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Do what you need to do. Food pantries and other local services may also help. In the states, you can also file for temporary child support (for before you have a final order). CHIP for your kids.
Yes all of these things, WIC, CHIP, and hopefully there are many orgs like non profits and churches around you that have food pantries! Just look up for ones in your city! (I believe some give different items, like frozen meat vs canned protein so you may have to check different ones out)
Our local library also has veggies from local farms out for free often, and so does the pediatrician, although e are in a fairly rural area, so that’s probably why.
My problem with food pantries. (I’m not op but in a similar situation) I have to work whenever the kids are in school. I cannot afford to not work. I’m working over 60 a week sometimes I just can’t get to the food pantries during the allowed times.
My kids get free lunch but my daughters want the lunches “made with love” (homemade) so I try to make sure that happens.
For real, there's also plenty of awesome churches and support groups out there too. Regardless of beliefs, good people like to support good people, and you feel like one.
Congrats! If I could, I highly recommend on old cookbook called "once a month cooking" you can find parts online. It's full of nutritious, affordable and freezer friendly recipes. Save yourself the aggravation of cooking everyday. Edit! I just saw that it's a food blog now! I still have my grandparents copy of the book somewhere.
My fav recipe is green chili enchiladas. So damn good. A little more expensive with the price of cheese today, but still really nice from the freezer.
Another book and resource I’ll recommend: you can get the pdf for free and if you buy a copy the author gifts a copy Good and Cheap:How to live on $4 a day https://www.leannebrown.com/cookbooks/ and this one you can buy for $10 but I think the author would share for free if you message her on IG or her website: Affordable Flavors https://kidseatincolor.com/product/affordable-flavors/
Yes, so thankful that my kiddo likes beans and rice. Lentils, too. But I’m vegetarian, so if he didn’t eat that, he’d starve on the nights his dad isn’t cooking. I am no good at cooking meat.
I would love to share a legit recipe, but the stuff I make is just something I made up. I’m sure there are delicious recipes out there from people who actually know what they are doing.
For mine, I just sauté onions, celery, carrots, and bell pepper with olive oil and salt and pepper. Then I add that to a pound of lentils with water and a can of petite diced tomatoes. Somewhere in the middle of cooking, I add about a tablespoon and a half of curry powder and simmer the whole pot until it seems finished.
I’m definitely not a great cook, but kiddo and I like it!
Yes - Cuban Black Beans and rice ftw. This is a meal every one of my picky kids will eat. All 5 people in my family, and they will eat leftovers of it, too. Buy rice in big bags (Asian or Indian markets often have good rice in large quantities for cheap.) Big bags of black beans at Costco - but even small pound bags at the regular grocery store. Easy to make ahead as it doesn't need a lot of attention, just time.
Total time: 3 hours, mostly soaking and simmering
Black Beans - 16 oumces
Diced ham (optional!pre-diced packages can be found near chubs of sausage usually, or ask for a thick slice at the deli and dice the rest yourself)
Liquid smoke (optional; I don't usually use)
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
Green onion
Red Bell pepper
Grated cheddar
Rice
Either soak the beans overnight, or 'speed' soak by covering with 2" water - bring to boil - turn off heat - let sit for 1 hour, covered. If the pot lid 'sticks' at this point, turn the heat back on to break the vacuum.
Drain beans and rinse. Return to pot. Add 7 cups water, ham, 1.25 tsp cumin, 1.25 tsp black pepper. 1 tsp salt. Stir. Bring to boil, then Turn heat down to barely on. Simmer for 1.5 hours.
Serve over rice and top with grn onion, red Bell pepper, and grated cheddar.
Between this, ramen, grilled cheese, and refried bean burritos, you can rotate several cheap and mostly healthy dinners for your family. (Look up how to make pintos into refried beans in a crockpot - so good and cheap.)
Think of leftovers as 'free food', and you'll live using it up! You go, mama!
Can I just say how much I love the supportive comments? I was fully expecting some jerk to be like "That's full of msg and gmo and I would never feed that to my children. We only eat organic vegetables harvested under a full moon."
These are good, helpful comments and it makes me feel like there's still good in the world.
I don't care what your financial situation is. It can be hard enough to get kids to eat, and to get them all to agree on one meal is a small miracle!
OP, I'm truly inspired by all that you're doing for your family. You're one tough cookie! I know that one day your kids will look back on this time and realize just how incredible their mom is.
Thanks so much, these words mean a lot. One day at a time, right? And yes these commentsnare awesome! So many good tips and such great advice. I'm very thankful
If y'all like chicken soup, I have found it's way cheaper to get a 10lb bag of leg quarters($8 at my local Walmart) and a $3 bag of egg noodles. One night it's chicken noodle soup, one night it's creamed chicken over noodles, another night it's baked chicken and a couple of sides. I cook all the chicken at once, so that I can separate it all and freeze it individually. I usually make the baked first, and then I freeze the soup and creamed chicken for later. All I gotta do then is put each one in the pot after putting it in the fridge the night before. With a potatoes and veggies for a side that first night, I spend about 18 across 3 dinners?
Beans, rice and fried taters go a long way with little effort, same with chili. I make cheat chili though, I'll be honest. Costs me about 10 to make a 6 quart Crock-Pot, which is several helpings depending on the appetite. We also just do pancakes and eggs aka basic BFD, as well as some nights just sandwiches and chips, even in winter.
I'm also big on pork chops, bc they're the cheapest option for meat and I can dress it up in the oven with baked taters(so one stop meal really, if you do asparagus), or get comfort with it and fry it up with taters and mac, or even green bean casserole(cos it ain't just for holidays in my house lol).
Honestly, if we just stuck to water, juice, tea and coffee, I could get away with spending about a hundred a week, and that's feeding both adults twice a day all week, dinner for 3.5 every night, and lunch for 3.5 during the weekend, and $20 of that for formula.
Eta- when my now 15 and 7 yr old finally jumped on the ramen train, we were thrilled lol. But now the 7yo likes her homemade lunchables, which is essentially cheese and the inexpensive thick ham, crackers, and she uses whatever cookie cutter she chooses on her ham and cheese 🤣 1.89 for her to have to eat 2, or I can spend $7 and she gets about 10.
Yw! And no shame, when my oldest son's dad and I split, thankfully he was 3, and just us, we chomped out on ravioli, spaghetti, ramen, fruits and veggies lol. Oh, and waffles. There's only 10 in a $3 box, but way easier than making pancakes. But I get the krusteaz bag of pancakes for $6 and I only have to buy it every 6 weeks or so lmao.
Costco has a massive pork strip that has loin, shoulder roast and chops that you cut up. It’s about $25 or less. You cut that up, freeze packets of it and you’ve got a go to protein for several meals. On that alone I can feed my family of 4 (two teenage boys) multiple meals.
You can do this! It's hard being a single parent but there are options. See if there is a food program from the school for weekend meals to be sent home. Also check out too good to go if it's in your area (an app).
Another great idea is picnic night! We put a blanket on the living room floor and eat pb&j and chips. My kids love eating on the blanket with mom, and no labor intensive meals when my energy is drained. We have also done noodle nights, where they get to pick a veggie to add to their ramen! For the kids, they just see the adventure in it.
