Monday, September 21, 2009

Wonderful Week of Ragu Recipes

------CONTEST CLOSED------ -------

And the winner is.... RYAN and DEMINY! CONGRATS!!!!

Comment #252:
Ryan and Deminy... said...
We eat a lot of lean protein as
well. I also try to "hide" veggies in soups, casseroles.

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

252
Timestamp: 2009-11-12 13:37:00 UTC
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*This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Ragu*


I LOOOVE to cook and try out new recipes every week---so I was beyond thrilled to review 4 different RAGU sauces: Homemade Style Pizza Sauce, Cheesy Classic Alfredo, Old World Style Margherita, and Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil. The last two are brand new flavors and have a full serving of veggies in every half cup!--That's music to a sneaky Mama's ears! You see, my 2 yr olds are not fond of their vegetables and meals have become somewhat of a battle at times...so I am forced to get creative with my dinner-time-veggie-hiding-food-tactics.

I was VERY impressed with the Ragu website--you guys must check out all of their fantastic recipes! They even have short videos to walk you through your meal preparation- hosted by one of my Food Network favs, Robin Miller! Check them out HERE! But the BEST part about the RAGU recipe collection is a section devoted to Budget-Friendly items with the "cost per recipe/cost per serving" located at the bottom of each dish.

Affordable (many dishes less than $2 a serving), quick (20-30 minute prep) and super easy (5 ingredients or less) meals with a full serving of veggies??? Doesn't get much better than that! So now I'll take you through the Steece Family of Six- Wonderful Week of RAGU Recipes!



MEAL #1: EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA with RAGU Homemade Style Pizza Sauce

Ahhh...homemade pizza! The possibilities are endless--I am an artist and the pizza crust is my blank canvas! I take my pizza making skills VERY seriously---so, likewise, I must have the BEST of the best when it comes to pizza sauce.



I also have the best (and most adorable) little sous-chefs in the whole world!

Big Ben ready to help with the sauce...



...Sweet Savannah piling on the toppings and cheese (stopping ever so often to nibble as she goes--as evidenced by the pasta sauce surrounding her mouth!)



Everyone gathers around to watch the "magic machine" cook the pizza.



YUMMO! How good does this look?!



I must say, I was impressed with the Pizza Sauce---not too thin, not too thick---just right! It had the perfect combination of spices and flavors without being too powerful. (Andrew and Ethan chowing down--the pizza recipe was their favorite)



MEAL #2: CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE with RAGU Cheesy Classic Alfredo Sauce


My little helpers are back!



After cooking the chicken in the skillet, I add the RAGU sauce and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Mix it all together with the pasta--and PRESTO! Dinner is served.



This 4 ingredient meal was a cinch to make! Doesn't it look oh-so-good?



The true test...Ben (God bless him- my pickiest eater) got a couple of bites in



Sav LOVED it and asked for "MO PEEZ" (more please)


Andrew and Ethan ate about half of theirs (which is good)



Daddy was chowin' down! (Gotta love all of these eating pics...classy!)



And you know its good when you end up with Alfredo sauce on your glasses, covering your face and in your hair---Job well done, baby girl! The creamy Chicken Alfredo was easily Savannah's favorite.



MEAL #3: PASTA MARGHERITA with RAGU Old World Style Margherita Sauce


Drew with his RAGU



Cook the pasta. Throw in some cheese, pepperoni, and RAGU Margherita Sauce and WHALLAH! (easy as 1-2-3) Quite possibly the easiest, best tasting dish ever made.



Mr. Picky gave it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! YAY!



Sav (always saying "CHEEESE"- how appropriate) enjoyed picking the pepperoni out with her fingers.



Drew loved playing with the stringy cheese more than anything



And I'll let Ethan's face do the talkin' (the kid couldn't get enough!)



MEAL #4: HEARTY BAKED RIGATONI with RAGU Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil Sauce


Savannah- SO eager to help!



After throwing the pasta, sauce, and cheeses together- the dish baked for an easy 30 minutes. What I pulled out of the oven was warm and gooey GOODNESS!



Ethan loved it...Drew took a couple of bites but mostly played around with his pasta



I guess I know who my big-pasta-eater is...look at that mouth! (I don't know who she gets it from! Hee hee) Give her a fork and slap some pasta in front of Savannah and she's good-to-go!



And Benny boy...he was just absolutely sick and tired of eating pasta 4 meals in a row. (Can't help but laugh at this pic...poor guy! Ha)



To recap our favorite recipes:

1) Pasta Margherita was AMAZING!--easily our favorite. The robust flavor of the sauce mixed with the spicy pepperoni and mozzarella was out of this world. Cook it for dinner TONIGHT and you WON'T be disappointed! ($1.70 per serving)

2) Hearty Baked Rigatoni- great taste, love the ooey gooey cheese, reminded me of lasagna, the sauce is a wee bit sweeter than the Margherita sauce and has a hint of basil ($1.27 per serving)

3) Easy Homemade Pizza- can NEVER go wrong with homemade pizza, the sauce is perfect- wouldn't change a thing! Such a quick and EASY meal to put together within minutes! (cost varies with ingredients)

4) Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine- I was expecting the sauce to taste "store-bought" but was pleasantly surprised, great flavor- but not something that I cannot live without (cost not given)

For more fun with the Steece Family, please stop by our main blog: STEECE'S PIECES! We'd love to have you! ;)

AND NOW THE FUN PART!!! Want to win a $100 Visa gift card?

