Frugal eating under challenging circumstances...ideas?

[Emjo]

I'm usually just a lurker, but I'm hoping to get some ideas. I'm 7 weeks pregnant, and I am nauseated all day long. Eating is a chore. Cooking is absolutely on the bottom of my priority list...the thought just puts me over the edge sometimes. However, I've got a 2 year old that prefers eating over not (), and my hubby A) sucks at cooking, and B) is very busy with school and usually unavailable.

How can I keep these guys fed and stick to a reasonable budget? (Personally I'm living on lots of fluids, prenatal vitamins and whatever I can find that doesn't sound like it will come back up). I usually cook and bake everything from scratch, so I know my food bill is going to go up for awhile. I just don't want to give in and start buying pre-made pre-packaged everything. Any ideas would be appreciated! So far I'm thinking sandwiches, spaghetti, and cheese and crackers.

[ellebee]

With my second pregnancy I was nauseous and tired all the time so I had the same problem as you do now. I just tried to keep things simple for meals - breakfast was toast, cereal, or bagels, lunches were sandwiches or leftovers, and dinner i usually made a meat, side, and veg. I found that easier since I might only be able to eat one thing at dinner. Everything was very simple - grilled or baked meat (hardly any effort - lol) and an easy side of potato or rice or bread and then a salad or microwaved veg. Just remember its temporary!! I also did have a few easy frozen things on hand for those nights when i felt i couldn't do anything - much cheaper than having hubby stop on the way home to pick up dinner. Hope you feel better soon.

[latierra84]

Instant brown rice needs to become your new best friend. Incredibly easy to make, just put it on the stove and add water. Great filler for a very low price. Chop up and throw some meat on it, stir in some vegetables and call it a night.

A nice sized bowl of soup, a salad and a roll or piece of bread is a simple enough (and nicely filling) meal.

I'd take it a few days at a time. Plan out what you're going to feed them for the next three days and work around the same basic ingredients that way you're not buying all sorts of different things (ie, spending more money). You've probably already got real basic things in your pantry like saltines and canned soup. Add some cut up veggies and you're good. A pan seared pork chop with some canned veggies on the side requires minimal effort.

Just keep things simple. Personally I know that I spend the most money when I'm "experimenting" and trying new things. Usually, I end up not liking them (though my DH will eat anything, he's a goat).

sloppy joes - brown the ground beef, stir in the sauce, put it on the bun.

tostadas - brown some ground beef, heat up a can of refried beans (optional), cut up some lettuce, tomato and cheese. you're done.

small twist for basic sandwiches, toast the bread. add cucumber slices.

bagged salads, just add cut up chicken strips and if they like, dressing.

throw a pizza in the oven.

watch your "junk mail". more often then not I'll get coupons to local burger joints or family run pizza places. two for one specials, things like that. give yourself a night off here and there!

[Buc-O-Mama]

Maybe on days that you feel like cooking you could cook an extra large amount and freeze the extras. This is only temporary, just try to be good to yourself especially now.

[carlitasway]

Do you have a crockpot? I'd make it your best friend. Roasts, chicken, soup, even oatmeal can be made in it.

[Jessesbride]

Do you have any friends or family members (or good neighbors) that would be willing to cook up an xtra batch of whatever they are making and send it to your family? or maybe just use the ingredients of whatever you have available & pop it in the freezer til the night that you need it & you can use the leftovers for everyone's lunches the next day? that might help with dinner and a few lunches! What about oatmeal or cereal for the kiddo? I pray you feel better soon!

as others have said, this is only temporary! but congrats on being pregnant!

Kim

[sunshine]

The crockpot is your friend Toss stuff in (frozen), turn it on , and it's ready for them to eat and dinner. Save some for lunches.

[yankeegal]

I agree about the crockpot-takes a few moments in the morning and you can have a hot meal for supper time.
So sorry you are not feeling well-I hope your nausea passes soon.

[Megareader]

First of all, congratulations on the new baby!!

I also would suggest using your crockpot as much as you can. It'll fix the main part of the meal for the rest of your family and you can have that or something else, whatever you decide.

