Fixed, rotating food schedule?

[cfred]

I would love, love, love to do organic, and tried at one point. Unfortunately, it jacked up our grocery bill out of my reach. I usually have to pick and choose carefully with organics. It's sad that everyone can't afford to eat this way if they so choose, but man, it's sooooo expensive. Organic veggies will have to wait till summer when we harvest from our garden (love that!).

Honestly, I was completely overwhelmed with the notion of going vegetarian. I grew up on a farm so EVERY meal was the standard farm-folk meal - meat, veg, potato. It's taken lots of practice. I love cooking, so I don't mind much. I certainly raised an eyebrow at the beetroot risotto thinking it would be gross. Much to my surprise, it's really, really good...and so easy to make! I sent some leftovers home with a couple parents, who also loved it. Who knew beets, rice, wine and cheese could be good? I was as shocked as anyone.

I would, however, give my left arm for a good roast beef dinner...with yorkshire....and gravy.....mmmmmmmmm. I did, however, make some vegan 'pulled pork' a couple weeks ago for my family. Even my teen boys showered me with compliments like 'it was ok' and 'I didn't mind it'....feeling the love, lol. The taste was right on, but I didn't prepare the jackfruit properly, so texture was a little off. Next time.....

[DisneyPrincess]

Is becoming vegan all about the animal not living anymore ?? I totally understand that and I hate animal getting killed for us to eat, I barely eat meat though. Its just the ''regular'' meat you know like hamburger meat, chicken, turkey and roastbeef... I think thats it. And the only reason why I eat it now its because I did as a child. I am extremely picky and I do not want to taste any new food that I didnt eat when I was little. My mom use to take away a meal I wouldnt eat and change it for me so... good job mom. As a grown up I cant change that bad habit, I tried but its psychological. That said, I eat perhaps 3 vegies and 2 fruits so, if I went vegetarian I would probably starve. I live on tiny portions of protein (meat, eggs) and starch (spaghetti, mashed patatoes, bread... and other bad food like hot-dogs (sometimes). Vegan is not an option for us sorry poor chicken

[cfred]

No Disney Princess, it's not so much about the animal dying, but more they way they live and the way they die, if that makes sense. I grew up on a small farm (mainly laying chickens and cattle). Our cows lived in open pasture and had it pretty good, till they were shipped for slaughter, which is pretty unpleasant. The chickens have a miserable existence from beginning to end, in most places. My uncle had a large pig farm, so I got a good dose of the Pork industry too. I grew up with this and have always wrestled with it. So now I try to buy meat from farms that treat the animals well as a happy medium. I'm finding that even 'free range' as it pertains to birds is a bit of a misnomer, so I try to go beyond that and find specific farms that are very transparent in their practices. I've found a couple, but CHA CHING....hence the veggies. I love meat....love it! I miss it. But I have a hard time supporting the factory farms. Plus, I like to buy local as much as I can, for the whole environmental issue and to support our local, small farms. When I go on holiday to teeny islands, particularly very underdeveloped ones, I eat meat freely as I know it was raised and slaughtered there. Nothing added, no fancy packaging, etc. It's just better meat. BUT, as I write this, we still eat regular cheese, eggs and milk as the non-factory farm stuff is ridiculously expensive and I've not found a reasonable vegan alternative. And I still eat fish, but try to go sustainable if I can. I don't think I could ever go fully vegan. It's super intensive and goes right down the line of everything you do...a whole lifestyle change, right down to your clothes.

For me, it's just about the principle of trying to put in some effort. It probably doesn't make much of a difference, but I feel better about it. I have enjoyed finding the recipes and the research, so that helps too. I was thrilled to find the vegan pulled pork recipe and had some a client brought to me. It was soooooooo good and tasted like the real thing. Mine didn't, but I'll try again I would never judge anyone who still eats meat from whatever source. Eating ethically raised meats is just a choice I feel comfortable with for my family. Plus, I feel so much healthier and have lost a few pounds in the process Just in time for vacation!