Simply leave me a comment below and tell me: "How do you feed your kids/family well?"

- Or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin on 10/1/2009 and will end 11/11/2009. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US residents, aged 18 and older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Link to the Random Number Generator: http://www.random.org/integers/


Check out the rest of the BlogHer Reviewers' RAGU meals by clicking on this link- you have 10 chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.
(If not working, this link will be up and going sometime today)

For kid-friendly recipes, healthy tips and more, be sure to visit Ragu.com.

Happy Cooking & Good Luck!
post signature

525 comments:

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The Texas Lieberts said...

I bought, from Costco, Veggie Sticks. My kids love them. That is their before meal snack so they get some vegetable in before dinner and then we try to get them to eat their vegetables at dinner. We have found a little bit of cheese on anything and my "irish twins" will eat it up. Also if you they like to dip stuff put a little catchup or ranch on the tray and they will dip and eat all night!
Great Review! Kraft Foods also has great recipes and they have a magazine that comes out quarterly and it's FREE!!!

lieberts@verizon.net

Thanks for the great reviews,
Wende Liebert

Jessica said...

We have milk with dinner, and try to have a veggie and fruit with dinners.

Jessica
babyj_99@hotmail.com

Lindsey said...

Love your review pictures... So cute....

We do whole grains ~ brown rice, whole wheat bread. My 6 year old son is also a HUGE broccoli and brussel sprouts fan. YEAH. We do a lot of lean meats with the veggies for dinner. Fruit added in as a snack through out the day. A new favorite activity is making fresh carrot juice. YUM.
Lindsey in san diego

Anonymous said...

It's all about fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains for us. The kids love cheese, so anything that may be not so popular in their book only needs cheese to make it yummy (:. Plus they get extra calcium - always a plus.

Sharon said...

I have started them out with fruits and veggies from the beginning. It always makes it easier when you can hide it in something they like already!

Stephanie said...

My daughter is only 13 months so she will eat most things now. I stick with whole grains and try to get in a fruit and veggie at most meals. She does love pasta so I may try these recipes.
tigers14@bellsouth.net

ViolinMama said...

I try to make sure every meal has fruit, veggies, fiber, and protein. If my elder daughter can help make it, she's really happy and eats more, so the idea of kid friendly recipes is great!!!

Thanks for the review!

Linda Kish said...

I try to keep fresh fruits and veggies around as well as whole grain products.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

jemeliz said...

Fruits and veggies at each meal.... healthy snacks, limit the junk food

jenniwaka said...

I'm practicing on my husband now, (gently switching him to whole wheat breat, etc.) so we can raise a healthy family!

MH in OH said...

By doing as much of the cooking ourselves as possible, we are able to include veggies and beans and whole grains without too much salt or fat or additivies.

orangetriangle2 AT yahoo DOT com

Kelli said...

My baby girl is just beginning to eat "real" food, and it is so fun for me! She loves loves loves green beans and peas, so I make sure she gets a good veggie every night at dinner. She is also a blueberry girl, so she gets some sort of fruit (blueberries alot of the time) at lunch.

Laurie said...

My kids love fruits and veggies...It's just a matter of having them washed and ready to grab when they're hungry.
laurie@qts.net

Anonymous said...

I try to buy meats when they're on sale and freeze it so we don't have an excuse to go out! I use whole weat pasta and fruits and veggies as often as possible to keep it healthy!

Kendra said...

We make a mexican lasagna that has lots of of protein and veggies in it. My son loves it!

Beth said...

This summer I fed my family well by planting a garden so we would have lots of fresh vegetables on hand for meals and snacking. We'll definitely be doing this again next year.

Ashley G said...

I try to involve my kids in meal making and I find that they tend to eat better with meals that they help prepare. We enjoy making incividual pizzas with bagels. Each kid gets a bagel and chooses their own toppings. I puree lots of veggies to sneak into food like homemade meatloaf, meatballs, pasta sauces, baked mac and cheese, etc.
My kids also enjoy smoothies. I blend assorted frozen fruits with yogurt and ice for a refreshing treat!
Frozen grapes are also a wonderful treat!
My email is:
Cagrasso@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Sonya said...

Those all look like super yummy recipes! I need to take a look!

jeni said...

My kids are very good eaters so I usually don't have any problems getting them to eat. But I always try to incorporate fruits and vegetables, a lean meat, whole grains, and healthy snacks like string cheese, yogurt, fruit, veggies and dip, baked crackers, etc.

jbowlin93 (at) embarqmail (dot) com

keely said...

Since I just started staying home, I've been cooking a lot more. I use healthy ingredients when I can (as long as it doesn't make the recipe too tough for me)!

Sarah said...

I try to cook simple things without a lot of preservatives. We try to eat as much fresh fruit and veggies as possible-for snacks and meals!

