What am I supposed to eat and feed to my wife and child?!


Question: What am I supposed to eat and feed to my wife and child!?
Seriously, when it comes to planning, shopping and preparing meals I am lost!. I can think of a reason not to eat everything except water!. Either it's too expensive or it's not good for you or I just have no idea what kind of whatever thing to get!. What kind of fish can I buy that's inexpensive, isn't already fried, and doesn't have bones!? If I bought one of those bags of salad it would just go bad because I wouldn't eat it!. Broccoli, the last time I bought one it was either too old or too green!. Melons and most other fruit I can't tell if it's ripe or not, ever!. I haven't a clue!. Is that apple green or golden!? Is that banana ripe or green!? My wife can't cook and my kid eats at grandma's every day because I haven't a clue!. I have cook books and can cook, I just can't think of anything that's healthy and tastes good at all!. Spaghetti made with whole grain noodles, yeah, but without meat in it everyone complains!Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
There's something someone could reason was unhealthy about just about everything!. If you have existing health conditions, then certain foods may be more unhealthy for you then they are for other people!. The Atkins diet people say eat just meat, the vegans say meat will kill you!. If you take the two extremes and compare them, normally the truth is somewhere between the two!.
Here are the basics from someone that eats 'old school' so to speak!.
Foods can be sorted by the kinds of things they supply, some foods are more carbohydrate based, other foods are more protein based and some get most of their calories from fat!.
Everyday you want to consume proteins, carbs and fats in about a 40-40-20 ratio!. What that would mean is, if you're eating around 2500 calories per day, you want about 1000 calories from protein based foods, 1000 calories from carbohydrate based foods and about 500 calories from fat based foods!.!. It doesn't have to be exact!. It's just a guide, not something you must religiously follow to the letter everyday!.
As far as protein goes, you want most of the protein you consume to come from lean sources!. Things like low fat yogurt, skinless chicken breast, some fish!.!.etc!.!. However, if you don't have high cholesterol, there's no reason why you couldn't eat 95% lean hamburger a couple times a week!. Beef is a great source of protein and iron, but, it has higher cholesterol and if you buy 80% stuff you'll have too many calories for most people to eat regularly!.!. If you're pan cooking it, you may have to add some oil to the 95% lean stuff- but, that's a good time to get in some olive oil, a source of good fats!.!.
As far as carbohydrates go, you want to make sure they have plenty of fiber!. Sure, with that to you can make exceptions- I bake a couple times a week with all purpose flour that has little nutritional value!. Most of the time though, I aim for carb based foods that have at least 4 grams of fiber per serving!. People should eat around 18 grams of fiber per day!. Obviously, if your eating bread with only 1 gram per slice you'd have to eat 18 slices of bread a day which is too much bread for most people!. The only bad thing is that bread that actually has fiber is often $4 a loaf!. You can make the same at home even with the price spike in flour for under a $1 per loaf using whole wheat flour!. I bake 3 loaves of bread on the weekend and save $10 a week that way while still eating better!.
You also don't have to cook every meal to eat healthy!. We eat a lot of shredded wheat and bran flakes here!. We buy yogurt in the large tub as it's a lot cheaper to pack it in reusable containers for lunch then to buy it in the little packages!.
I watch for sales on things like boneless skinless chicken breast and buy about 10-30 lbs when it's cheap!. I bake up enough for a whole week, dice it up and put half in the freezer and half in the fridge!. Then I use that throughout the week to put about 4 ounces of chicken on a salad or in a chicken salad sandwich!.
As far as salad goes, I like to keep it simple!. It's not one of those foods I enjoy making, so I just pick a leaf lettuce and some grape or roma tomatoes!. With the chicken already cooked, it only takes a couple of minutes to tear up some lettuce and slice some tomato for a very quick salad!.
Food isn't really that expensive, people just buy way too much of the wrong kinds of food!.!. Popcorn made up with olive oil in a stove top popper is a lot cheaper then buying chips all the time!. It's also quite a bit better for you!. If you keep the heavily processed foods out of your shopping cart, you'll save a lot of money!.
Here is a guide to how to pick ripe vegetables!.!.
http://busycooks!.about!.com/library/howto!.!.!.

It just takes practice, so keep it simple and take it one step at a time!. Start with a basic lettuce/tomato salad and gradually add more fruits and vegetables!. I would suggest writing down the basics of how to pick out the fruits and veggies you plan to get on your shopping list!. Eventually, you'll just remember the stuff with a bit of practice!.
Hopefully that gets you started!. Don't feel embarrassed if you have to stand in an aisle and read labels for awhile!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

When I cook I make things that I like to eat, if others in the house don't like it then they are free to not eat it!. Try making things like meat loaf, stuffed peppers, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, lasagna or casseroles!. I do suggest finding a cookbook and trying some recipes!. You are right about food being expensive but you have to eat!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You have already set the rules for failure!.!.
NO Thanks
Get rid of all those negative dung I might have an idea!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You need to
a) buy a cookbook
b) get grandma to show you how to shop for groceriesWww@FoodAQ@Com

Hamburger Gravy

2 pounds of hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
2 cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup
3/4 of a cup milk

Fry the hamburger and onions,salt and pepper
After the hamburger is cooked,drain off any grease
Add the cans of soup,plus 3/4 cup of milk
Heat and eat, serve over cooked potato's, noodles,or bread

Can't get much easier than this,and it is good !!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Think of the things you like to eat when you eat out!. Then look online for the recipes!. Get the produce guys at the grocery store to show you the best quality of each type of produce!. Most of them are really nice and have no problem helping you if you ask!.

Start small when you begin to cook!. Don't buy a lot of expensive ingredients just to find out that you don't like it!. Maybe start with 1 meal a week!. Take the recipe with you to the store and buy all of the ingredients!. Ask the employees if you are unsure about an ingredient!. If you can find one that isn't really busy, they might help you with your entire list!.

As for healthy, buy fresh when possible, then frozen, and lastly canned!. Look for low fat or non-fat options!. also stay away from sodium!. You can add salt at the table if it needs it!. Steaming is better than boiled, and anything is better than fried!. You can steam in the microwave very easily!. 1 tablespoon of water, whatever veggie you like, and a dish with a lid or plastic wrap!. Cook no more than 4 minutes and check for doneness!.

Good luckWww@FoodAQ@Com

Sounds like someone needs to turn off the video games and turn on the food network!. Suggestion; get a healthy cookbook for beginners!. The kind that gives suggestions not just on what to make, but what to buy and answers questions along the way!. There are lots of books like this, do some research on Amazon or ask someone in a kitchen or book store!.

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can:

Good fish to buy that is inexpensive and boneless: Salmon!. Salmon is probably the best fish for you and the most flavorful!. If you bake it with some maple syrup, it brings out some of its natural sweetness!. It's full of Omega-3's (very good for you) all kinds of vitamins and minerals and probably wards off most cancers!. Go Salmon! Oh!.!.!. and it's not too expensive either!.

Bags of salad will go bad, even sealed tight in the fridge!. After all, it's just lettuce!. See if you can buy some fresh produce locally, like at a farmer's market!. If not, the salad bags aren't bad if you get into a habit of eating it more often!. Romaine and leafy lettuce is much better for you than iceberg!.

Broccoli can be gross, but it's delicious if you steam it rather than boil it!. Add some lemon juice; the acidic citrus cuts the bitterness tremendously!. This trick is great for any green vegetable!.

You don't need to worry so much about melons and apples; just get what appeals to you!. Personally, i think they're both overrated!.

Bananas!.!.!. they ripen after picking!. Don't refrigerate and they're fine until they get too black!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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