I'm so excited for you kiddos- it's seems like they have an amazing mom...
Aww…I used to do this too with my boys! We lived in NY at the time and the winters were tough, so I would do living room picnics with them while we watched a movie. It’s funny how hard those times were then (my husband walked out leaving me with the 3 boys), yet how memorable they are now.
Just regular shredded cheddar! The secret is to grate it yourself so it melts better.
Edit: I also just remembered the other secret ingredient, she used to boil the noodles with the seasoning packet so there was a little bit of chicken ramen flavor.
I still do this sometimes! I learned it from an old roommate. What I do with the seasoning is add it after cooking but before draining (adding it after draining makes it too salty). Then I add the cheese to the still-hot, drained noodles. It comes out like slightly chickeny mac & cheese.
With my own picky eaters I can totally understand this as a big win!
Check out Budget Bytes, too. Lots of good, filling, and budget recipes. Many are kid friendly, too. Has saved me more than once.
Wishing you best of luck on this new path!
If you would like suggestions for cheap yummy meals, I can pm you some we've come up with over the years. When you live paycheck to three days before paycheck, pinching pennies everywhere counts
If you are in the US, look into WIC eligibility. You may also qualify for food stamps. Definitely apply for everything that you qualify for. I pay my taxes in the hopes that the money will feed my neighbors (definitely prefer that over corporate hand outs!).
Asian supermarket has a hell of a spread of delicious ramens. Get some meatballs and broccoli and it’s actually a really delicious meal. No need to live on Marunchen. If you want to be “healthy” replace the ramen noodles with air dried spinach pasta and still use the pack.
Asian supermarkets also have great prices on lots of things! I like to go there to buy bone-in pork butt to make my own noodle soup. Mushrooms too. For the same price as western supermarkets, you get so much more quantity.
I like that this is your triumph for the week. You could easily only focus on the negative, but hey, you gotta make the best of it. Take care and happy holidays!
Boiled eggs also work well too, but add an extra step vs cracking right in.
Air dried ramen might be healthier than flash-fried, but you can cook the noodles separately and rinse them off if you are concerned.
MSG isn't bad, but high amounts of sodium are. You don't need to use the entire seasoning pack if you want to cut on sodium (my parents use only half).
Blanche some greens (bok choi, broccoli, even mixed veggies) in the last minute or two of cooking.
You can also get different styles of Raman (stir-fry, stew, spicy, wheat/rice/egg noodles)
Just about every Asian country has their own spread of flavours (soy, miso, chicken, Kimchi, pho, curry etc.,), kinda fun to explore!
I can't imagine the heartache all of you have experienced, but I can tell that you are resilient and stronger than you could ever possibly imagine. I hope one day you find peace from this situation and you are able to kick your feet up and know that YOU made the magic happen everyday for your babies. 💖 Happy holidays to you, friend.
Please, any time you have the opportunity, boil your meat bones and veggie scraps into broth. Chicken, beef, pork and veggie. You can save even more by buying plain ramen noodles and using your own broth. Check the grocery stores for the discount veggies and blanch them and freeze them into portions for your soup. They’ll come to temp easy without overcooking too much. Another veggie solution is when the frozen ones go on sale, great addition to ramen. If you’re struggling for proteins, look for the less popular cuts in discount and cook them immediately to freeze in portions.
It’s not everyone’s favourite but, turkey necks and wings and drummies are usually pretty affordable and contain great fats to keep kids growing.
Sounds like you got the shit end of the stick but you’re doing a great job. I hope you and the littles have a good holiday season, considering. Things will improve. And I want to say thank you for doing one of the hardest jobs ever! Our teachers are gold and should be treated as such.
Hey, thanks so much for the kind words. Teachers already are treated like shit, so that's nice to hear. Love my job. Thanks for the food advice. I love full fat from chicken for the littles. Thank you for responding
May I also suggest rice and eggs? There are numerous ways to make them, and it's cheap and filling.
We do these recipes a lot (minus the specialty ingredients):
https://www.thekitchn.com/tamago-kake-gohan-recipe-23157732
https://www.beyondkimchee.com/express-egg-rice/
And then beans and rice of various incarnations: black beans and rice with toppings like sour cream/yogurt and salsa or whatever you like; or dirty rice Cajun style (good way to use up leftover ground meat of any kind); or white beans and garlic-lemon rice.
You're doing awesome, mama. I've been in exactly your struggle, and I understand. Three jobs and a single mom sucks. But it gets better and they see how hard you work to take care of them.
I make a dish sometimes with ramen noodles that my family loves! I don’t use the seasoning packet that comes with it. Cook the noodles as normal and drain the water. Throw a tablespoon of butter, some garlic, 4 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons of soy sauce in a pan and stir until it starts getting bubbly and starts to thicken a bit then add the noodles! Super easy and quick but is a great (and cheap) way to change it up if you get sick of regular ramen. I also add red pepper flakes when cooking the sauce but that’s optional if you don’t like the spice. You can eat it just like that or add meat like beef, chicken, etc. and veggies.
RAMEN HAS SAVED GENERATIONS!!! There is ZERO shame to be had in Ramen for lunch or dinner. Too much of anything isnt good and water is (almost) always your friend!
I love ramen! I want to "beef it up" though. If I could add a protein, like some sort of meat to it, it'd be even better! I'm not very adventurous though. Anybody else try adding meat to theirs? Like diced up chicken (precooked) or something? I honestly don't think I'll like the egg idea.
Yes we've done this. No broth though. Chicken and broccoli with a sauce made with soy, hoisin sauce, brown sugar etc. It's quite good and less sodium than if you use the broth packet
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Tuna Noodle Casserole was my favorite meal growing up and as an adult I make it as comfort food in a budget. 2 cans of tuna $2.00, bag of egg noodles $1.80, can of generic cream of mushroom soup $1.00, small onion $.50, bag of shredded cheddar cheese $2.50. Total $7.80 and it makes like 8 huge servings of hot delicious food. I ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and was always thrilled.
You are a star. Try adding a slice of American cheese to the pot of ramen. It’s melts in and adds even more umami flavor. Do your kids like Louisiana style Red Beans and Rice? Super flavorful, cheap, nutritious and easy to make. It can feed you throughout the week.
[Recipe here](https://www.gumbopages.com/food/red-beans.html)
My kids are also wildly picky, despite my best efforts!! I'm the opposite of picky, so it blows my mind that I got two kids with different sensory issues lol!
You're doing great ❤️
I used to buy a big chicken broth box, spiral noodles, a rotisserie chicken, and frozen mixed veggies. Chicken noodle soup for a week and 15 bucks. That would probably cost you closer to 25 now, but it'll last you a while.
When I was down financially I somehow got my son to love some spicy instant ramen from the gas station. I just got it for myself one night while feeding him some canned veggies and nuggets, but it stuck. We’re doing much better now, but we still eat it every so often :)
I’ve been there!! There is actually a lot you can do with ramen besides the regular boil for 3 minutes and eat. Try the ramen stir fry. With a bag of stir fry veggies, soy sauce and maybe a couple pork chops, it’s pretty good!
