WTH: No HH Love?!

[LeeAndra]

Check this thread, yo:
http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2541869

Do all y'all moms NOT make HH once in awhile? Do most people really find it as disgusting as these Peas say they do?! I am FLABBERGASTED.

Seriously, my mom would make this for us growing up maybe once every couple months. When I was married before, I made it likely twice a month! I :wub: the Cheeseburger Macaroni kind bigtime.

BF likes it, too, but as it isn't the healthiest thing you can eat, neither one of us has bought it in awhile, but still... my heart goes on for HH, y'know?

Maybe I am just cracked out and everyone hates HH and I just never knew?! Is this just one of those Pea threads where everyone secretly DOES love it, but no one wants to seem like a bad mom so they all cover their butts and say the right thing?! Where's my online decoder ring when I need it?!

Educate me, gurlies!!

[lauren grier]

lol we don't do HH here... well 1) I don't eat meat and 2) all of those things have stuff in them monkey can't eat :D :D BUT it doesn't make you a bad mom to eat it LOL.. you're feeding your kids right? :D And they LIKE it.. that's the MOST important thing :D

[Angie4b1g]

My ex liked it, and my current husband would eat anything, but I don't like HH. I'm not sure if my kids would eat it, probably so. But I'm not sure they've ever had it. :p

[DawnMarch]

My mom made it once when we were kids, and we all got horribly sick (which I'm sure was not from the HH, but probably the meat). Still, we never wanted to eat it again!

Lauren's right though -- it doesn't make you a bad mom if you make it! My kids like Spaghettios and they're allowed to have them for the occasional meal. Easy food is important sometimes!

[junebug]

wow. i make HH once week sometimes, lol:o I dont' like all of them; its usually only a couple of them that i buy. we eat the tuna helper too, though not as much. but when i make HH, i add stuff to it like more cheese or onions or sour cream. its much better, trust me. some of them are not bad! my kids eat it so it cant be. they are picky eaters. i prefer to eat other things, but when i don't feel like cooking a big meal, its HH to the rescue!

[Amy Carey]

shoot I'm not ashamed to chime in, lol. I used to LIVE off the stuff. Especially when I was a very young single mom. I must say we don't have it as often now but my kids do ask for it on occasion. The only ones we do are Cheeseburger Macaroni or Stroganoff. they're certainly not 5 star cuisine but I see nothing wrong with them. No secret decoder ring here either I guess. :P

[junebug]

^oh, the Cheesburger Macaroni one is our fave. i put extra Mac 'n Cheese in it (kinda have to, one box of HH is not enough for 3 kids and DH and i, lol) or onions and its really good. the stroganoff is another good one. i hate the lasagna one or the beef-aoni ones though. yuck.

[mummytothree]

I'll speak up in favor of HH!!!

I don't make it often, but if you look in my cupboard there is definitly a box or 2 for those nights when I need a last minute dinner (because I've played online to long :p). I make it with either ground chicken or ground turkey so that helps "healthy" it up. :D Plus I figure it's gotta be better then McDonal's or Burger King!!! :thumbup:

[mrs_jb]

LMAO... I'm not afraid to admit that I make it on occassion. Typically I use turkey burger with it and add in extra noodles.

I also really like the mexican ones, that are rice, not noodles. I've done these as a quick lunch for myself at times.

[hhleung]

I suspect that a lot of it just depends on your taste and what you've grown up with. I'm Chinese and grew up with 1st-generation immigrant Chinese parents so I don't think I ever tasted HH until I was an adult. I don't hate it but there are just some other meals that I find easier/quicker to make for my DD (6yo) and I so I haven't really felt a need to buy HH (not to mention my DD doesn't like cheese so that would rule out quite a few of the HH varieties) On the other hand, my DD loves ramen noodles and loves having Cup of Noodles for a snack so even though those things aren't that good for you, I'll let her have it sometimes.

Helen

[Angie4b1g]

Now Ramen my kids LOVE and would eat every day.