Loved the review! I have been reading your blog since your quads were born and they are precious!! Thanks for sharing with us!

sarah@theorchardoxford.net

Danielle said...

lots of fruits... we struggle w/ veggies. My 2 year old still eats jar food because SHE WILL! and she WON"T eat most other forms of veggies. Ragu sounds worth trying!

Robyn Wright of Robyn's Online World said...

First I want to say I loved your review post - this is my first visit to your blog (found you via BlogHer) and I just love your style with all the pics! Your kids are ADORABLE!

My son and I are learning together to eat healthier now. I was terrible at it before and he learned bad habits, now we are learning together how to make healthier choices.

Momma and Her Doodle said...

For my family, I blend veggies in the magic bullet and hide them in a meat loaf...

My other healthy feeding method is to put a V8 in my homemade tomato sauce...

I also noticed my son is a dipper, if I give him some salad dressing to dip carrot sticks into.. he will eat then up :)

Awesome pictures of your family!

KG said...

My kids are allowed to eat fruits (in moderation) & veggies whenever they want.
Offer them a "choice" between milk & water when thirsty... they almost always pick water, especially if they can use the ice dispenser on fridge!

Leslie said...

I try to cook balanced meals and include whole grains, lean meats, and veggies! Also have to include low fat and low sugar desserts. Gotta have dessert!!

-Leslie
lgaston@angelo.edu

K Mommy said...

I do the sneak attack too! We also serve healthy dips with fresh veggies...it always seems to make them taste better.

my email is:
whynotdancewithus@yahoo.com

Nikki said...

We get lots of great respies from our grocery store's "meal deal" features, which they cook in store and give samples of. We've gotten lots of good ones that way! The girls love them because they saw someone besides mom cooking them first, and got to try them.

Nikki said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
B. Yarbrough said...

We are huge homemade pizza lovers. We use the Ragu sauce that you used and love it!
My boys do not like pasta in any form or fashion. It makes dinner time interesting at our house.
They are pretty good veggie eater and love homemade Chicken bowls - like KFC's - mashed potatoes (gravy optional), grated cheese, corn, and popcorn chicken all mixed together. My oldest usually doesn't eat corn but will demolish it as long as it is mixed with the potatoes.
They love Mexican and we eat Tacquitos a lot.

I enjoy your blog and I am going to try the Alfredo - minus the noodles of course!

brooke.yarbrough@yahoo.com

MamaBee said...

One of my kids favorite dishes is Inside out raviolis. Mix a jar spaghetti sauce with 1 lb browned ground beef, cook medium shell pasta, toss all of the above with spinach and shredded cheddar cheese put in a casserole dish and top with more shredded cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Oh so good. And the kids love it and don't say a word about the spinach.

Goerlich Quadruplets said...

We try to use as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible.

Shana said...

My twins are also really big pasta eaters...We also eat lots of pork loin...grilled, shredded, baked, broiled...they like it a lot...and pretty much anything you can wrap up in a tortilla!!!

Liz said...

I love to cook quick, cheap, healthy foods for my family! I'm lucky that all three of my kids like broccoli & at least a few other veggies. Any tricks on getting the HUBBY to enjoy his veggies, too, would be greatly appreciated!

The Balch Bunch said...

We try to cook at home most nights, usually not on the weekends. We grill a lot and cook with lean ground turkey alot. I am always looking for great things to feed kiddos since we found out we are expecting. I am trying to build up my kid friendly recipe book so i will be prepared when the time comes!

Kelsey

Unknown said...

We eat whole grains, and whole wheat breads and pastas. I offer fruits and veggies at every meal. Try to offer fruits and cheese as a snack as often as possible.

Thanks!
tobym33@cox.net

bsatre said...

I own a daycare/preschool! My sister and I have had a home built and run the program out of the home (no one lives there) We are a busy group with 14 kids and are always looking for healthy things to serve our daycare children. we give them diced chicken breasts instead of chicken nuggets. Whole grain pastas, wheat bread etc.. I feel that once the child starts eating give them the healthy version wheat instead of white

Just the five of us said...

Like another family, I too have to eat Gluten Free and sometimes GF pasta is not the greatest. Looks to me that all these recipes would make any GF meal delicious. I think the pizza would be a hit with my kids too!

Hopefully my blog friends will check out my post on http://nowlingfamily.blogspot.com/.

April said...

well i am a family of one, so i eat my fruits and veggies usually as mid morning and mid day snacks, as well as at dinner.

bluesoulam (at) msn (dot) com

Tina said...

Luckily my kids seem to like veggies enough to put them in every meal. I do alot of broccoli because it's the one veggie that all three love. Alot of kids like raw carrots so that is also a good one to put on the side. green beans, artichokes, cauliflower are all veggies my kids like.

mickeyfan said...

I've found that having the good stuff available and ready to eat helps immensely. As soon as you bring a watermelon home, cube it. Ready to go. Buy baby carrots (or peel and cut big boys into "kid size" and store in the fridge with some ranch-instant snack. Saves mom time and hearing "what is there to eat?"

Rachel said...

I try to make sure we have veggies for lunch and dinner, and I try to buy items with whole grains, flax, omega 3s - I just recently discovered sweet potato pancakes - the "breakfast" vegetable. :p

thanks for the chance to win!
rchampagne@bocmail.net

Anonymous said...

