Jonathan, Nathan and Sam came over on Friday night for a sleepover. Ryan was celebrating the end of her current employment regime with her friends. Of course we needed to have what everyone loves for dinner. As soon as Nathan and Sam walked through the door on Friday night, they were looking for dinner. And what dinner would an almost 6 and a 3 year old crave? Macaroni and cheese. From the blue box. The mac and cheese was ready and waiting for them.

But what does a 35 year old crave? Our son loves meatballs, gravy, noodles and green beans. It is such a simple dinner – frozen meatballs, packaged gravy, some mushrooms and noodles. I do have to make fresh green beans, though. This dinner is problematic for me. Although the meatballs are smaller than a ping pong ball, the fat content is so high that I can only eat two or three. So dinner for me was three tiny meatballs, 2 oz. of whole wheat noodles, some gravy and green beans. I also made a salad for myself from arugula, grape tomatoes, roasted yellow beets and non-fat dressing. I am not used to eating like this and so on Saturday I had Montezuma’s revenge. Too much fat in a system unused to it.

Meatballs with whole wheat noodles and mushroom gravy, green beans and salad