healthy vs. pouch size meals???

summer veggies are killing me already - I LOVE them - the problem comes in that my kids will not live on veggies alone and that I fill up on them and then crash latter

it seems worse this summer - not nursing as much so my caloric need is lower plus Tim is not home so I am fighting with the kids to even get them to eat veggies

how do you handle fixing balanced meals with "9 fruits and veggies a day" and still get the food you need

Deb fussed at me when I came home from the farmers market - I litterally stood at the stove and cooked and ate squash and onions together - "add meat to that"  but when I add in meat I can't eat very much veggies (btw she was totally RIGHT since I almost passed out after a fast walk and then taking RAch for a bike ride b/c VEGGIES DO NOT STICK WITH ME- must have loooked really bad b/c the teen poured me milk and made me drink almost 1/2 a cup of it - gag!)

tonight I made cheese raviolis, grilled onoins n brocolie, fresh cauliflower and carrots and garlic toast - ate about half my veggies and maybe 1/4 of my ravilois and am incredibly full - boys wofled down everything I served and looked for more after swimming for hours today

I finally have found a menu system that works for us - but when I add in the veggies I end up screwed

suggestions please

can you wrap meat or cheese around the veg stick so you get both at the same time , or puree them as a sauce for the chicken ,fish or meat, how aboutmake a veggie torte-the base is egg so it is mostly protein! I am at my most creative on drugs so let me keep thinking!
Meggie

when I get on a veggie kick I resort to protein drinks to get my protein all in....  The DH is NOT a veggie person so we have meat at dinner every night, but I get the veggie plate at work or a salad.....  So maybe you can make lunch a veggie meal and dinner a meat and veggie meal? 

How about making some Zuchinni Lasagna?  You know, use the zuchs sliced lengthwise instead of the noodles?  Or make a big salad and then toss in lots of cheese and a big can of tuna or chicken to add your protein in? 

I KNOW you can get creative in the kitchen, girl! LOL

Make chicken or tuna salad with lots of finely chopped squash, peppers, green peas, celery, carrots, onions, etc.... serve on toast or crackers for the kiddos, on lettuce leave wrap, celery, tomato?or squash "boat" for you....

PS.... whirr those veggies in a food chopper or blender to get them so fine the kiddos won't object or maybe even notice them... LOL

Danni, I love veggies also and my family gags at the thought of them.  Blane and Cutter like a few veggies, Conner eats sweet peas ONLY, that boy won't even eat corn, what kid doesn't eat corn.

I crave veggies from spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, okra, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, asparagus ~~ you get the picture.

What I've been doing to help add protein is eat a salad with whatever veggies I want and throw in some shredded cheese and ham.  I even throw strawberries in my salad :).

You need to try to add a small meat portion to your meals and keep drinking your protein shakes if you are slacking elsewhere on the protein. 

I have REALLY started crashing lately too.  I am eating alot of fruit and veggies as well.  My BS went to 42 the other day before I even realized it was low.  It was like it dropped like a rock.  I'm trying to cut back on my calories.  Protein drinks seem to have so many calories and don't stay with me very long.  But I am trying to get the gained weight back off and stay healthy.  Who would have thought it was so hard. LOL