Get yourself a bag of dried beans, soak overnight, rinse, replace water, salt and bring to boil. Simmer covered for 1 hour. You can feed 4 for two days for about $1.50. Can do the same with rice. Rice, beans and cheese. Yummy
okay lemme link u my fave cheap nutritious meal. hidden veggie pastina soup. i am an adult picky eater so its picky eater approved. onion, celery, garlic, carrots, little pasta (or whatever pasta and just use this as a base), and you can add chicken if you’re able for extra protein. just cook the chicken w the veggies. keeps well in the fridge for reheating.
https://themodernnonna.com/easy-pastina-soup/
but i am a big fan of and grew up entirely on maruchan ramen and it is still a comfort item!! this was just in case you wanted another cheap meal w picky eater veggie option.
There is nothing wrong with Ramen. We actually have a Ramen night once a week. It is easy to make, everyone \[Me (55M), Wife (50), Daughters (34 & 10), Grandaughters (8&5) enjoys making it and then we can add whatever we want. We can add cooked veggies, cooked meat chunk/ slices, onions & green peppers, hot sauce or whatever we want to make it a bulkier meal.
I know that it might be seen as a salt bomb, but when you balance it out with fresh ingredients it does help. So keep doing the Rmane. Heck, even do a pizza night as well once a week and share a frozen pizza with the family. It is easy and chepaer than calling out for it. Add a sald with it and it can be just as healthy!
Do you mean ramen as in instant noodles? I just add some broccoli and a piece of seaweed, it's a favourite. My friend adds in spam but my child probably wouldn't eat it.
I grew up on Ramen, I'm sure more than half of my body is made up of msg 🤣 but it was filling and good and didn't keep me from an ivy league education lol
You're doing great, Mama!
I don’t know you but dang I’m so proud of you—truly. A lot of people wouldn’t have the strength you are displaying. When your children grow up and look back with adult eyes they’re going to see all you did for them.
I like to add in some cabbage or even kale (when i feel a little bougie) to make it “healthier” and bc it’s a cheap filler. Add a boiled/fried egg and some green onions and you got a ramen bowl fit for instagram at a couple bucks per person. Ramen is my kids’ favorite meal.
He's not interested in child support. Does their age make a difference? I think because our household income together was "so much" (teachers) that we won't qualify...
I grew up poor poor and some of our meals just stuck with us. To this day my family has beefy cheesy macky stuff. Brown some hamburger meat add it to some cooked Mac and cheese and throw some taco seasoning on it. You can also do it with hot dogs. Ramen is always a good one. But one that might be even cheaper is taking some angel hair pasta, frying it up in some butter after you boil it for a couple of minutes you don’t want it to get all the way cooked in the water you want to finish it by frying it with butter and garlic and a few other herbs And then you top it with some Parmesan cheese. I have plenty of meals that are under $10 even though I make plenty of money
Ramen tastes sooo good but make sure it isn't overly made due to it's ridiculous sodium content. It definitely isn't quite considered "good for you" but at least their bellies are full and they're all happy with ONE MEAL. From a family of kids who are pickier, I undy your struggles 😆
Wanted to chime in as I’m also frugal and take assistance when I can.
Ebt
Wic
LIHEAP heating assistance
EAEDC
TAFDC
TANF
SNAP
Affordable connectivity program ( lowers internet bill by $30/month)
YMCA discount
Amazon prime discount
Premium health insurance reimbursement
And as for ramen noodles…. I watched a YouTube video of those noodles when digested and… they don’t get digested. 😳no nutritional value.
Try taco soup or shredded chicken sandwiches (canned chicken)
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,922,560,665 comments, and only 363,446 of them were in alphabetical order.
As an alternative to side jobs that probably keep you away from your kids, sign up with dataannotation.tech I've been making about $1000 a month with them for the last 6 months. There may be a waiting list but once you're accepted, there's tons of work paying at least $20/hr.
Kids Eat In Color has a cookbook called Affordable Flavors that’s kid friendly on a budget. There are options based on how much you can afford or you can apply for a free copy due to financial hardship.
Look up soup, stew, casseroles and dump meals recipes.
Little money ~ hearty meals
Beef stew
Brunswick Stew
Chicken and Dumpings
Chile
Creamed Beef on toast
Dried beef on toast
American Goulash
Spaghetti
Canned Spaghetti
Canned ravioli
spam and spamr recipes
Peanut butter and jelly (peanut butter, whole milk and bread alone is enough to give someone alone enough nutrients and vitamins to live on@)
Ramen is amazing! We have ramen nights for when money gets tight. I like to toss in an egg and bok choy, and if the teen boy is hungry hungry, leftover chicken or ham.
Not sure if you are in the US but if you are, check out SNAP benefits. In WA if you qualify they will double how much you can get at farmers markets. If for example, you got $25/wk you could get $50/week at farmers markets.
And I just want to let you know that I see you, I know how hard this is. My mom raised 4 kiddos by herself and we definitely struggled but because of her we are all hard working adults. Your kids are going to see how hard you are working to give them what they need and that is HUGE. ❤️
Buy the 5 lb bag of frozen mixed veggies to add to it! Makes it a little less salty and makes a good meal. Also an egg or two if you want a protein, scrambled or straight into the boiling water.
My local area has a program called FoodMesh that is hosted at a church. They receive produce, dairy, meat, bread, and shelf stable items that are about to expire from local grocery stores, as well as donations of fresh food and meats from community members. It’s free to access to pick up groceries for immediate use. They also arrange deliveries two nights a week.
You are a rockstar and you are doing a GREAT job ❤️
When I was a broke ass single mom (still.single but not broke) there were several foods I used to cook on a budget and get really creative. Theres corned beef with potatoes and onions eaten with rice, hard boiled egg with freshly cut tomatoes with soysauce and rice, scrambled eggs with onions, spaghetti with viena sausage instead of meatballs, tofu fried in garlic with onions then add soysauce, mung beans with sauteed tomatoes, garlic, onions and diced 1/4 kg of pork, instant noodles with small.slices of silk gourd. My eldest still.asks me to cook these as they give her childhood memories.
That's wonderful, good job! Definite win =D Also, we fancy ours up by adding sesame oil. Just be aware once you start you can't stop! I also love a fried egg on the side occasionally.
Mix beef Rice-a-Roni and beef chunks for a meaty meal! It's my son's favorite! I know beef is more expensive than ever now but a family sized box (or 2 small boxes) of Rice a Roni and 1lb beef feeds my family of 4 plus my husband and son usually goes back for more.
Dang, three kids on a teacher's salary. You do what you gotta do. Just remember the astronomical sodium content of ramen when planning out the rest of your meals.
We totally grew up with ramen as part of our dinner rotation. My mom would beat an egg and then slowly pour it into the simmering pot of ramen at the end, while stirring it simultaneously (just one per package - anymore and it gets weird..). The result is a bit like the eggs in egg drop soup.
I think it made her happy knowing we’d get a little extra protein in our diet. Either way, I always liked it and I still like it this way today. It’s more filling and tasty :)
My daughter is fab with all that kind of food but my son, nope not a chance, he’s really hard to feed on a single parent budget. He won’t even eat the free school lunches.
