I am just starting to figure out the "method" behind the madness. Easy shopping tips for a busy mom would include:

1) If serving different dishes for the A/O breakfast, one dish must be made fresh (grilled meat) and the other dish must come from the freezer (premade muffins or bread).

2) Lunch must always include a protein source, and both fruits and veggies must be ready to eat. I made pan fried tilapia using spelt flour, onion powder, salt, and kelp. I chose the canola oil as it just works better with fish. Side dishes included fresh strawberries and baby carrots.

Snacks are easy too - nuts, fresh fruits or fresh veggies with pre-made dip. If I can't get my dips pre-made on the weekend, one pre-made dish on Monday makes the rest of my week much easier. I cooked pinto beans in a crockpot last night while we slept. Today, I will whip up a dip and continue to eat from it for the next 3 - 5 days.

3) Salted rice cakes and thinly sliced veggies have replaced potato chips. (Except for the organic corn chips. They just blend so well with both bean dip and garlic veggie dip.) The O gets a chip from the health food aisle which is as compliant as I can get it. By giving the boys two different kinds of chips, neither one of them feels left out. Sometimes eating is more psychology than one might think!

4) Dinners - either the husband helps cook or he eats what I prepare. I always tell him in advance so he can think about it. I strive to make certain the five year old gets one red meat serving a day. Frozen ground beef patties help me cut down on wasted meat. Otherwise, it's meatloaf to the rescue!

5)Once our frozen ground beef is used up, I am buying fresh. Our grocery store cuts the meat once it gets there, so I know I can safely cook fresh meat and then freeze it for later use. Ask your butcher!



If there are any busy moms who would like to share the strategies, feel free to e-mail me. I would love to hear them! Good eats, everyone!