With so many of us working eight to ten hours a day, finding time to cook healthy meals is a problem most of the time.  We look for ways to save time while still making meals that can satisfy our children and our weight loss goals.  It is a serious problem in America today, as it is so tempting to just stop at a fast food restaurant and get supper then have more time to enjoy your family.  This may be fine until the day comes you look down on an overweight child who is being made fun of at school, which in its self creates eating more because they are hurt and angry.  Children expect parents to protect them from such a fate, and sorry to say most of us are too busy to realize it until it is too late, and we are so convicted because we let them down.

My suggestion to all of you parents is to introduce vegetables early, and make them fun to eat. Take broccoli and add a little butter, not margarine, or a bit of grated parmesan cheese, this will give it a new flavor for your children.  The thing that stops children from eating right is how we start them as babies, if they learn the flavor early then they will not stick their noses in the air when we say eat your vegetables.  I really hate to see a child that is overweight and sitting on the sideline because he is unsure of his ability with his or her weight.

I love to make good meals for my family, I mix the combination of veggies one night and salad the next.  I make most of my main dishes with either chicken, turkey (usually ground) and fish that can be broiled.  I try to limit the use of oil so broiling is the best alternative to frying.  I will give you a couple of my recipes for a successful weight loss at the end of this post.  I do hope you will start trying to incorporate some lean meats and vegetables and of course plenty of fruit.  Limit sugary drinks increase water and try to stay away from diet drinks, the only one the doctor recommended was the crystal light.

I use ground turkey to make a great meat loaf, two pounds turkey, one pack of beefy onion soup mix, two eggs, cup of oatmeal, can of Italian tomatoes,  one pack of frozen mix vegetables with onion green pepper celery, spices to taste. Salt Pepper Onion powder, garlic powder and or Worcestershire sauce.

Mix all the ingredients and put in a large baking dish, no oil, add ketchup to the top of the meat loaf, bake for one hour at 375 and close to the end turn on the broiler and give the ketchup on top a little crisping, not to much.

I told you in the above that I broil most of my food and I pair the main dish with either salad or vegetables, but I do want to tell you of a spice that I use almost daily and that is Lemon Pepper, and I normally use it with Garlic Salt.  The combination with skinless boneless chicken makes a dish that is unbelievable.

I am no expert on anything, I just know what worked for me and my family, I have very beautiful healthy children, my husband is now at a healthy weight and I am going on to keep him that way.  My children are grown and starting families for themselves, which makes me happy to be a grandmother.