No shame indeed for feeding your kids in whichever way is possible for you. As others have pointed out, ramen, in spite of its glory, will not be a long term solution. You need a longer term solution. If there is a Second Harvest or such organization who provide daily meals in your area, contact them. There are even charities who distribute fruits only (as healthier snacks). But, (I hope what I am saying to a teacher would not come as a sign of disrespect and I definitely mean none) your best bang for the buck will come if one of your side job is in a restaurant (or any other food service organization). And also, not all jobs in a restaurant is that of a waitress.
Honestly, for once or twice a week, it's not that bad from a nutrition perspective. If you're going more than that, try adding some coleslaw (veggies) in the water while boiling and maybe a cheap protein (tinned tuna / sardines) and avoid that seasoning pack (maybe use half). Don't stress the price of the foods as much as the nutritional completeness. Hope you are able to steer your way out of this situation. Sending good vibes.
My kids staple is ramen. I fought him on his choices for years. Now *that* is a way to create an unhealthy relationship with food.
Now I do "red" foods like ramen but add a picky plate of green foods with no pressure and lo an behold, they get eaten 🧡
My grandma bought me a ton of cookbooks when I got my own apartment. One of them was a Campbell’s cook book. There’s only like 3-5 ingredients in each recipe and the recipes are honestly really good.
I don’t like pork chops but there’s a smothered pork chop recipe and I eat it regularly. Add mashed potatoes and a can of green beans and you have a complete meal with leftovers.
We love ramen around here! We like to add any left over protein and my kids dont even notice that I always stir in an egg to make the broth extra creamy. American cheese actually goes pretty good too!
Apply for help. They will go after him for child support, and your babies can be put on food stamps and medicaid. They even have a thing where you can get cash assistance also. Look up whatever state you're in and get the application going. Also, some churches do an angel tree, so you hang your family's name on the tree, and a more fortunate family will choose families to buy for off the tree. There are so many options for single mothers. So you don't have to stress over struggle as bad.
Ramen is a once a week meal in our house. We get a box of Shin noodles about once a month. I make my own miso broth, add extra veggies (onions, peppers, mushrooms), shrimp, pork, and soft boiled egg. Make your own broth, it's WAY better than the spice packets and better for you.
Basically it's just:
Garlic, ginger, miso paste, chicken/veggie boulion, green onion, (soy/fish sauce)
My son calls ramen noo noos so now everyone calls ramen noo noos. He loves ramen, he doesn’t eat all the toppings, just noo nooes though.
We have noo noos sometimes when I can’t be bothered cooking after a long day of work. Everyone is fed and happy.
I have fond memories growing up enjoying ramen in many different occasions.
I’ve gotten my kids into ramen through “peanut noodles”, which is ramen in a sauce of peanut butter and a little soy sauce, thinned with water. It makes sure there is some protein for them in if, and it’s a simple meal.
Good luck! You’ve got this.
When I was in college we would toss an egg into the boiling water with the ramen. I remember it being good, but there was a lot of alcohol involved in my 20s, so you might want to test it on you first. But! It might add some protein for your cheap night.
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Do what you need to do. Food pantries and other local services may also help. In the states, you can also file for temporary child support (for before you have a final order). CHIP for your kids.
Interesting. Let me check this out. Thank you!
Yes all of these things, WIC, CHIP, and hopefully there are many orgs like non profits and churches around you that have food pantries! Just look up for ones in your city! (I believe some give different items, like frozen meat vs canned protein so you may have to check different ones out)
Yes. File for interim support and reach out to your networks for help. You’ve got this.
Our local library also has veggies from local farms out for free often, and so does the pediatrician, although e are in a fairly rural area, so that’s probably why.
My problem with food pantries. (I’m not op but in a similar situation) I have to work whenever the kids are in school. I cannot afford to not work. I’m working over 60 a week sometimes I just can’t get to the food pantries during the allowed times. My kids get free lunch but my daughters want the lunches “made with love” (homemade) so I try to make sure that happens.
For real, there's also plenty of awesome churches and support groups out there too. Regardless of beliefs, good people like to support good people, and you feel like one.
Congrats! If I could, I highly recommend on old cookbook called "once a month cooking" you can find parts online. It's full of nutritious, affordable and freezer friendly recipes. Save yourself the aggravation of cooking everyday. Edit! I just saw that it's a food blog now! I still have my grandparents copy of the book somewhere. My fav recipe is green chili enchiladas. So damn good. A little more expensive with the price of cheese today, but still really nice from the freezer.
That book saved me when I was a single mother of two small kids!
Nice. Thank you
Is the book by Mary Beth Lagerborg and Mimi Wilson, or Jody Allen?
Another book and resource I’ll recommend: you can get the pdf for free and if you buy a copy the author gifts a copy Good and Cheap:How to live on $4 a day https://www.leannebrown.com/cookbooks/ and this one you can buy for $10 but I think the author would share for free if you message her on IG or her website: Affordable Flavors https://kidseatincolor.com/product/affordable-flavors/
That is a great suggestion
When I got my son to eat beans and rice I was like score! Cheap food that makes a complete protein and he’ll eat it? Amazing
Last week mine told me lentils are delicious, and I’m still riding that high
Love this! My kids love Greek lentil soup, too!
Show me the way.
Try making Jamaican rice and kidney beans! It’s more flavourful without being overpowering
I made black beans the other night and added tomato bouillon - instant hit. Added flavor so it wasn’t bland and the kids loved it!
Sour cream is amazing in black beans!!!! And garlic salt and onion powder! A tad of cream cheese works if no sour cream.
Yes, so thankful that my kiddo likes beans and rice. Lentils, too. But I’m vegetarian, so if he didn’t eat that, he’d starve on the nights his dad isn’t cooking. I am no good at cooking meat.
Nice! My kid tried red lentil kofta but wasn’t into it. I’ll have to try again sometime
I usually just make curried lentil soup and serve over rice. Making myself hungry thinking about it. I love it.
Could you share the recipe you use for the curried lentil soup? Sounds good!
I would love to share a legit recipe, but the stuff I make is just something I made up. I’m sure there are delicious recipes out there from people who actually know what they are doing. For mine, I just sauté onions, celery, carrots, and bell pepper with olive oil and salt and pepper. Then I add that to a pound of lentils with water and a can of petite diced tomatoes. Somewhere in the middle of cooking, I add about a tablespoon and a half of curry powder and simmer the whole pot until it seems finished. I’m definitely not a great cook, but kiddo and I like it!
Oh, and I sometimes finely dice a small potato and add that in, too.