[Becca Bonneville]

I also really like the mexican ones, that are rice, not noodles. I've done these as a quick lunch for myself at times.


I don't make it often either, but we prefer the mexican ones with the rice too when we do!

[LeeAndra]

Aww, thanks, gurls. I feel much better! I'm glad there are some other HH lovahs out there. I hate feeling like the last person picked for dodgeball. :p

[Not that I ever would willingly PLAY dodgeball, but it was always nice not to be chosen LAST. Tip: stand in the back. Don't reach out for a ball. Do this until 5-6 people have been picked off your team. You don't want to be the very FIRST one picked off. Then edge off the wall, pretend to be reaching out for a ball, and 'accidentally' fall into one being thrown your way. Happily sit on the sidelines until the game is finished. Repeat until gym is over for the day.]

[ColleenSwerb]

I do my own spins on HH. But there's certainly nothing wrong with it. Better than eating JUNK for dinner!

One of our recents favs is to cook ground beef (we've got OODLES of it), and then pour some marinara sauce over it and eat it with tostito's chips (or fritos when I'm having a "I don't give a damn if fritos are unhealthy and I'm on a diet" week). I also like to do ground beef wtih taco seasonings and pour salsa and cheese on top. Mmmm mmmm good!

[Priscilla]

I think I've made it 3 times in 10 years. Not a big fan. sorry. lol

[Priscilla]

this I love :D

Now Ramen my kids LOVE and would eat every day.

[Becca Bonneville]

Now Ramen my kids LOVE and would eat every day.

We always have this in the house! lol

[Amy Carey]

I only wish I had bought STOCK in Ramen. Man my kids inhale the stuff!

[EveRecinella]

I liked it as a kid, but wouldn't touch the stuff with a 10 foot pole now! LOL

[my3hens]

We have it on occasion around here, usually on Wes's night to cook LOL! I actually really like it, but I love just about anything with hamburger in it period lol! I dont think its all that bad at all to feed your kids. We all do what we can and thinks best for our families.

[crecia27]

we just had some last week! And when I was first married, at the tender age of 20 - that was gourmet cooking for me! LOL

[gyllenhaalic]

DH grew up on the stuff. Both his parents worked really long hours in their cabinet business and didn't have a lot of time to spend on dinner.
We used to eat it all the time when we were on a really tight budget(using ground turkey instead)but we cut all hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated foods and meals in a box so no more HH for us anymore. I used to love the Crunchy Taco one, though. It was my favorite.:thumbup:

[ditzyscrap]

I don't like them personally (I'm a very picky eater), but DH up until recently would make them 2x a week for the kids. Once we attempted eating a bit healthier, he cut them out.

[twentytinytoes]

okay wth is HH??

[ditzyscrap]

HH=hamburger helper

[my4boys]

My kids love the stroganoff one but I have not made it in a really long time. I would need to make 2 boxes every time because 1 box is not even enough for 4 kids....DS1 could probably eat the whole thing by himself!!! I think I still have a box or 2 in the pantry for emergencies.

[twentytinytoes]

ah, well in that case NO way! LOL its GROSS I dont think its bad if parents feed it to there kids I just dont like it.

[meems]

i don't think I've had HH in years. Pretty sure my kids would not eat it. As a kid, I remember making Tuna Helper a lot.

Now Ramen is whole 'nother story. My kids love that.

I used to eat the dry ramen noodles with the seasoning packet sprinkled on. Anyone else?

[twentytinytoes]

i did that too with 'ramen' or im assuming what our Canadian equivalent is to that. LOL we call them ichiban

[meems]

yeah that sounds the same.

[lizzyfizzy]

i think it it hilarious that women try to seem posh about what they feed their families. we are all busy and we all need a quick fix if not most the time...all the time! hh is a godsend for families with stuff to do (ie. soccer, soccer, soccer, after school stuff, social outings, church stuff, school volunteering/commitee's, digiscrapping). right?!? i mean come on...

