Guaranteed to silence the dreaded 5:00 p.m. “What’s for dinner?” wail—not to mention a solution to the “pizza or burgers?” dilemma— Cook Once a Week is the innovative cookbook whose easy-to-follow system delivers a week’s worth of meals in a single, one-stop planning, shopping and cooking session. This is a book that takes into account what every mom knows: family schedules and budgets are incredibly tight; not everyone will be eating together every night; convenience foods cost; and kids are picky eaters. With Cook Once a Week , Theresa Albert-Ratchford, a personal chef, cooking instructor and food columnist, has done the impossible—she’s turned dinner-hour insanity into an enjoyable, family-friendly time. Here’s what’s inside: From Better Basics to Vegetarian Visitors: 12 balanced, weekly dinner menus, plus a bonus week for the pickiest of kids Step-by-step recipes that allow you to prepare the whole week’s meals in the same amount of time it would take to make just your Sunday dinner Budget $100 or less for food each week: there’s no waste, just lots of great eating Detailed, photocopy-ready weekly shopping lists that eliminate waste, impulse buying and multiple trips to the grocery store Breakfast and lunch plans for families on the go, including 10 lunchbox ideas Grab and go: handy tips that incorporate leftovers into fast and tasty all-new meals Invaluable advice: on nutrition (each recipe has a complete nutritional analysis), getting the kids involved, pantry must-haves, and freezing and serving tips Over 25 two-minute ideas to make entrées, side dishes, snacks and desserts