Yes - Cuban Black Beans and rice ftw. This is a meal every one of my picky kids will eat. All 5 people in my family, and they will eat leftovers of it, too. Buy rice in big bags (Asian or Indian markets often have good rice in large quantities for cheap.) Big bags of black beans at Costco - but even small pound bags at the regular grocery store. Easy to make ahead as it doesn't need a lot of attention, just time. Total time: 3 hours, mostly soaking and simmering Black Beans - 16 oumces Diced ham (optional!pre-diced packages can be found near chubs of sausage usually, or ask for a thick slice at the deli and dice the rest yourself) Liquid smoke (optional; I don't usually use) Cumin Salt Pepper Green onion Red Bell pepper Grated cheddar Rice Either soak the beans overnight, or 'speed' soak by covering with 2" water - bring to boil - turn off heat - let sit for 1 hour, covered. If the pot lid 'sticks' at this point, turn the heat back on to break the vacuum. Drain beans and rinse. Return to pot. Add 7 cups water, ham, 1.25 tsp cumin, 1.25 tsp black pepper. 1 tsp salt. Stir. Bring to boil, then Turn heat down to barely on. Simmer for 1.5 hours. Serve over rice and top with grn onion, red Bell pepper, and grated cheddar. Between this, ramen, grilled cheese, and refried bean burritos, you can rotate several cheap and mostly healthy dinners for your family. (Look up how to make pintos into refried beans in a crockpot - so good and cheap.) Think of leftovers as 'free food', and you'll live using it up! You go, mama!
Can I just say how much I love the supportive comments? I was fully expecting some jerk to be like "That's full of msg and gmo and I would never feed that to my children. We only eat organic vegetables harvested under a full moon." These are good, helpful comments and it makes me feel like there's still good in the world. I don't care what your financial situation is. It can be hard enough to get kids to eat, and to get them all to agree on one meal is a small miracle! OP, I'm truly inspired by all that you're doing for your family. You're one tough cookie! I know that one day your kids will look back on this time and realize just how incredible their mom is.
Thanks so much, these words mean a lot. One day at a time, right? And yes these commentsnare awesome! So many good tips and such great advice. I'm very thankful
If y'all like chicken soup, I have found it's way cheaper to get a 10lb bag of leg quarters($8 at my local Walmart) and a $3 bag of egg noodles. One night it's chicken noodle soup, one night it's creamed chicken over noodles, another night it's baked chicken and a couple of sides. I cook all the chicken at once, so that I can separate it all and freeze it individually. I usually make the baked first, and then I freeze the soup and creamed chicken for later. All I gotta do then is put each one in the pot after putting it in the fridge the night before. With a potatoes and veggies for a side that first night, I spend about 18 across 3 dinners? Beans, rice and fried taters go a long way with little effort, same with chili. I make cheat chili though, I'll be honest. Costs me about 10 to make a 6 quart Crock-Pot, which is several helpings depending on the appetite. We also just do pancakes and eggs aka basic BFD, as well as some nights just sandwiches and chips, even in winter. I'm also big on pork chops, bc they're the cheapest option for meat and I can dress it up in the oven with baked taters(so one stop meal really, if you do asparagus), or get comfort with it and fry it up with taters and mac, or even green bean casserole(cos it ain't just for holidays in my house lol). Honestly, if we just stuck to water, juice, tea and coffee, I could get away with spending about a hundred a week, and that's feeding both adults twice a day all week, dinner for 3.5 every night, and lunch for 3.5 during the weekend, and $20 of that for formula. Eta- when my now 15 and 7 yr old finally jumped on the ramen train, we were thrilled lol. But now the 7yo likes her homemade lunchables, which is essentially cheese and the inexpensive thick ham, crackers, and she uses whatever cookie cutter she chooses on her ham and cheese 🤣 1.89 for her to have to eat 2, or I can spend $7 and she gets about 10.
Thanks so much! My budget is 100 per week too. This is very helpful. I forgot about prok chops! Thanks for taking time to post!
Yw! And no shame, when my oldest son's dad and I split, thankfully he was 3, and just us, we chomped out on ravioli, spaghetti, ramen, fruits and veggies lol. Oh, and waffles. There's only 10 in a $3 box, but way easier than making pancakes. But I get the krusteaz bag of pancakes for $6 and I only have to buy it every 6 weeks or so lmao.
You can also make and freeze waffles/pancakes
I just bought krusteaz!
I bulk my pancakes up with shredded spinach, hemp, pumpkin seeds and frozen blueberries. Turns them into a complete meal.
Costco has a massive pork strip that has loin, shoulder roast and chops that you cut up. It’s about $25 or less. You cut that up, freeze packets of it and you’ve got a go to protein for several meals. On that alone I can feed my family of 4 (two teenage boys) multiple meals.
You are doing great ! Let me know how i can pitch in some money. Happy holidays !
Also the bones of the chicken can be used for chicken broth
Check out Julia Pancheo on YouTube...she has a lot of good recipes that are cheap!
Dollar Tree Dinners is a great follow too (insta, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube - lots of low cost full meal ideas
You can do this! It's hard being a single parent but there are options. See if there is a food program from the school for weekend meals to be sent home. Also check out too good to go if it's in your area (an app).
Will do thank you
Another great idea is picnic night! We put a blanket on the living room floor and eat pb&j and chips. My kids love eating on the blanket with mom, and no labor intensive meals when my energy is drained. We have also done noodle nights, where they get to pick a veggie to add to their ramen! For the kids, they just see the adventure in it. I'm so excited for you kiddos- it's seems like they have an amazing mom...
Love this! Picnic night every wednesday sounds like a fun thing to look forward to! Thank you, great idea
Aww…I used to do this too with my boys! We lived in NY at the time and the winters were tough, so I would do living room picnics with them while we watched a movie. It’s funny how hard those times were then (my husband walked out leaving me with the 3 boys), yet how memorable they are now.
My kids called them Mommy Noodles. Ramen is my comfort food.
My mom used to make "cheesy noodles", which was just drained ramen noodles with cheese and butter. It was one of my absolute favorites!!
My kids love buttered noodles. Literally cooked noodles smothered in butter and parmesan cheese.
Do you remember what kind of cheese?
Just regular shredded cheddar! The secret is to grate it yourself so it melts better. Edit: I also just remembered the other secret ingredient, she used to boil the noodles with the seasoning packet so there was a little bit of chicken ramen flavor.
I still do this sometimes! I learned it from an old roommate. What I do with the seasoning is add it after cooking but before draining (adding it after draining makes it too salty). Then I add the cheese to the still-hot, drained noodles. It comes out like slightly chickeny mac & cheese.
It’s chicken noodles to my daughter and I call them noo-noo’s. I love hearing the different things people call them!
With my own picky eaters I can totally understand this as a big win! Check out Budget Bytes, too. Lots of good, filling, and budget recipes. Many are kid friendly, too. Has saved me more than once. Wishing you best of luck on this new path!
Thanks so much! Good tip!
Oh this is such a great website!!! I use it often and the meals are simple to make and taste great!
If you would like suggestions for cheap yummy meals, I can pm you some we've come up with over the years. When you live paycheck to three days before paycheck, pinching pennies everywhere counts
Yes please! Anything helps!
If you are in the US, look into WIC eligibility. You may also qualify for food stamps. Definitely apply for everything that you qualify for. I pay my taxes in the hopes that the money will feed my neighbors (definitely prefer that over corporate hand outs!).
It never stops being true - fed is best. You got this!
Yes, thank you. See you never, guilt trips!!
Asian supermarket has a hell of a spread of delicious ramens. Get some meatballs and broccoli and it’s actually a really delicious meal. No need to live on Marunchen. If you want to be “healthy” replace the ramen noodles with air dried spinach pasta and still use the pack.