Lots and lots of veggies... fruits and veggies are a must to keep stocked in the house. Red meat is very rare in hour meals. It comes down to every meal has both raw veggies and fruit -- yes even if there is a cooked veggie you can also find raw veggies on the table as well. Need the variety since since the girls can be picky when it comes to cooked or non-cooked.

Shelby
shelby.mcgee@gmail.com

Joe and Carrie said...

I live 1.5 hours from major grocery shopping, so I plan out my meals a month in advance. This helps me stay 'on task' in feeding good, nutritious meals to my family instead of just the easy boxed stand-byes! It also helps me stay on budget and avoid the temptation to eat out all of the time.

Beck said...

I ensure that I serve fruits and veggies in every meal!! We usually only eat lean proteins and stay away from processed foods.

Kat said...

I love the protein plus pastas that are available now. My boys are picky eaters but both love pasta. It has as much protein as chicken.

Coupon Clippin Mommy said...

I try and feed my kids well by eating at home rather than eating fast food or eating out.

Wendi said...

We eat lots of fresh fruits and raw veggies! They make great snacks instead of cookies, crackers, etc.
holmwe@mansfieldisd.org

Caralyn said...

We eat only whole grains and fresh veggies/fruits...which we love. We drink mostly water, our girls have never had soda(6 year old and 2 year old twins), though I do drink it occasionally. I am currently doing Weight Watcher and have lost almost 30 pounds, I believe the whole family has benefited from the healthier cooking.
By the way.....you inspired me to make a pizza with the Ragu sauce with my daughter yesterday....LOVED it!

Jess said...

Using Weight Watcher recipes guarantees that the meals are healthy!

jbrodt@gmail . com

Mallory's Memoirs said...

To keep healthy foods into our lives we consider taste and portion control. We start our day every day with a fruit, a cup of milk, and bagel, waffle, oatmeal, etc. Lunch we get in a veggie and a fruit as well as whole grains, dinner another veggie and main corse. I love using crockput meals from 365 days of using the crockpot, so I have more time around the house and less time in the kitchen..
Personal favorite is chicken breasts in the crockpot with stuffing on top -- FABU!!!

Mallory @ mkshemanski@gmail.com

Falisha said...

I am one picky eater, however being 98% vegan helps cut out a lot of junk! I have always loved fruits and veggies. I try to follow the food pyramid and watch my caloric intake.

Falisha
falisha.young@mavs.uta.edu

Jess said...

It can be a challenge to get kids to eat well, but I try to keep the fruits they will eat on hand, and I finely chop veggies in lots of things so they get them without even knowing!

Ryan and Deminy... said...

We eat a lot of lean protein as well. I also try to "hide" veggies in soups, casseroles.

Deminy
dem_113 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

I make sure to steam vegetables rather than boil them so that the nutrients won't leech out into the water, which will be thrown away anyway. Steaming the vegetables helps keep the good stuff where it belongs.

Mrs.Joe said...

I try to hide veggies in everything!

kristi said...

I have a 12 month old and am trying to squeeze in as many whole grains and veggies as I can, I don't want her to get used to french fries and sweets if I can help it. Lately she wants to eat what is on our plates, which makes us eat a little healthier too.

Joni said...

Ragu is one of our favorites. We try to skip bread with our dinners to cut down on startches.
joni42209@gmail.com

Michele said...

We ALWAYS have fruit on hand in the house. My picky toddler is not the best veggie eater but his ped told me as long as he is getting enough fruit it is fine for right now. We are also big on whole wheat, milk, and healthy snacks.

christina said...

We try to stick to a low amylose diet (which helps with my pcos)...so that means no carbs, no sugars and no root veggies. NOT easy, but very healthy! I'm seeing a lot of soups in my wintery future!

Christina
christinambw@gmail.com

christina said...

Link to twitter:

http://twitter.com/christinambw

Christina
christinambw@gmail.com

Nancy L said...

My kids' latest favorite treat is cutting up several types of fruit (grapes, apples, bananas, oranges) into small chunks and stir in peach flavored yogurt. We always require them to eat fruit or veggies with each meal. Luckily, my kids aren't picky eaters so it's usually not a big issue.

Carolyn G said...

I feed them well by using as many fresh ingredients I can. If I can't get fresh I choose ingredients that I love and trust and that taste good. I try to balance meals as much as possible.

Carolyn G said...

blogged http://theartofrandomwillynillyness.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher.html

Carolyn G said...

http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/4657657111 - tweeted

The Elletts said...

We have a fruit and veggie at lunch and dinner. We started this from the beginning and our 2 and 1/2 year old is one of the only kids in his daycare that LOVES veggies and fruits. :-)

P.S. I printed a bunch of those recipes out! Thanks!

Stephanie said...

Fruits and veggies are essential at every meal for my family of four. My kids absolutely LOVE veggies and I always make sure there is plenty of it in the house for snacks!

Unknown said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/4658629985
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

The Armstrong Family said...

My philosophy is to cook once and have two meals. The freezer is my best friend!

sally.m.armstrong@gmail.com

Erin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erin said...

my son is a football player so he's always got a healthy appetite. I have yet to find a meal he wont try. I'm always looking for ways to stretch my meals, so the Ragu recipes will definetly come in handy.
Thanks,
Erin
eladybugg91@aol.com
www.erinsphotographyspot.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I make my own baby food to encourage healthy eating!

