Feeling Frustrated Today :(

**lisaflex** · 10-11-2010, 03:19 PM

wishing you and your family the best of luck getting through this tough time.

i know how everyone always says beans, beans, beans, ....dh and i like them fine enough. kids wont touch them! some people just dont DO beans....i sometimes just make enough black or white beans in the CP for myself for 2 days of lunches. dh would go thru the roof if we ate beans all the time!!! i know they are affordable and good for you, but, still....

what about grilled cheese sandwiches w/ store brand wheat bread? and store brand cheeses? what kid doesnt love that?

**pollypurebred39** · 10-12-2010, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by Siebrie

About the mash potatoes I can only say that I tend to eat more mash potatoes than normal potatoes! What about jacket potatoes? One big one with some topping usually fills me up completely.

Would your dh be 'fooled' about the 'food is love' thing when you have simple & cheap meals, but give more attention to the presentation? For instance: nice cutlery and crockery, table linen, bit of parsley for decoration, mashed potatoes in heart shape, etc.

You know that's an interesting idea! Presentation is key in culinary schools. Hmmm...I think I'll give that a try.

Thanks!

**pollypurebred39** · 10-12-2010, 05:36 AM

Well, I ended up doing something I never do, I dipped into another envelope for extra cash to put towards food. It was the bulk food Winter stock up money. I went to the local food thrift store and found some rather good deals.

I decided I needed to do something about this week because DS2 started getting major charlie horses in his legs. Not good. I made an emergency appointment with his nutritionist for tomorrow and moved up his blood work to next week, it wasn't supposed to be for another 6 months. We meet with a nutritionist once a month, she created a revamped plan for him due to our drop in food budget, but I don't think it was meeting his needs. The blood work includes a vitamin panel so we can be 100% positive that he is meeting needs. I'm guessing we may need to change his dosages on them. I have to wonder though if this is due to the fact that we changed from organic foods to regular foods.

I've often heard it said that organic foods have more nutrients and vitamins. Whatever the cause, we have to get to the bottom of it, him not getting proper nutrition is just unacceptable.

It's funny though because this kid eats vegetables like they were going out of style. 1/2 of his plate is mounded with vegetables at every meal. He drinks 2 gallons of enriched almond milk every week. Quinoa is a grain he eats every single day, and that's just a powerhouse of nutrition. I juice fruits and vegetables for him and he drinks a glass every meal. Snacks in between meals are mostly vegetables, heck he eats 5 pounds of raw carrots every week. It's hard to imagine he's not getting enough vitamins, unless of course it is due to switching from organic foods.

At the food thrift store I was able to pick up a case a half of gluten free hamburger helper Italian style (organic) and several bottles of pear juice also organic, for almost nothing. I need to check the other food thrift store next week for more organic and gluten free products.

**pollypurebred39** · 10-12-2010, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by lisaflex

wishing you and your family the best of luck getting through this tough time.

i know how everyone always says beans, beans, beans, ....dh and i like them fine enough. kids wont touch them! some people just dont DO beans....i sometimes just make enough black or white beans in the CP for myself for 2 days of lunches. dh would go thru the roof if we ate beans all the time!!! i know they are affordable and good for you, but, still....

what about grilled cheese sandwiches w/ store brand wheat bread? and store brand cheeses? what kid doesnt love that?

I know what you are saying about beans, my family will eat them every once in awhile in soup, the rest need to be in some kind of Mexican creation. But who can eat Mexican every night.

My youngest son needs to have a diet that the rest of us could just not afford to follow, but I still want the rest of us to eat healthy. I think my oldest would really go for some grilled cheese on whole wheat bread. I have lots of tomatoes done up from the garden, so perhaps I can pair the grilled cheese with some fresh tomato soup. Thanks for the idea.

**shoiji** · 10-12-2010, 05:41 PM

Polly, hope you find out quickly what is going on with your son. Any chance of posting what you son can eat? Maybe we can come up with some interesting low cost meal suggestions.

**pollypurebred39** · 10-12-2010, 06:13 PM

Thanks

It might be easier to list what he can not eat.

No
-wheat
-rye
-barley
-oats, unless they are gluten free
-ALL squashes, ie. pumpkin, zucchini
-ALL beans, dried & fresh
-onions, including chives and scallions
-lettuce, all types
-beets
-bananas
-eggs
-cantaloupe
-coconut
-peas
-plums
-radish
-spinach
-yeast, brewers
-soy

He's very reactive to mold, so very limited cheese or any products mold related.

He struggles with nightshades so very limited amounts of
-tomatoes
-potatoes
-eggplant
-peppers

He can only have a limited amount of starch & it must be eaten with a protein.

He can not have anything chemical, or colorings & additives.

Mainly he can have all animal protein, allowed vegetables, allowed fruits, & allowed grains.

I buy him natural jellos, and natural drink mixes sometimes as a treat.

It's rather complicated

**lisaflex** · 10-12-2010, 07:05 PM

again, best of luck to you and your family. that diet defintiely sounds hard to meet on a limited budget. you will be in my thoughts and prayers

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-12-2010, 07:19 PM

Eggs are always a good stretcher. Poach an egg in pasta sauce , serve over noodles or rice.

I buy a two pound bag of pinto beans at Aldi's just over a 1.00. Simmer in the crock pot 8 hrs with broth, garlic powder and a dash of soy sauce. Yummy. Eat served over rice. I blend the rest into a smooth paste to stuff burritos. The left overs will make a ton of burritos to freeze.

Pancakes are a favorite for dinner. CHEAP and everyone will eat it.

Best wishes , I know how you feel and it can be so frustrating.

**celina** · 10-14-2010, 03:53 PM

ask on freecycle if anyone has any trees that need to be picked, or gardens cleaned up...very succssful here if you mention you are in need

pumpkins carved for jack o lanterns, can be processed nov 1...so ask ask ask....

bulk staples are the way to go, which i'm sure you know...

good luck...mom always said good think i loved pasta and never complained when we ate it the 4th time that week..lol

**Libby** · 10-14-2010, 08:59 PM

I do agree too polly - you're an awesome mother and wife to your family

(and us too here at the village

)

My suggestion is eggs to help you stretch a meal. We steam eggs here - its not like a fritatta (baked egg omellette)

Take 4-6 eggs (usually 1/person) beat well in bowl, add water and seasonings then you can add some sort of protein - we use ground pork usually b/c thats our preference. Pour into a shallow dish that can be steamed and steam it for 15-20 mins or so. We add diced green onions on top - you prob could used dried herbs as well. Its done when you give a gentle shake to the dish and the egg doesn't 'jiggle' in the middle. Pork could be swapped for shrimps or scallops etc. You can get creative with this dish

We usually eat it with steamed rice. HTH!