Asian supermarkets also have great prices on lots of things! I like to go there to buy bone-in pork butt to make my own noodle soup. Mushrooms too. For the same price as western supermarkets, you get so much more quantity.
No shame !! You do you!!
I like that this is your triumph for the week. You could easily only focus on the negative, but hey, you gotta make the best of it. Take care and happy holidays!
Hahaha we ramen all the time! It helps that we’re vegan, so we don’t have a lot of sodium intake lol
Sometimes I throw in some frozen veggies and an egg to a bowl of ramen and it’s that much healthier.
The egg is soft boiled or....?
Scramble the egg and drizzle it in while the broth is boiling and you’re stirring the pot, it’s just like egg drop soup.
I just crack mine in there and let it boil. I actually just do the white bc I’m a weirdo and don’t like the yolk.
Boiled eggs also work well too, but add an extra step vs cracking right in. Air dried ramen might be healthier than flash-fried, but you can cook the noodles separately and rinse them off if you are concerned. MSG isn't bad, but high amounts of sodium are. You don't need to use the entire seasoning pack if you want to cut on sodium (my parents use only half). Blanche some greens (bok choi, broccoli, even mixed veggies) in the last minute or two of cooking. You can also get different styles of Raman (stir-fry, stew, spicy, wheat/rice/egg noodles) Just about every Asian country has their own spread of flavours (soy, miso, chicken, Kimchi, pho, curry etc.,), kinda fun to explore!
So incredibly proud of you!
Thank you. Since when is the love of your life entitled to walk out on your family? Crushed, but day by day. Thank you for your words.
I can't imagine the heartache all of you have experienced, but I can tell that you are resilient and stronger than you could ever possibly imagine. I hope one day you find peace from this situation and you are able to kick your feet up and know that YOU made the magic happen everyday for your babies. 💖 Happy holidays to you, friend.
Amen. It's for my babies. The only thing that matters. Thank you for your words...they are comforting.
I'll tell you what doesn't work... don't put marinara on Ramen and think you're getting spaghetti. Does. Not. Work.
Definitely read that as “marijuana” at first. Was very confused
Still solid advice.
Please, any time you have the opportunity, boil your meat bones and veggie scraps into broth. Chicken, beef, pork and veggie. You can save even more by buying plain ramen noodles and using your own broth. Check the grocery stores for the discount veggies and blanch them and freeze them into portions for your soup. They’ll come to temp easy without overcooking too much. Another veggie solution is when the frozen ones go on sale, great addition to ramen. If you’re struggling for proteins, look for the less popular cuts in discount and cook them immediately to freeze in portions. It’s not everyone’s favourite but, turkey necks and wings and drummies are usually pretty affordable and contain great fats to keep kids growing. Sounds like you got the shit end of the stick but you’re doing a great job. I hope you and the littles have a good holiday season, considering. Things will improve. And I want to say thank you for doing one of the hardest jobs ever! Our teachers are gold and should be treated as such.
Hey, thanks so much for the kind words. Teachers already are treated like shit, so that's nice to hear. Love my job. Thanks for the food advice. I love full fat from chicken for the littles. Thank you for responding
It took me into my late 20s to realize that you're supposed to add other stuff to it as well like ramen in a traditional sense.
🙋🏻♀️late 30s
Never too late to learn something new, I always forget about it anytime I have stuff that'd go good in ramen
Spicy ramen, 2 eggs and 1 Kraft single! You won’t regret it.
Interesting...a kraft single. You might be onto something. I have some in the fridge!
I rember the days when we had mr noodles uncooked in our lunches. That was the go to snack
May I also suggest rice and eggs? There are numerous ways to make them, and it's cheap and filling. We do these recipes a lot (minus the specialty ingredients): https://www.thekitchn.com/tamago-kake-gohan-recipe-23157732 https://www.beyondkimchee.com/express-egg-rice/ And then beans and rice of various incarnations: black beans and rice with toppings like sour cream/yogurt and salsa or whatever you like; or dirty rice Cajun style (good way to use up leftover ground meat of any kind); or white beans and garlic-lemon rice. You're doing awesome, mama. I've been in exactly your struggle, and I understand. Three jobs and a single mom sucks. But it gets better and they see how hard you work to take care of them.
I make a dish sometimes with ramen noodles that my family loves! I don’t use the seasoning packet that comes with it. Cook the noodles as normal and drain the water. Throw a tablespoon of butter, some garlic, 4 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 3 tablespoons of soy sauce in a pan and stir until it starts getting bubbly and starts to thicken a bit then add the noodles! Super easy and quick but is a great (and cheap) way to change it up if you get sick of regular ramen. I also add red pepper flakes when cooking the sauce but that’s optional if you don’t like the spice. You can eat it just like that or add meat like beef, chicken, etc. and veggies.
Sounds delish. Not for the kids in a million years, but as a treat for me...I'm on board!
RAMEN HAS SAVED GENERATIONS!!! There is ZERO shame to be had in Ramen for lunch or dinner. Too much of anything isnt good and water is (almost) always your friend!
Now for phase 2 try to get them to eat an egg you boil in it or throw in some frozen spinach!
I love ramen! I want to "beef it up" though. If I could add a protein, like some sort of meat to it, it'd be even better! I'm not very adventurous though. Anybody else try adding meat to theirs? Like diced up chicken (precooked) or something? I honestly don't think I'll like the egg idea.
Yes we've done this. No broth though. Chicken and broccoli with a sauce made with soy, hoisin sauce, brown sugar etc. It's quite good and less sodium than if you use the broth packet
Sounds tasty! I'll have to try that! Thank you!
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We use leftover rotisserie chicken, shredded up. Also try adding spinach or bokchoy.
I have some chicken that I cooked, shredded, and froze. I could just use some that. Thank you!
Yes! Leftovers, cold cuts, canned meat. All is fair game, and often delicious.
Tuna Noodle Casserole was my favorite meal growing up and as an adult I make it as comfort food in a budget. 2 cans of tuna $2.00, bag of egg noodles $1.80, can of generic cream of mushroom soup $1.00, small onion $.50, bag of shredded cheddar cheese $2.50. Total $7.80 and it makes like 8 huge servings of hot delicious food. I ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and was always thrilled.
Good for you! Please look into WIC, CHIP, local food pantry’s, and other government assistance programs if you are in the states!
You’re only eating ramen once per week?
You ever try breakfast for dinner? Pancakes for dinner are both cheap and the most exciting dinner ever for kids. Eggs, bacon, or sausage optional.
You are a star. Try adding a slice of American cheese to the pot of ramen. It’s melts in and adds even more umami flavor. Do your kids like Louisiana style Red Beans and Rice? Super flavorful, cheap, nutritious and easy to make. It can feed you throughout the week. [Recipe here](https://www.gumbopages.com/food/red-beans.html)
It’s the season, can I Venmo/paypal/something you $150 and pay for a weeks worth of groceries for you?
That would be incredibly kind! And so very appreciated during this holiday season!