Anonymous said...

blogged
http://givemeagiveaway.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher-giveaway.html

Kate said...

We are trying to cut out needless carbs and use whole grains. Plus we are doubling up on veggies and salads and keeping the meats lean.

Shannon said...

I try to offer at least one veggie at dinner every night.

Shannonhaynes.blogspot.com
mrshaynes24@aol.com

Nancy said...

We try to eliminate as many high processed and sugary foods from the pantry that we can and encourage fresh food and lots of fruit.

ashley said...

I try to have a good variety, including fruits and veggies at every meal. I love trying new things and trying to broaden the horizons for my kids!!

Ashley
davidandashley@hotmail.com

Kristina said...

While making dinner (my kids are usually hungry and fussy at this time) I give them fruits and veggies on a plate and they are hungry enough they eat them and by the time they are done dinner is ready, which is usually something from "Cooking Light".

kristina4klotz@hotmail.com

Kristina said...

Additional entry...I posted a link on my blog...

http://teenytime.blogspot.com

kristina4klotz@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

We offer lots of fruits and vegetables with each meal. Last night my son ate his green beans all up first, then asked for more. How can you say no to that?

Unknown said...

My trick is to be organized! I have to have all my ingredients on hand or I will "cheat" and either eat out or make a frozen meal...yuck! I plan a menu for each week and make one big grocery trip. We also have an organic produce company that brings fresh veggies and fruits to our door.

Kristi
krstgray@gmail.com

gunnfam said...

I consider myself a healthy cook, although I also like to think of myself as balanced and try to give a mix of comfort food too. My best trick with my 4 yr and 2 yr old is to mix some baby squash or sweet potato puree into their kraft mac and cheese. They've had it this way so long they don't know the difference and I get to give them an extra helping of veggies that isn't smothered in ranch!
Thanks for all the tips,
-Sherri
sherrikandjosh@gmail.com

BurdenMom said...

I meal plan like crazy and make sure there are 1-2 fruits/veggies with every meal

Melissa said...

We do fruits and veggies with every neal, plus i am always "sneaking in and hiding" spinach or other veggies into foods that they like!!

Tammy said...

Pasta Margherita looks good, yum yum! May have to try this really soon :) Love the pics of the little ones.....they are so cute. Hope I win! Thanks, Tammy gordonfan@embarqmail.com

petiteblogger said...

I am trying to do more homemade and less pre-made meals. Cutting out preservatives as much as I can. I'm also trying to make eating healthy fun! I'm still working on how to do this...but so far letting my daughter cook with me has worked pretty well!

Lori said...

We also do lots of fruit. I think a very important thing is portion control. We need to remember that they are still little and give them appropriate amounts. As a teacher I see mom's packing lunches for their 4 year olds which are ridiculously huge. I love these Ragu recipes and have cooked with Ragu a lot.

walkerloriellen@hotmail.com

JC said...

I make sure we have balanced meals. Water instead of soda, cooking from scratches instead of processed food. Buy natural/organic products whenever possible as long as it's within the budget.

JC said...

http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/4676657428 tweet

JC said...

http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-product-reviews-from-quad-mom.html blogged.

Katie said...

It is a rule that all the fruits and veggies have to be eaten before any junk food! We have also switched to whole grain bread & pasta.

katiebug_1023@yahoo.com

Cecilia said...

I try to make sure we're eating lots of veggies - veggie soup or salad with dinner, and usually another vegetable too. We're cutting out red meat for now too.

Jones said...

I plan all my meals in advance and always offer new foods to eat and try. My kids are very good eater! ajsahm@gmail.com

Cheryl Wade said...

My son is 18 now but he and I struck up a deal that as long as he gave something an honest try, and didn't assume he hated it he didn't have to eat something he hated. He loves salads, broccolli, and many other veggies.

Jayne said...

I make whole-grain bread from scratch. We also have a very large veggie garden and fruit trees so the kids get this with every meal. It's amazing how much the little ones are more willing to eat FRESH veggies/fruit because it tastes so much better and because they helped grow and harvest it.

The Glenns said...

I have a very picky eater and sneak in the fruits and veggies every chance I can get. But try to offer them with every meal.

Laura Stewart said...

mainly just trying to cook at all and avoid eating out all the time

Tamara B. said...

I feed my family whole grain breads, rice, pastas with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. I also buy products that use natural or organic ingredients.

casey said...

I only have my boyfriend to feed, but we eat a lot of whole grains and vegetables, often not even eating meat! Try adding broccoli to your chicken alfredo - no one notices when "trees" are covered in cheese!

CrystalsCozyKitchen said...

I try to 'add an extra color' at each meal. (My son is 6 months old so we give him 2 different foods - fruit, veggie or grain combination - at each meal)

TeamThomson said...

We try to eat fruit and vegetables at every meal!

Randi~Dukes and Duchesses said...

My kids are all great eaters and sneaking in veggies has never been a need although I do try to sneak in some extras. I've discovered my little kids will eat anything if they can dip it - in ranch, in blue cheese, in anything.

dliver316 said...