[lizzyfizzy]

i don't think I've had HH in years. Pretty sure my kids would not eat it. As a kid, I remember making Tuna Helper a lot.

Now Ramen is whole 'nother story. My kids love that.

I used to eat the dry ramen noodles with the seasoning packet sprinkled on. Anyone else?


totally!!!:thumbup:

[gyllenhaalic]

My sister and I used to do that with the ramen all the time. It's weird for me to call it ramen, though. In Hawai'i, everyone calls it saimin.

[gyllenhaalic]

i think it it hilarious that women try to seem posh about what they feed their families. we are all busy and we all need a quick fix if not most the time...all the time! hh is a godsend for families with stuff to do (ie. soccer, soccer, soccer, after school stuff, social outings, church stuff, school volunteering/commitee's, digiscrapping). right?!? i mean come on...
No kidding! I'm not ashamed to admit that although we don't do HH anymore, we usually have a box of these dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets that my kids love and Oreida french fries.

[twentytinytoes]

My sister and I used to do that with the ramen all the time. It's weird for me to call it ramen, though. In Hawai'i, everyone calls it saimin.

your gonna need to pronounce that for me cause to me it just sounds wrong LOL

[Shawna]

My DH loves HH, I don't really care for it though. About the only ones I'll eat are the mexican varieties with the rice. We haven't had any in awhile though, but I don't have a problem with fixing it when we need something pretty quick.

[MikkelPaige]

Can't say I've had HH more than once in my lifetime. I have to admit I don't think I'm missing anything.

Sorry babe :-(

[gyllenhaalic]

LMAO Katrina. No, not semen.:p It's pronounced kind of like the name Simon but with emphasis on "min"( as in minuit). Make sense?

[MrsWresh]

When my husband and I first got married he asked me to make it. I was like, are you serious? Blech.

He grew up with a single mom and they had very little. He said sometimes it was a treat just to get the hamburger with the helper :blink:

I finally realized while Sunday Roast with potatoes and carrots was comfort food to me, HH was his. Even now 10 years after marriage I make it for him once in a while. He actually asked for it for dinner yesterday but I managed to talk him into Indian Fry Bread Tacos instead :thumbup:

[newfiemountiewife]

I don't make it, but my kids don't like it, and neither does Tony (he's anti-pasta). To be honest, I only ever had it once, and I liked it. It's my kind of food. Ground beef, pasta, cheese, sauce. What else could you want? LOL

[ColleenSwerb]

I don't make it, but my kids don't like it, and neither does Tony (he's anti-pasta). To be honest, I only ever had it once, and I liked it. It's my kind of food. Ground beef, pasta, cheese, sauce. What else could you want? LOL

I would die if Jordan was anti-pasta. DIE I say!

[Paula]

I never make HH. I prefer to make things from scratch. Besides, IMO, HH has too much sodium in it.

[crecia27]

My kids love the stroganoff one but I have not made it in a really long time. I would need to make 2 boxes every time because 1 box is not even enough for 4 kids....DS1 could probably eat the whole thing by himself!!! I think I still have a box or 2 in the pantry for emergencies.


Agreed that 1 box is NOT enough - when we had it last week I was thankful the teenager was not home, the little ones and I would have ended up having PB&J! LOL

[AmyM]

I like tuna helper better but I'm weird like that. :p Nothing wrong with a little hamburger helper.

[LeeAndra]

Anti-pasta = Anti-American.

You poor soul you. *pat pat* :p

[ColleenSwerb]

Good thing she's in Canada then :D

[LeeAndra]

I shoulda known! Anti-pasta, milk in a bag... it's all coming together now. ;)

[Stacey42]

I'm not wild about it but I didn't evern try it until I was living with DH My mom would make dozens of things with ground beef but never HH. DH likes the Lasagna. I can take it or leave it & the boys are ambivilient as well. They'll eat it but they don't ask for it. They don't like Spaghettios either.

