hide-n-(sensory)-seeking

I have no idea what it's like to have children who "eat like birds".   My children eat more like a ravenous pack of wolves! And they are home all day, and for every meal.   So, next to our house payment, our grocery bill is our biggest expense. (Technically it is our biggest expense because we overpay our house note each month.) We include paper products, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, and general use household items in this part of the budget, including occasional clothing items, just FYI. We call it our Food and Needs Fund.   Since our wolves eat so much, we really try to ensure that the majority of what they consume daily is real, wholsome food. Raising healthy eaters is one of the best investments we feel we can make as parents, not only to spare them the health and weight challenges that we have as adults, but also because it is so hard to break bad habits later, and we want their brains and bodies to have the best possible st...

Recently there's been another area where I have let my resolve slip. A lot. I love real food. I also love French fries.  And burgers. The downside to eating real food all the time is how much time one has to spend in the kitchen on a daily basis. A significant amount of time for each meal, which also usually means time must be dedicated to clean up as well. Due to my heightened levels of stress and exhaustion, I have gradually done less and less cooking over the course of these last few months. Many nights over the last couple of weeks I've let Victor do the "cooking" . AKA hitting a drive through (like BKs 2 for $5 sandwich deal), or pizza, or take-out. Definitely not real food, and certainly not healthy. :( We do still keep healthier items in stock at home. Lots of fruit, yogurt, fresh salad greens, frozen and canned veggies for quick prep, as well as frozen shrimp, chicken, and cheeses. For a while I was making my own broth (leftover chicke...