I try to feed my little boy at least one fruit and veggie at each meal. And I try to stay away from fast food!

kliver5150 at yahoo dot com

Jenny said...

We don't buy junk food. Our kids usually only snack on fruits and veggies.

LisaL said...

I try to sneak healthy stuff in the dishes that my kids love - like pureed chicken in pasta dishes.
Lisa
Nokepo70@gmail.com

Pleasant Boswell said...

#1 I don't force them to eat everything on the plate. If they are full, fine. I put it in the fridge in case they get hungry again. No treat, no bananas, ice cream, etc. unless dinner is finished. No fussing over them eating everything. I mean, when we are full, then we should stop eating, right? :) Dinner is now ENJOYABLE. Whew!

pleasantpennies (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

I love to get my family involved in the cooking - kids love to help and are curious about what is in their food, and it's a great opportunity to teach them how to make their own healthy food. Thanks for the giveaway!

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

I try to sneak in veggies wherever I can. For example, I will grate carrots with a cheese grater and mix the grated carrots into whatever I'm making. You can never taste it but you're getting a serving of veggies!
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/4786712327
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

Blogged here: http://letswinstuff.tumblr.com/post/210179265/more-ragu-reviews-and-100-visa-gift-card-giveaway
kkondek at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

This is going to sound a little strange, but one thing I do is not allow snacks every day. Everybody I know thinks kids need at least 2 snacks a day. I think they’re wrong. Sometimes it makes sense, like when dinner is going to be a bit late or breakfast was rushed, but normally, snacking just keeps them from eating the nutritious foods I want them to have at meals. They love everything I feed them, clean their plates at most meals, and haven’t learned that snacking is a way to cure boredom.

Anonymous said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/statuses/4793097726

Anonymous said...

Blogged: http://getalonghome.com/?p=1641

Tuesday Girl said...

I abke and don't fry, buy organic when possible and the kids have to try everything MORE THAN ONCE!

tuesdayef at aol dot com

Princess Golden Hair said...

you can't go wrong with feeding them Ragu because my family gets a full serving of veggies and of course no transfats.

teechbiz at gmail dot com

momznite said...

Today, I as I do every week during growing season, I picked up a box of fresh produce from my CSA. It was brimming with squash, broccoli, apples, carrots, corn, lettuce, eggplant, and more!

Peggy said...

Raising 3 boys and a girl as a single Mom I had to make sure they were eating healthy fresh food. I cooked meals and Ragu saved the day quite a few times. My kids love spagetti and maetballs,lasana one of the favorites,chicken catatori and the house favorite Pork chop casserole. I couldn't make without Ragu. Saving me time and always a great healthy meal.

Peggy said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/4805012239
matternu@aol.com

Susan said...

Balanced meals!

Bobbie - Clumsy Crafter said...

We eat a lot of raw or simple side dishes. Instead of whipping up a complex side dish that has a lot of butter, cream, or preservatives we just simply slice up some raw veggies and enjoy!

Joanna said...

I stop by Faithful Provisions and see what items are on sale to make the most of cooking.
JKBrownlee@gmail.com

Kaitlin said...

I don't have kids, but I try to feed myself well by eating lots of fruits and veggies!

The Need 2 Read said...

We use lots of coupons and cook a variety of meals - from fruits and veggies to meats and pizzas to breakfast for dindin - variety and frugality!!

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

The Need 2 Read said...

Tweeted! :)

http://twitter.com/SavinginStyle/status/4847818288

jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

Michelle said...

Hi, this is my first visit. your family is beautiful! your kids are just adorable, and those little glasses on your daughter are so cute!

I don't have kids, but I'm always trying to cook new dinners for myself and my live in sweetie. He's a good sport he'll try anything that I make. His favorite, and mine too, is baked stuffed peppers, I stuff them with rice, bread stuffing, spices, and small chunks of pepperoni. delish.

thank you!

mpelosi at partners dot org

Unknown said...

blogged http://abdoggett1.blogspot.com/2009/10/you-can-win-100-visa-gc-from-ragu.html
jedoggett@embarqmail.com

Michelle @ Women Who Win said...

Thank GOD I have pretty healthy kids! They'll eat most fruits and veggies, so I serve them up all the time! :) --Michelle, blogattoday[-at]gmaildotcom

Michelle @ Women Who Win said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/sweepstakesgirl/status/4876365120. :) --Michelle, blogattoday[-at]gmaildotcom

Gina said...

They must always eat their veggies and fruit w/ every meal before any snacks are had!

Melinda Hamby said...

I had once made a goal of planning out our meal for two weeks at a time. Yeah, three kids? I'm totally ADD and can never remember to do it. However, we do try to feed them organic, as much as we can afford, or at least local. And I can fruits and veggies in the summer, to eat throughout the year.

Anonymous said...

There are several ways at my home to feed the kids well; however, my best way is to let my hubby cook. The kids love his cooking!

JMom said...

I feed my family well by having home cooked meals as much as possible and incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into the menu.

jmomblogs@gmail.com

JMom said...

Blogged here: http://amoores.com/2009/10/16/how-do-you-feed-your-family-well/

jmomblogs@gmail.com

chrissyt27@yahoo.com said...