[monkeymama]

I plan my menus one week in advance....sundays i go through the flyers, make my family grocery list and decide on my meals for daycare as well...this works for me as it keeps my costs down and allows for some variety

[bright sparks]

cFred...could I get the recipe for the veggie pulled pork please vegan is definitly a lifestyle which far surpasses just dietary. DisneyPrincess, add beans to everything to get a good dose of protein and also quinoa. With Quinoa pasta you get your protein and whole grain and you definitly won't be left feeling hungry. If soy agrees with you there are lots of options out there but I am allergic to soy and choose not to give it to my veggie son which is my biggest obsticle as these kinds of meat replacement products would make meal time much quicker but is still a processed food so I try to avoid it unless its just occasionally when we eat out and then he can have it.

A good dairy replacement is almond milk. It's richer and creamier than rice milk, is soy free and if you get the unsweetened then there isn't that sweet edge to it. I also buy my meat locally and actually know the farmer and his wife very well. When the weather is better I actually incorporate it into my weekly routine and go visit their emu's and see their chickens with the kids. They offer Organic and ABF chicken, Pork and Beef products. I see there animals and the chickens are undoubtably free to roam over a vast area They have organic eggs which are CRAZY cheap...$4.25 for organic is substantially less than grocery store prices and I can see exactly where they have come from. They have monthly specials which is when I tend to buy more of a certain item and also case sales. I don't serve meat everyday to make up for the higher cost of these products.

I have to say that all my daycare parents past and present say that my views on nutrition were one of the biggest deciding factors for them. I put a portfolio together in January and all my past and present families wrote references and blurbs for it. Every single one mentioned my healthy homemade nutritious menu. This is also why and how I justify charging at the top end for my area.

[Momof4]

Psssssst, Cfred, I meant EXOTIC as a compliment! My cooking is boring and plain compared to yours, that's all.

[cfred]

I took it as a compliment totally Upon looking at my post, I felt like I could be perceived as a bit of a 'food snob' though....they're actually really, really easy dishes. despite appearances. I allow 20-30 mins for meal prep, and that's about all any of those take. I'll bet your cooking is just delicious...if it's tasty, it can't be boring. I just love (I mean LOVE) cooking! I get very excited to learn how to make different styles of food, so finding cool veg recipes that help me meet dietary requirements really blows my hair back. Last year it was Asian food I adore comfort foods, but those, surprisingly, are my worst. I have no knack for it whatsoever. I can make a wicked Thai curry or rice paper rolls, but perfecting stew is completely beyond me.

Bright Sparks - here's a link for "pulled pork":

http://herestheveg.blogspot.ca/2012/...lled-pork.html

I won't send you mine as it sucked a bit. I just used one with premade bbq sauce, but I think would be better with homemade. Jack fruit is hard to find. Try Asian stores and get the stuff canned in brine, NOT SYRUP!!! When I get the recipe from my client's hubby, I'll forward it to you. It was to die for! I know he cooks his longer than the online recipes say to......hours and hours in the slow cooker. You can really fiddle with the recipe. One problem I had was a toughness. Though I had cut the core chunks out, the rind must have still been on. Other than that, the texture was good, taste was great. To serve, I buttered crusty rolls and fried them, then put on extra old cheddar slices and bread&butter pickles. Yum..... OH...and if you use premade bbq sauce, don't be shy with using a little extra liquid smoke

Now I'm hungry.......

[sunnydays]

CFred your menu sounds amazing I also tend to cook meals that are nto traditional "kid foods". I use a lot of quinoa (all the kids learn to love quinoa) as well although I am not vegetarian. I really think kids will eat whatever they are exposed to (well sometimes it takes multiple times before they start to eat something). In most of the world, kids eat what the whole family eats...even very spicy foods. If they dont' want to eat it, they will go hungry..plain and simple. We let our kids become far too picky by worrying about what they will and will not eat.
To answer teh original question, I plan my menus on Sundays for one week ahead (after I have done the shopping so I know what I have). It works well for me and also makes it easy as I use leftover dinners mainly, so I always know what I am going to cook each evening

[crafty]

I do a 2 weeks menu. I use a lot of simple favs. like ravioli, spagetthi, mac & chesse, lasagna, shepperds pie, soup, tuna melts, pancakes ... But I trhow in variety when I look at sales or even when I want to try something new myself. I love my crock pot so I am always looking for great complete meals to*prepare in my crock pot. The thing with planning 2 weeks ahead is that sometimes you can't take davantage of some sales or when something as not defrosted on time or your husband eats the last of what you needed ... You always need a back up plan

I like to plan ahead because I am on a strict budget so I find I am using exactly what I need and there is minimal spoilage.