What's for dinner?

Yesterday Perrin and I had a lovely day.  We took the train downtown to J's work, where Tara also met us on her lunch break, since RTD just opened up a new line on the light rail that goes right by T's work.  It was such a pleasure to see two of my favorite people in the middle of the day during the work week.  Plus Perrin did a wonderful job on the train ride in, sitting on my lap, smiling and babbling at strangers, and watching out the window.  We had a wonderful lunch at Davita, which sounds strange, but they have an awesome cafeteria--seriously restaurant quality.  I had Pad Thai with chicken.  Perrin got to eat some of my chicken and veggies off of Aunt Tara's salad.  It is good to have Aunt T around when we are eating out; we know someone will order something that is healthy/ natural enough to share with the little one, as J and I's plates of cheese laden, carb heavy plates arrive.  

I had thought that when Perrin started eating solids we, as a family, would naturally start eating healthier, less processed foods since we want to be able to largely all eat the same foods.  This has not happened.  Instead our evenings look more like this:

Nurse Perrin at 6:30, put her to bed at 7.  J gets home at bedtime.  I haven't shopped for food for a meal.  J and I are both worn down by our days so someone suggests, Want me to run and get Jimmy Johns?  (Or to be perfectly honest, Taco Bell.)  The other person's face lights up and decision is made.  

Other nights we may have pasta (quinoa pasta, to counter act the Taco Bell) with jar sauce and if we are feeling our oats, and I have grocery shopped in the the recent past, we will throw in some sauteed veggies.  This meal ends with one of us thanking the other for cooking.

The funny thing is that J and I both enjoy cooking.  But we do not enjoy planning meals, grocery shopping, or compiling the list of magical items that when combined create a legitimate respectful meal, where everything isn't the same color and you could serve it to guests and not be slightly embarrassed/ashamed.  

In order to prove that we aren't completely unambitious, I will brag on a few great things we do sometimes make...(clear throat)...

Homemade bread.  This one is olive rosemary.

   
J makes great pecan pie, lemon meringue too.

We do Chicken Tikka Masala that we are both really proud of.  It takes a decent amount of time, but keeps thus makes great leftovers.  We make it nice and spicy with lots of cilantro sprinkled on top.  The chicken gets coated in a ginger yogurt sauce before being baked and mixed in.  Wish I had a picture of this one.  The red with the green cilantro is very pretty.  

On our 2nd date we made orange glazed pork chops with rice pilaf (from The Working Stiff Cookbook).  We continue to make these dishes from time to time, as they are sooo good.  It always makes me remember that date when we were still figuring out who the other was.  I walked into the house he shared with three other guys in our little college town...the top of the kitchen cabinets were lined with empty beer bottles...Oh no, I was sure he wasn't one of those guys who act like they are in a fraternity for the whole of their adult lives...He wasn't.  If anything, in that house they were more Dazed and Confused than Greek...anyway...

I guess the point of all of this is that I am not sure how to eat the same food together as a family, while making sure my daughter is getting healthy and natural food, even when J and I have both had long days.  I fear the only answer is planning ahead, so I will continue to implore, how do we do this?