We try to eat lean meats, lots of home grown veggies from our own yard and fruits. We try to cut out the sugar and white flour and replace it with whole wheat and spelnda. I like to shop for locally grown and organic foods

Crystal Renee said...

"How do you feed your kids/family well?"

Shockingly, my daughter loves fresh veggies as much as I do. The twins won't eat fresh veggies. But we have a veggie for every meal.

They love fruits, but the acids in most fruits have torn us away for the sake of my one twin's teeth. But we still eat em all the time :)

Good luck to everyone!

Crystal Mason
mrsofficer25@yahoo.com
http://marvelousmasons.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I use a mix of prepared and fresh foods to make dinner that is easy and nutritious

Paige said...

We try to eat lots of fresh produce and joined a local farm share. Very fun, but also very challenging to think up new recipes each week!

paigemturner@HOtmail.com

Emily said...

my boys aren't great veggie eaters so I make sure they have fruit w/ every meal

Ali said...

Luckily I have a lot of nutritional background which helps make sure everyone's nutritional needs are met, but I use a local farm share to make sure there is ALWAYS a supply of fresh fruits and veggies around so there is no excuse not to have nutritious meals.
I admit, if I'm tired and at the grocery store I can easily leave the produce section empty handed so this helps make sure I take care of my family.

Debbie said...

I try to do lots of fruit and veggies - even if the kids don't always eat them. At least they get exposed to them!

Unknown said...

We try to focus on season ingredients and lots of variety.

Kimbers867 said...

The Sneaky Chef - she sneaks veggies in almost everything! I saw her on our local news one day and I am hooked. The cool thing is that you can use baby food veggies and the kids don't even know it.

Rachel said...

We try to eat organic when we can.

rachelcay (at) aol (dot) com

Aura said...

I must say the last picture of your son sick of pasta is hysterical! My kids are pretty bad eaters but my ped says that they'll eat when they're hungry. We always have lots of cut fruits and veggies in the fridge and on the go which my kids love. As far as real meals I try not to make anything different from what I eat myself. They all have different favorites so we try to rotate and as long as it's fresh most of them will eat it.
aahaft at gmail dot com

Mindy said...

I always plan meals ahead b/c I buy in bulk. I go to the grocery store once a month and stock up on EVERYTHING and it saves money on food and saves trips to the store. It helps you limit your budget better so your not spending unnecessary money on junk items and more on meals.Ragu is one of our favorite sauces and something everyone agrees on. Thanks for the chance to win!

Candace said...

Sometimes it's really hard, but I try to make my meals from scratch. The less processed the food it, the better. Pasta and sauce would be a great meal though, especially since the Ragu sauce counts as a serving of veggies!

lmurley2000 said...

we try a new food each week and at the grocery we dont buy junk food or try to buy less.
lmurley2000@yahoo.com

lmurley2000 said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/lmurley2000/status/5314497408
lmurley2000@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I try to make meals from scratch all the time, that way I know what's going in our meals.

Anonymous said...

I tweeted! http://bit.ly/3my6eY

Anonymous said...

I blogged about it! http://savingsonaisle9.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-round-up.html

Clarissa said...

We substitute healthy ingredients whenever possible!
clarissa at digitaldeacons dot com

Beth Ann said...

i try and limit the sugary snacks....

VickieB said...

In addition to keeping fruits and veggies around, when we cook, we usually cook more than 1 meal at a time, portion the leftovers and freeze them for healthy lunches or another dinner

VickieB said...

tweet http://twitter.com/vlbsweeps/status/5391528770

Shannon said...

I try to add veggies to things my boys will eat like pizza. I make them homemade with whole wheat pitas or other healhty bread and put all sorts of veggies like spinach and peas. My email is in my profile. Thanks!

furygirl3132 said...

I try to feed my kids well by giving them veggies and fruits at least once daily as well as whole grain pastas and breads. I also make sure they drink 2% milk and orange juice for their vitamins. If they want a snack, I like to give them celery or carrots as well as organic chips and apple chips. Thanks so much for such a wonderful giveaway!

Eloise
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

furygirl3132 said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/furygirl3132/status/5522072765

Eloise
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net

Cynthia said...

We try to eat organic as often as we can. There's always fruit in the house for them to eat. We eat plain yogurt and add fruit to it. I make them fruit smoothies frequently. We only eat whole-grain pasta and we limit sugar consumption.

Cynthia said...

I tweeted this giveaway

http://twitter.com/THEotherCYNtwit/status/5545241940

Jeanette Huston (chewysmum79@yahoo.com) said...

I try to give my daughter a balanced diet from all food groups. I try to gives her more fruits and veggies rather than candy and junkfood for snacks!

jeanette huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com

Jeanette Huston (chewysmum79@yahoo.com) said...

I blogged about this giveaway here

http://myentries79.blogspot.com/2009/11/visa-100-gift-card-sponsored-by-ragu.html

jeanette huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com

Jeanette Huston (chewysmum79@yahoo.com) said...

I tweeted you here

http://twitter.com/gijeanie/status/5547748944

Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com

Skinny Minnie said...