[Frugal Nurse]

Fantastic ideas already.

Crock- perfect!

It's ok to have pancakes, french toast, eggs and the like for dinner too.

I make meals ahead and freeze them for the weeks ahead.

A nice big lasagna.
Huge soup
backed potatos
Oven baked fries

Think ahead.

I don't know if you have a certain aversion to certain foods, (I did and couldn't think of, smell, touch, see, or eat chicken). For the aversion... you'll just have to eliminate or ask the hubby.

[TheRootedNomad]

~ Fruit and yougurt could make a lunch
(kinda like the crackers and cheese idea)

[mom2three]

I am 12 weeks pregnant and have just come through the nausea phase wich I have not had with my three previous pregancies. We have special diets so I pretty much still have to do everything from scratch. I boil about 6-8 eggs at the beginning of the week for quick protein. I found that protein helped with the nausea for me and I had to eat within 1/2 hour of getting up or would have nausea all day long. I cut up veggies when I was feeling well and bought baby spinach so I could throw a salad together in a couple of minutes. I eiether made dressing or bought a premade one (which I generally do not do). That and some nuts or eggs or baked chicken became an easy meal. I kept a fruit bowl for easy kid snacks as well as cut up cucumber slices and carrot sticks. I amde soups in double batches and froze 1/2 for when Iwasn't feeling well. I sauteed veggies for omelets and saved some for the next day to make an omelet for my 7 year old. I bought cold luncheon meats (somthing I almost never do) to have on hand for days when I was desperate to fix lunch for my daughter. I baked when I felt well enough to do so. I kick myself a bit now as I was buying premade bread that my elsest was reacting to behaviourally (but at least we figured our one of her food intolerances). I tend to make extras at supper (double up on meat especially) so I do not have to cook everyday. Things like rice and potatoes are easy to do. Slow cooking is awesome as you can set something up when yu feel okay (if it is night, just refrigerate the crock until the mornng) and then put it in the outer part and flip it on. You can do this and just remind yourself lots that it is a good thing and that it is temporary. Yoghurt and fruit are my friend, teh kids love leftover buckwheat pancakes microwaved with a few carob chips. I made granola when I felt well and this lasts a while. I din't kick myself about the things that did not get done and made sure to rest when I needed to even if it meant supper was a few minutes late. I made sure to spend quiet times reading books, singing, and doing little things with my 1 and 3 year olds and sat down to help my daughter with her homework (which I usually do not do - I look over her shoulder instead). I know I'm rambling, but I hope at least you are encouraged somewhat.

[Iansmommy]

Sorry your not feeling well. I rememer with my 1st, I couldn't even open the refrigerator during my whole pregnancy. The smell of the freon (sp) or whatever would make me vomit. Needless to say, I didn't cook much during my pregnancies.

I agree with the others, crockpot. DH should be able to help with that too if handling raw meat makes you sick. It's pretty hard to screw up a crockpot meal..

Hopefully you will start feeling better soon

[Wendy99]

I would enlist the help of close friends or family. Tell them your situation (they prob already know!) and ask if one of them would please come over and help you prepare enough meals to stock your freezer for at least a month. You of course would provide everything needed so the only expense would be their time. Or guide your husband through everything and have him make a few big meals and freeze the rest - you can teach an old dog new tricks

[gangof4]

I'm not sure if this helps at all, but my third pregnancy was like that from day one......I found that Mug rootbear was a huge quick fix.....kinda on the pricey side but so worth it!!!!!!
soft pretzels and cheetoes as snacks between meals helped tons....and as weird as it sounds with #4 as long as I ate a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich every morning I was good. But since I have 4 kids I made shepherds pie, chicken and dumplings in the crock pot, spaghetti, and frozen pizza one night for mom's mental health day....but with that menu I could usually eat some mashed potatoes, or dumplings, pasta with a little parm cheese and everyone else was good to go. Don't know if you have this problem but sweets made me barf with every pregnancy......I could eat cajun spiced whatever, but not a blueberry muffin....Go Figure (horriblemones)