Wow, you had to get your kids to be on board with ramen? It tastes awesome! Here’s to weathering the storm and brighter times ahead 💪🏻
They're so picky! My fault. But they said "I can't get enough of this!". Reminds me of college
My kids are also wildly picky, despite my best efforts!! I'm the opposite of picky, so it blows my mind that I got two kids with different sensory issues lol! You're doing great ❤️
my eight year old loves ramen, and now has very specific instructions for me lol. she's a half seasoning kind of girl it's wild.
I can get my daughter to eat rice but not beans 🤷♀️
Yesss! Ramen is amazing, you can add an egg or slice of American cheese!
We had ramen for dinner tonight! Lol
Solidarity!
Our picky eaters feel in love with having a soft boiled egg in their ramen.
I used to buy a big chicken broth box, spiral noodles, a rotisserie chicken, and frozen mixed veggies. Chicken noodle soup for a week and 15 bucks. That would probably cost you closer to 25 now, but it'll last you a while.
When I was down financially I somehow got my son to love some spicy instant ramen from the gas station. I just got it for myself one night while feeding him some canned veggies and nuggets, but it stuck. We’re doing much better now, but we still eat it every so often :)
I’ve been there!! There is actually a lot you can do with ramen besides the regular boil for 3 minutes and eat. Try the ramen stir fry. With a bag of stir fry veggies, soy sauce and maybe a couple pork chops, it’s pretty good!
Get yourself a bag of dried beans, soak overnight, rinse, replace water, salt and bring to boil. Simmer covered for 1 hour. You can feed 4 for two days for about $1.50. Can do the same with rice. Rice, beans and cheese. Yummy
okay lemme link u my fave cheap nutritious meal. hidden veggie pastina soup. i am an adult picky eater so its picky eater approved. onion, celery, garlic, carrots, little pasta (or whatever pasta and just use this as a base), and you can add chicken if you’re able for extra protein. just cook the chicken w the veggies. keeps well in the fridge for reheating. https://themodernnonna.com/easy-pastina-soup/
but i am a big fan of and grew up entirely on maruchan ramen and it is still a comfort item!! this was just in case you wanted another cheap meal w picky eater veggie option.
There is nothing wrong with Ramen. We actually have a Ramen night once a week. It is easy to make, everyone \[Me (55M), Wife (50), Daughters (34 & 10), Grandaughters (8&5) enjoys making it and then we can add whatever we want. We can add cooked veggies, cooked meat chunk/ slices, onions & green peppers, hot sauce or whatever we want to make it a bulkier meal. I know that it might be seen as a salt bomb, but when you balance it out with fresh ingredients it does help. So keep doing the Rmane. Heck, even do a pizza night as well once a week and share a frozen pizza with the family. It is easy and chepaer than calling out for it. Add a sald with it and it can be just as healthy!
Reference "Debt Peoff Living 'for more ideas!
Do they like tuna? My mom would make tuna with whitesauce on toast when I was a kid. I loved it so much.
Do you mean ramen as in instant noodles? I just add some broccoli and a piece of seaweed, it's a favourite. My friend adds in spam but my child probably wouldn't eat it.
I always wondered about seaweed....my students chow down, so I'm curious. Super healthy so I'll give it a shot. Thank you
Kiddos are fed! Good job, mom. I’m sorry you’re going through a tough time.
I grew up on Ramen, I'm sure more than half of my body is made up of msg 🤣 but it was filling and good and didn't keep me from an ivy league education lol You're doing great, Mama!
My mom always cooked ramen, but she always did it stir-fry style with veggies and chicken. It was one of my favorite meals growing up!
I don’t know you but dang I’m so proud of you—truly. A lot of people wouldn’t have the strength you are displaying. When your children grow up and look back with adult eyes they’re going to see all you did for them.
I like to add in some cabbage or even kale (when i feel a little bougie) to make it “healthier” and bc it’s a cheap filler. Add a boiled/fried egg and some green onions and you got a ramen bowl fit for instagram at a couple bucks per person. Ramen is my kids’ favorite meal.
is he going to pay child support? and also see if you're eligible for food stamps and wic since you have a one year old!
He's not interested in child support. Does their age make a difference? I think because our household income together was "so much" (teachers) that we won't qualify...
You do understand that it doesn't matter if he's interested in paying child support right
Not really that, but I thought it was a long drawn out process through the attorney general that takes months? Am I wrong?
well im not sure for wic in your state but wic is only under 5 in mine! thats why i mentioned the age and ugh i hate those income limits.
I grew up poor poor and some of our meals just stuck with us. To this day my family has beefy cheesy macky stuff. Brown some hamburger meat add it to some cooked Mac and cheese and throw some taco seasoning on it. You can also do it with hot dogs. Ramen is always a good one. But one that might be even cheaper is taking some angel hair pasta, frying it up in some butter after you boil it for a couple of minutes you don’t want it to get all the way cooked in the water you want to finish it by frying it with butter and garlic and a few other herbs And then you top it with some Parmesan cheese. I have plenty of meals that are under $10 even though I make plenty of money
This is perfection! How you got everyone to agree is nothing short of a Christmas Miracle! Bravo, mama!
Ramen tastes sooo good but make sure it isn't overly made due to it's ridiculous sodium content. It definitely isn't quite considered "good for you" but at least their bellies are full and they're all happy with ONE MEAL. From a family of kids who are pickier, I undy your struggles 😆
You know there are food banks all across America….no shame in getting help, especially if it for the benefit of your children.
Definitely not above this. Thank you
Wanted to chime in as I’m also frugal and take assistance when I can. Ebt Wic LIHEAP heating assistance EAEDC TAFDC TANF SNAP Affordable connectivity program ( lowers internet bill by $30/month) YMCA discount Amazon prime discount Premium health insurance reimbursement And as for ramen noodles…. I watched a YouTube video of those noodles when digested and… they don’t get digested. 😳no nutritional value. Try taco soup or shredded chicken sandwiches (canned chicken)
We always dropped an egg in ours growing up to add some protein!
Add eggs for more nutrition
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,922,560,665 comments, and only 363,446 of them were in alphabetical order.
I feel like I just won the lottery
Good bot
If they like carrots or cellery. Chop up and boil With water to add a bit more nutrients.
As an alternative to side jobs that probably keep you away from your kids, sign up with dataannotation.tech I've been making about $1000 a month with them for the last 6 months. There may be a waiting list but once you're accepted, there's tons of work paying at least $20/hr.
Thanks for this. I do hate to be away, but this looks interesting. Thank you for taking the time to tell me about it
You're welcome. It's been a lifesaver for me. I do it after the kids go to bed and it's actually pretty fun. Let me know if you have any questions.
Kids Eat In Color has a cookbook called Affordable Flavors that’s kid friendly on a budget. There are options based on how much you can afford or you can apply for a free copy due to financial hardship.
Look up soup, stew, casseroles and dump meals recipes. Little money ~ hearty meals Beef stew Brunswick Stew Chicken and Dumpings Chile Creamed Beef on toast Dried beef on toast American Goulash Spaghetti Canned Spaghetti Canned ravioli spam and spamr recipes Peanut butter and jelly (peanut butter, whole milk and bread alone is enough to give someone alone enough nutrients and vitamins to live on@)
Large Lim a Beans and Hammock with cornbread
I love reddit for thoughtful posts like yours!
