Meal Planning - Side Dishes and Chicken Need some help

mom2triplets04

mom2triplets04

Well-known member
My goal for 2022 is to try to meal plan and then go food shopping. I always fail at this task.

Now, my family is very picky. I now have 3 17 year old teenagers. Every meal must have a meat. But wait! We only eat things with no bones.

My family conditions
CHICKEN - no bones (breast cutlets or tenders)
Beef - Very thin (yup with no bone)
pork - Occasionally but one kid doesn't like it so I try not to buy it too often.
Sausage - now is only chicken sausage (yup another kid doesn't like it)
chop meat - Now only chicken or turkey
Veggies - (no one eats mushrooms except for me)
(one daughter will only eat uncooked veggies)
(broccoli I used to love but it upsets my stomach bad gas so I limit it)
Fish - Only me and one daughter eats salmon or shrimp
Fruit - Hubby loves bananas. All eat apples and grapes

Planning so far
M-
T- always chop meat. (meatballs/meatloaf/nachos/chili/tacos). Any other ideas?
W-
T-
F-
S- (take out)
S-

Ok, here is where I need help. I need more chicken recipes. I also need some side recipes.

Side Go Tos
french fries. (ugh no one will eat potatoes but they will eat french fries. I like baked potato)
rice (one daughter hates rice)
pasta (mac and cheese Big one for one daughter who doesn't eat what we eat so she gets mac and cheese)
Need to add some new recipes

I have an instant pot. I have an air fryer. I have a food processor. I'd really like some recipes that are like 5 ingredient quick meals.
 
Because I am vegan and hubs is not, I freeze single portions in baggies and then put all the baggies into a large zippered ziploc bag to easily open and close numerous times as I pull out items.

I freeze little single serving bags of rice, cauliflower rice, meat, beans/lentils and sauces i.e. spaghetti sauce.

At Costco I buy the cauliflower cheese sauce and freeze it in smaller containers and the box of individual containers of avocado. I buy the big box of meat pies to microwave.

I buy bags of homefries from Walmart to cook in the air fryer for 10 min.

I buy individual servings of frozen mac & cheese at Walmart.

So, by having all these single serving selections, it is easy for me to focus on a meal for me (veggies, beans, grains, starch, salad) and then quickly prepare something for hubs i.e. but he'll have precooked hamburger mixed into a mac & cheese.

I'd go crazy if I had to prepare both different meals from scratch every night. If I have time on the wkend I prep some foods and that goes into the fridge for the week i.e. chopped peppers, onion, celery to add to salads or stovetop cooking. Rice and beans or lentils in the instant pot.

I cook double batches of crockpot recipes with meat and then freeze them for hubs in single servings.

I've used up a lot over the last few months so its time for me to batch freeze some dishes, its so worth it to have things ready in advance.

Hope this gives you some ideas.
 
Some of our house's go-tos:

Crockpot BBQ chicken: https://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2014/06/best-crockpot-bbq-chicken.html
Ritz chicken: https://www.food.com/recipe/southern-livings-ritz-chicken-227605
Chicken Alfredo with fettuccini noodles (I can ask my mom for her Alfredo sauce recipe)
Spaghetti (Bolognese) with any noodle
Beef stroganoff (could use turkey of course) -- we use a couple cans of cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and either pasta or rice

Our sides are usually rice, mashed potatoes, canned green beans, creamed corn, frozen veggies, salad, rolls/biscuits, Texas toast (with something red sauce).
 
The teens in our family seem to enjoy chili. I will make a base of chili and then have all sorts of different toppings (cheese, sour cream, crackers, etc) so they can customize each bowl to their own liking. Chili also freezes and reheats very well.

For sides, our family loves roasted veggies... especially brussle sprouts roasted with chopped onions and bacon. Bacon makes everything better. You can sprinkle with parmesan cheese or sliced almonds, as well, after they come out of the over. Super easy to make.
 
This time of year, I like to make soups...
We like Amish Chicken Corn Soup,
Chicken Noodle,
Chicken Tortilla Soup...

If you are interested send me a message and I will send you the recipes... don't have them digitally yet. LOL!
 
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