I feed my kids well with Ragu of course !

jtrophy at gmail dot com

www.icoulduseadeal.blogspot.com

Ascending Butterfly said...

It's easier to get the fam to eat well and healthy when they are part of the process. When we all prepare a meal and everyone has
'ownership' for a portion of it, they are more interested in the outcome, the flavor and the best part, enjoying it together!

lfhpueblo said...

By having healthy, not sugary cereals on hand, and we use low fat milk on the cereal, or we snack on the cereal dry.

I used the Google Account Identity entry/post method you have on your site.
Thank you,
Lauralee.

Katie Starkey said...

We have fun! I.E. - we have fun with foods like veggies - and my daughter LOVES eating trees (broccoli). Also, we have her help us make the food so it's a family project and she is proud of what the end product is and can say SHE made it!

megatonk said...

We try to shop local and organic! :)

Cori Westphal said...

I try to change up my meals as much as possible so we don't get bored. My motto is "you'll never know if you like it until you try it". It works for us and I get to have my family try things they wouldn't normally try. That way I can sneak in some extra veggies!

Cori Westphal said...

Blogged: http://asahmlookingforadeal.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-is-giving-you-10-chances-to-win.html

Cori Westphal said...

Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/5566378696

Andrea Hatfield said...

We try to incorporate veggies and fruits into every meal to make it healthier. I love Ragu pasta sauce, it is a family favorite!

Andrea Hatfield said...

Tweet!

http://twitter.com/simplyandreah/status/5567532312

Mom said...

We sneak the fruits and veggies in without them even knowing. I especially do it with spaghetti. They don't even notice this veggies in it!

Mom said...

http://scsoldierswife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-contest.html

My blog!

Mom said...

http://scsoldierswife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-contest.html

My blog!

Anne said...

I feed the family well by making healthy meals and encouraging them to eat. I also make cooking a priority, the laundry might not get done but I will make a hot nutritious meal every night. I serve lots of veggies, and try not to have much junk food in the house.

Anne said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/5594687440

Anne said...

I blogged about the contest
http://lunaj1456.blogspot.com/2009/11/win-from-ragu.html

Janette said...

We usually make the vegetables the main part of the meal, and eat only small portions of meats and starches

Amy L said...

I try to buy as much fresh fruits & veggies as I can, as well as whole grains, lowfat dairy products, and we try to buy free-range organic meats whenever possible.

Amy L said...

I blogged:
http://fibrofoggy.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaways-around-blogosphere.html

Lilly said...

sorry, don't like Ragu brand. have you noticed it has the highest sodium content of all pasta sauces? so practically you are just eating sodium!

BUT I do like the $100 visa card!

lcbaldridge@yahoo.com

Todd and Courtney said...

My 1 year old is very very picky. I try to steam her veggies to make them nice & soft and just pray that she will try at least one bite :)

Ellen said...

We are avoiding grains, starches and dairy at our house, but we love to cook plain fishes like tilapia in tomato sauce with some vegetables like onions and okra. I like your food and recipe posts :)
Thanks!
Ellen
ellenamandag@yahoo.com

Brittney said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Becky Milstead said...

Both of my boys love fruits & veggies, so it's not usually too hard to get them to eat well. I have to work hard to make sure they get enough protein. :-)

Brittney said...

we always try to use whole-grain pasta and bread... and we don't have any sodas in the house!

(sorry first post I forgot my email)

brittneymelton523@gmail.com

Ice Boys said...

As much as we can, we present fruits and veggies with each meal. He loves chicken and any pasta or pizza dish I can cook up.

Anonymous said...

I grate zuccini and carrots into our Ragu sauce to boost the veggies in our spagetti dinners.

Unknown said...

We eat lots of chicken for dinner at our house and try to have a different vegetable each night of the week. My kids love to have fruit as a snack. I have been buying different fruits to try like kiwi berries and pomegrantes which were a big hit. I like to add veggies to recipes when I can.

Debbie said...

I limit the amount of juice my son drinks and try to give the kids fruits or veggies in place of other snacks.

Anonymous said...

Lots of veggies, fruit for snack (or we try to most days) and I threw out the Halloween candy after they got one night of gluttony!!!!!!

aeagll@yahoo.com

April said...

I wish we ate better. The only veggie my 2 year old will touch is carrots! I need help!

JCF said...

We are vegetarians, so we eat tons of fruit and veggies. And because my husband is never home when I cook, which is hard to do with two under two clinging onto my legs, I do a lot of 30 minute, one pot recipes. Pasta, veggie soups with whole grains and legumes, and black bean burritos are some of our favorites!

Lea Liz said...

I like to make sure Brody eats a fruit, veggie and meat at lunch and dinner adn grains at breakfast!!

rachel e. said...

i try to include a lot of fresh ingredients as well as lots of veggies (not cooked in load of oil and butter). portion control is also something we focus on.

Unknown said...

I use whole wheat pasta and always mix in a vegetable with everything I cook! If you mix it in and don't mention it, then they will never know!

KellyGreen said...

I try to make it to the store once a week, if I am not able to go very often we end up eating take out...

Ally said...

We sneak veggies into meals via steaming, pureeing and mixing!

amcg326@hotmail.com

Ally

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