps you stay motivated. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890144 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 18:03:43 +0000 cake2017 2890144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for the ideas. Nice to know my baby isn’t the only one who is picky and might have repeat meals! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890138 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:06:37 +0000 pachamama 2890138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would eat out every single day of my life if I could. 🤣 Instead I make the following meals over and over and over again<br /> One pot creamy spinach tomato pasta<br /> Salmon<br /> Lentil chili<br /> Spaghetti with chicken sausage<br /> Veggie quesadillas<br /> Swiss mushroom quesadillas<br /> Pork burritos<br /> Chicken Caesar wraps<br /> Creamy mushroom pasta<br /> Pasta e fagioli<br /> Sweet potato chili<br /> Buddha Bowls with avo, tomatoes, nuts, barley, beets, sweet potato etc</p> <p>We try to eat vegetarian which makes everything more difficult.<br /> Does my 3.5 eat any of this? Like 5%😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890135 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:25:58 +0000 DillonLion 2890135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similar to others in that ideally our meals last for multiple days (another lunch/dinner later in the week or repurpose smaller parts)</p> <p>I aim for things I can easily dump in the crock pot or into a casserole dish and throw in the oven. I also work to keep a stocked pantry so we can always throw together spaghetti and meatballs or meat/cheese platters or something else super easy.</p> <p>Cooking (and dishes) do not interest me as hobbies so the quicker and easier, the better. Bonus points if it had something remotely nutritional/healthy involved and tastes just as good reheated as leftovers.</p> <p>Checking out cookbooks from the library, Pinterest, and grocery sale fliers drive my shopping. </p> <p>DH will eat whatever I make and pick out anything he doesn't like, quietly.</p> <p>DD either eats what we do or has something extremely easy instead (Spaghettios, easy mac, etc)</p> <p>ETA: to answer your questions, I cook when I feel like it or when we need food. Sometimes that's a bunch on a Sunday. Sometimes other days of the week. I started getting groceries on Fridays so we have a stocked fridge on weekends when we are most tempted to go out. </p> <p>I have two Pinterest boards for meals. One is just random recipes I see that look good and one where I save things we have tried and loved.</p> <p>We eat out maybe 1-2x a week for dinner. I get breakfast/lunch out for myself here and there during the week as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890134 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:15:44 +0000 lindseykaye 2890134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like you are actually cooking a nice amount - it might be different from what other people (your fam) like to cook or eat but it doesn't make it wrong!</p> <p>We typically don't eat out or order in much. Usually when we do it's a splurge/treat or it's for socializing.</p> <p>My main strategy is to meal plan based around the grocery sales and then plan for leftovers. I often use them either as lunch or to have ingredients that double for another dinner. Then, I will prep that at the same time as the first dinner as much as I can. So if I'm assembling a salad for dinner, I'll make one for my lunch the next day at the same time. Or, if I make a pork roast in the instant pot it will be used for tacos one night and I'll portion some off and mix with bbq sauce to have with slaw a few nights later.</p> <p>My other tactic is making extra big batches to use for the above leftovers plans as well as having a few portions for my freezer. Turkey black bean chili is always made in a 3x batch. Chili for dinner once, lunch once, and chili dogs another night, plus freezer portions.</p> <p>I'm also a big fan of freezer convenience foods that I can stock up and keep on hand. Things like frozen turkey meatballs (that can be used for pasta, or a sandwich, or cut up to top a homemade pizza, or tossed in an asian sauce for stir fry with rice and veggies. Frozen gnocchi, tamales, veggies, even rice. I'm not going to cook brown rice on my stovetop for 30 minutes when I can microwave a steam-in-bag for 5. </p> <p>DH eats whatever I make, and like @catgirl: he's not really picky but has some things he just doesn't prefer so I save those for nights when I might be solo. LO1 is ultra picky so I have a 3-meal rotation of things she will eat and make one of those every night for her, but they're simple and also afford leftovers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890132 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:30:36 +0000 catgirl 2890132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat out or get take out once a week. We also generally go to my mom and stepdad's house once a week for dinner. Everything else we make at home. But I only cook 4ish meals most weeks by doubling or even tripling recipes. I typically introduce one new recipe a week and the other three are things we have had before. So we reheat leftovers and just try to rotate through them. None of us mind eating the same thing multiple times a week and it minimizes the amount of time I spend in the kitchen. </p> <p>DH thankfully isn't too picky and since I do all the cooking, he doesn't complain even if meals aren't his favorite. He has a few foods that he legitimately doesn't like so I do try to avoid those. DD (4.5) goes through picky stages but we just push through them, she is served the same dinner that we are