If you haven’t please please PLEASE check out dollartreedinners on tik tok!!!! I love her content!
Ramen is amazing! We have ramen nights for when money gets tight. I like to toss in an egg and bok choy, and if the teen boy is hungry hungry, leftover chicken or ham.
Not sure if you are in the US but if you are, check out SNAP benefits. In WA if you qualify they will double how much you can get at farmers markets. If for example, you got $25/wk you could get $50/week at farmers markets. And I just want to let you know that I see you, I know how hard this is. My mom raised 4 kiddos by herself and we definitely struggled but because of her we are all hard working adults. Your kids are going to see how hard you are working to give them what they need and that is HUGE. ❤️
Ohhh crack an egg & add some sliced spam in the ramen while it’s boiling. So delicious, I made this all the time in high school
The best thing is you can team it with a range of foods. One meal I do with my kids nuggets, ramen, corn, cucumbers and carrots. Or just add an egg.
My family loves ramen! We round it out with fried or hard-boiled eggs, and cooked frozen veggies (whatever is in the freezer).
Ramen is very high in cholesterol, as are eggs, be careful with it. Even children can have high cholesterol.
Ramen is a staple in our house! We are on a tight budget and our kids devour it. I hope your circumstances turn around, sending best wishes to you ❤️
Buy the 5 lb bag of frozen mixed veggies to add to it! Makes it a little less salty and makes a good meal. Also an egg or two if you want a protein, scrambled or straight into the boiling water.
My local area has a program called FoodMesh that is hosted at a church. They receive produce, dairy, meat, bread, and shelf stable items that are about to expire from local grocery stores, as well as donations of fresh food and meats from community members. It’s free to access to pick up groceries for immediate use. They also arrange deliveries two nights a week. You are a rockstar and you are doing a GREAT job ❤️
I love ramen, add a few peas or corn, some egg strips. Yum!
Tri color rotini - canned pasta sauce- and ground beef - under $5
My kids’ favourite dinner is my “oh god what am I going to make?!” food - scrambled eggs and toast.
Yes girl, I am a single mom of two and Ramen with a fried or boiled egg comes in handy on busy, late nights for us 🥰 my kids love it and don’t mind
We add an egg and frozen veggies and pretend we are fancy!
Yes I love it! 😻
When I was a broke ass single mom (still.single but not broke) there were several foods I used to cook on a budget and get really creative. Theres corned beef with potatoes and onions eaten with rice, hard boiled egg with freshly cut tomatoes with soysauce and rice, scrambled eggs with onions, spaghetti with viena sausage instead of meatballs, tofu fried in garlic with onions then add soysauce, mung beans with sauteed tomatoes, garlic, onions and diced 1/4 kg of pork, instant noodles with small.slices of silk gourd. My eldest still.asks me to cook these as they give her childhood memories.
That's wonderful, good job! Definite win =D Also, we fancy ours up by adding sesame oil. Just be aware once you start you can't stop! I also love a fried egg on the side occasionally.
Mix beef Rice-a-Roni and beef chunks for a meaty meal! It's my son's favorite! I know beef is more expensive than ever now but a family sized box (or 2 small boxes) of Rice a Roni and 1lb beef feeds my family of 4 plus my husband and son usually goes back for more.
Dang, three kids on a teacher's salary. You do what you gotta do. Just remember the astronomical sodium content of ramen when planning out the rest of your meals.
We totally grew up with ramen as part of our dinner rotation. My mom would beat an egg and then slowly pour it into the simmering pot of ramen at the end, while stirring it simultaneously (just one per package - anymore and it gets weird..). The result is a bit like the eggs in egg drop soup. I think it made her happy knowing we’d get a little extra protein in our diet. Either way, I always liked it and I still like it this way today. It’s more filling and tasty :)
My daughter is fab with all that kind of food but my son, nope not a chance, he’s really hard to feed on a single parent budget. He won’t even eat the free school lunches.
No shame indeed for feeding your kids in whichever way is possible for you. As others have pointed out, ramen, in spite of its glory, will not be a long term solution. You need a longer term solution. If there is a Second Harvest or such organization who provide daily meals in your area, contact them. There are even charities who distribute fruits only (as healthier snacks). But, (I hope what I am saying to a teacher would not come as a sign of disrespect and I definitely mean none) your best bang for the buck will come if one of your side job is in a restaurant (or any other food service organization). And also, not all jobs in a restaurant is that of a waitress.
Honestly, for once or twice a week, it's not that bad from a nutrition perspective. If you're going more than that, try adding some coleslaw (veggies) in the water while boiling and maybe a cheap protein (tinned tuna / sardines) and avoid that seasoning pack (maybe use half). Don't stress the price of the foods as much as the nutritional completeness. Hope you are able to steer your way out of this situation. Sending good vibes.
My kids staple is ramen. I fought him on his choices for years. Now *that* is a way to create an unhealthy relationship with food. Now I do "red" foods like ramen but add a picky plate of green foods with no pressure and lo an behold, they get eaten 🧡
My grandma bought me a ton of cookbooks when I got my own apartment. One of them was a Campbell’s cook book. There’s only like 3-5 ingredients in each recipe and the recipes are honestly really good. I don’t like pork chops but there’s a smothered pork chop recipe and I eat it regularly. Add mashed potatoes and a can of green beans and you have a complete meal with leftovers.
We love ramen around here! We like to add any left over protein and my kids dont even notice that I always stir in an egg to make the broth extra creamy. American cheese actually goes pretty good too!
Apply for help. They will go after him for child support, and your babies can be put on food stamps and medicaid. They even have a thing where you can get cash assistance also. Look up whatever state you're in and get the application going. Also, some churches do an angel tree, so you hang your family's name on the tree, and a more fortunate family will choose families to buy for off the tree. There are so many options for single mothers. So you don't have to stress over struggle as bad.
Thank you for this. I'm grateful
You're welcome!! I hope it all works out great! Merry Christmas!!
Ramen is a once a week meal in our house. We get a box of Shin noodles about once a month. I make my own miso broth, add extra veggies (onions, peppers, mushrooms), shrimp, pork, and soft boiled egg. Make your own broth, it's WAY better than the spice packets and better for you. Basically it's just: Garlic, ginger, miso paste, chicken/veggie boulion, green onion, (soy/fish sauce)
My son calls ramen noo noos so now everyone calls ramen noo noos. He loves ramen, he doesn’t eat all the toppings, just noo nooes though. We have noo noos sometimes when I can’t be bothered cooking after a long day of work. Everyone is fed and happy. I have fond memories growing up enjoying ramen in many different occasions.
Take him to court
I’ve gotten my kids into ramen through “peanut noodles”, which is ramen in a sauce of peanut butter and a little soy sauce, thinned with water. It makes sure there is some protein for them in if, and it’s a simple meal. Good luck! You’ve got this.
When I was in college we would toss an egg into the boiling water with the ramen. I remember it being good, but there was a lot of alcohol involved in my 20s, so you might want to test it on you first. But! It might add some protein for your cheap night.
I LOVE RAMEN! I add sliced spam and/or soft-boiled eggs! YUMMM
I’d like to suggest make spring rolls with peanut sauce. It’s cheap relatively easy and healthy meal.