My husband and I have been following the south beach diet for almost a month now. It was going well in the beginning but now we are in a rut and getting sick of the same old thing. I am a very poor planner and don't finish work and get home with the kids until 6:30-7:00 at night. To top it off I am a very picky eater.

We have eaten lots of chili, taco bake,steak and meatballs this month. The other down side to this is that I think the meals for the kids have gotten worse. I am quick to open a can of ravioli for them while I figure out my meal.

My goal for this month is to do better!!

Schmoodle's vegetable post is just what I needed for vegetables and I am going to add her weekly vegetable to my week whatever it is! I did try the cabbage last week since someone called it CANDY but didn't like it. I browned it but it was mushy and not very flavorful.

Although this is whiney and needy if you guys have any tips for what you always have on hand or what your favorite meal is I could surely use it. Tuesday is my off day so on Monday night my plan is to take your suggestions, make a menu, do the prep and see how it goes.

Thanks!!!

Spaghetti squash has been a life saver for me. I toss it with shrimp scampi (no butter olive oil scallions, garlic, chicken broth and dry white wine). The spaghetti squash casserole and deep dish pizza both can be made ahead. Substitute for pasta add some zucchini and eggplant to sauce for ratatouille. Also, I mix it with egg, garlic powder salt and pepper, form it into pan cakes and pan fry for a quick grab and go breakfast. A friend adds to ground lean beef for stuffed peppers. It is very versatile Hope this helps

I plan my week in advance and do a fair amount of crockpot cooking. I love trying new recipes so we never get bored. If you haven't found Kalyn's Kitchen head over for a look. I've never had a bad recipe there and I've tried lots. The Kale Sausage Mock Lasagna is a favorite around here.

Tammy is the recipe queen, I'm sure she has lots of ideas

LOL cyndi, thanks for the compliment! I actually just put a mini-cookbook together for a teacher at school that was trying to eat healthier.

Sorry my dear friend Wendy, you have to really plan on this way of life!! You've done awesome this month though, for being picky and not planning too much. FWIW, I often just give the kids cut up veggies or fruit when I know they're not liking our sides (and cheese sticks, or triscuits, or.... this honestly doesn't happen too much anymore).

This is freakin' amazing, and swonderful leftovers...basically, noodleless lasagna: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/spinach...ke/detail.aspx
This is a favorite we have every couple of weeks, I have it in the recipe section here with my changes (2-3 chxn breasts, no olives, only 1/2 cream cheese). I'll have it on romaine or plain, the kids LOVE it in a tortilla: http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot...chicken-299527
Soups. Lots of soups at this time of year, and some salads too. I'll look around for more favorites!!

I hear ya! I always have Perdue short cuts on hand - I can make a Mexican dish by mashing some black beans and using a 100 calorie guac pack and salsa (it takes maybe 15 minutes to heat and eat) and put it over lettuce/a salad. We also do cheese, veggies, hummus and olives for a quick and light dinner.

I agree though - planning is essential! Make the best out of tomorrow and cook.

If you are on Ph2, microwave brown rice is good too (I add it to soups to bulk it up a bit). Burgers too are quick. Hope this helps. Take a look in the recipe section too.

It's hard with kids who are picky eaters. When mine was still home, we did lots of meals with multiple components - protein that everyone ate (like grilled chicken, fish, or beef), veggies that only I ate, salad, rice and bread (that my kids and DH ate), etc. I might do a meat filled spaghetti sauce over pasta for my son and husband but over spaghetti squash for me.

Try to find some quick go-to things. Maybe rotisserie chicken from the store or in the crockpot. Or salmon burgers in the freezer. I had to plan meals out when I was OP with the kids around in a way I never I did before.

These have been life savers for me... when ever I can't think of something to make, I go to this list and pick a couple to make the nx week... I agree I have not made anything using her Kalyn's Kitchen recipes that we didn't like.

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2013/01...phase-one.html

Oops, my bad for calling the roasted cabbage CANDY!! ha ha I didn't mean that it was sweet. I just meant that I loved the taste so much, it was like I was a kid with candy Love all these ideas! I'm also a huge fan of Kalyn's Kitchen, awesome recipes there!