having. </p> <p>Here are some recipes that we all enjoy eating:</p> <p><a href="https://unboundwellness.com/hawaiian-teriyaki-chicken-burgers-paleo-whole30-aip/" rel="nofollow">https://unboundwellness.com/hawaiian-teriyaki-chicken-burgers-paleo-whole30-aip/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/chicken-caesar-twice-baked-potatoes-paleo-whole30/" rel="nofollow">https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/chicken-caesar-twice-baked-potatoes-paleo-whole30/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-meatloaf-paleo/" rel="nofollow">https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-meatloaf-paleo/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-meatloaf-paleo/" rel="nofollow">https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/buffalo-ranch-chicken-meatloaf-paleo/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.realfoodwithjessica.com/2015/04/13/sloppy-joes-paleo-whole30/" rel="nofollow">https://www.realfoodwithjessica.com/2015/04/13/sloppy-joes-paleo-whole30/</a></p> <p><a href="https://littlebitsof.com/2017/06/thai-turkey-burgers/" rel="nofollow">https://littlebitsof.com/2017/06/thai-turkey-burgers/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.thedefineddish.com/instantpot-blueberry-barbecue-ribs/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thedefineddish.com/instantpot-blueberry-barbecue-ribs/</a></p> <p><a href="https://therealfoodrds.com/pineapple-bbq-chicken-meatballs/" rel="nofollow">https://therealfoodrds.com/pineapple-bbq-chicken-meatballs/</a></p> <p><a href="https://unboundwellness.com/sweet-potato-chicken-poppers-paleo-aip-whole-30/" rel="nofollow">https://unboundwellness.com/sweet-potato-chicken-poppers-paleo-aip-whole-30/</a></p> <p><a href="https://therealfoodrds.com/bbq-meatloaf-muffins/" rel="nofollow">https://therealfoodrds.com/bbq-meatloaf-muffins/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.worthcooking.net/taco-salad-creamy-cilantro-dressing/" rel="nofollow">http://www.worthcooking.net/taco-salad-creamy-cilantro-dressing/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.raisinggenerationnourished.com/2015/04/parmesan-baked-veggie-quinoa/" rel="nofollow">https://www.raisinggenerationnourished.com/2015/04/parmesan-baked-veggie-quinoa/</a></p> <p><a href="https://yumgoggle.com/sausage-pear-sweet-potato-sheet-pan-dinner/" rel="nofollow">https://yumgoggle.com/sausage-pear-sweet-potato-sheet-pan-dinner/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.thetwobiteclub.com/2014/05/kielbasa-pepper-onion-and-potato-hash.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.thetwobiteclub.com/2014/05/kielbasa-pepper-onion-and-potato-hash.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/sheet-pan-honey-mustard-chicken-vegetables/" rel="nofollow">https://www.joyfulhealthyeats.com/sheet-pan-honey-mustard-chicken-vegetables/</a></p> <p><a href="https://skinnyms.com/sweet-potato-and-turkey-skillet-recipe/" rel="nofollow">https://skinnyms.com/sweet-potato-and-turkey-skillet-recipe/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/bbq-chicken-quinoa-casserole-recipe/" rel="nofollow">https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/bbq-chicken-quinoa-casserole-recipe/</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/easy-macaroni-casserole/" rel="nofollow">https://www.skinnytaste.com/easy-macaroni-casserole/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890129 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 13:44:59 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2890129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything I cook makes a minimum of 2 meals most of the time.</p> <p>Sunday: I cook a bigger roast/family meal (slow cooker beef, instapot roast chicken, etc.)</p> <p>Monday is easy because DW is solo (Costco baked pasta or eggs)</p> <p>Tuesday: Depending on how I feel, I’ll either cook something new like tacos, pasta if we didn’t have that already, burgers, casserole or I’ll do the leftovers from Sunday. </p> <p>Wednesday: leftover from Sunday or Tuesday if I cooked something new</p> <p>Thursday: pizza delivery night</p> <p>Friday: usually DW and I have a kid free dinner which is typically Greek takeout and make the kids chicken nuggets or KD</p> <p>Saturday: I’ll grocery shop usually so get something easy like rotisserie chicken and salad.</p> <p>No one in our family is overly picky really so can’t help with that but tbh, if DW was complaining about meals, I would make her plan the meals or do the cooking. She doesn’t like as much spice or flavour as I do, doesn’t like peppers, onions, certain veggies but I cook them anyway and she picks out what she doesn’t want. She has never complained and just does Her thing. We don’t accommodate the kids complaining so I don’t see why the adults would get to do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-cook-if-so-what-is-your-usual-meal-plan#post-2890125 Fri, 05 Jul 2019 12:14:05 +0000 cake2017 2890125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t cook as much. I meal prep for the week on a sundays. DH is a selective/ picky eater- so the meal plan is very basic. </p> <p>LO and I eat small things during the week, pasta, veggies, rice chicken, eggs but everything is quick and easy- I’ll do breakfast on Wednesdays. LO is being very picky too so it’s basic for him and I hate cooking raw meat right now due to expecting LO2 in about 5 weeks.</p> <p>We eat out quite a bit and it’s healthy choices etc and I don’t mind it. I get criticized by my family a lot because we didn’t grow up like that and blah blah blah....</p> <p>Well my point for the post is- do you cook during the week/weekends? What are your go to meals for picky eaters? Do you eat out a lot or order food? </p>