Our main insta meal is Tyson chicken patties with Lipton Chicken & Broccoli pasta sides. Or Del Mex Taquitos. My youngest would live on taquitos if I'd let him

[ColleenSwerb]

Confession: I'm 25 and still LOVE spaghettio's

[junebug]

this thread is very interesting and funny! My kids too ADORE Ramen. they eat them raw, but i hate it cause then they leave a trail of little noodles all over the place, lol. I like the mexican HH but DH gets indigestion so i never buy 'em. :(

[mrs_jb]

I don't make it, but my kids don't like it, and neither does Tony (he's anti-pasta). To be honest, I only ever had it once, and I liked it. It's my kind of food. Ground beef, pasta, cheese, sauce. What else could you want? LOL

And this is why you are my best friend J!

[hgj46064]

Growing up we ate HH a couple times a month. My kids are not crazy about it. (I have one vegetarian.) If my sister is coming over I like to make the Cheesy Hashbrown, we both really like it. Sometimes I sub mild sausage for the hamburger to jazz it up.

[tuneskids]

we always have a box or two on hand. When I was working nights, this was dinner of choice for the kids! They love it!! Hubby doesn't care if he eats it or not. Me, I don't do dairy, so that really limits the kinds that I would eat, but it bugs my tummy anyways.
I do make my own version of HH weekly though (ground beef in gravy, served with noodles or rice, sometimes even potatoes).

Now ichiban (ramen) ... we buy that stuff by the case!! The kids love it for lunch on weekends - each one can eat 1-2 packages each!! Personally, I can't stand the smell or the taste - thanks to being on a very limited budget when I was preggo with the oldest, this was all the ex bought (with the occasional fresh veggies for me) besides take-out. I ate more than my fair share.

[Angie4b1g]

How can someone be anti-pasta. Is he from earth? :p

[krystalhartley]

I'm the world's pickiest eater, so no HH for me. BUT...my husband and kids really like a few of the "flavors." In fact, we keep the singles around when DD is fending for herself (she's 12).

I think all processed food is completely unhealthy, but if it's not the only thing they eat, then I don't think it's the end of the world.

I will say that I about baby barfed after my husband returned from the last grocery trip with a bunch of Little Debbie snacks. I think my stomach only tolerated that junk through my college years.

Oh...and I don't like pasta either. :b

[~Julie~]

It doesn't make you a bad person if you make it or eat it

I just think its gross! LOL

[kscwgirl]

There are probably 3 or 4 boxes in my cupboard right now!!!

[Jennilyn]

Yep, I buy it. I usually get Italian Herb, but sometimes get lasagna. It's a quick and easy supper!

[kscwgirl]

I don't make it, but my kids don't like it, and neither does Tony (he's anti-pasta). To be honest, I only ever had it once, and I liked it. It's my kind of food. Ground beef, pasta, cheese, sauce. What else could you want? LOL

I knew I liked you for a reason, Jamie. :thumbup: Now, Tony, on the other hand...... LOL

[Amber1279]

I didn't read what everyone else has wrote ... but I like a few of the flavors. There are some that are a little "odd" to me. But my son loves the Lasanga one and my personal favorite is the Cheesy Taco Bake (I think is what it is called)

[juliemarie]

I used to make it a couple times a month, but the kind we liked, rice oriental, was discontinued a year or two ago.

[Peppermint]

I fall squarely in the anti-HH camp, too. Mostly because that "mystery packet" totally eebs me out. A bunch of dried, pulverized vegetables and seasonings. But I should say that Kraft Mac-n-Cheese totally creeps me out, too - but I still feed it to my child, and I don't feel like a bad mom for doing so. I'll gladly set a plate of hot dogs, spaghetti-Os, or fish sticks in front of him too. I'm happy if he'll eat ANYTHING, since he seems to stay alive on willpower and a genuine desire to prove to me he doesn't need food. Ever.

When it comes to HH, though, I figure anything I could make using a box of HH I could just as easily make using the actual ingredients - without having to "reconstitute" anything by adding water. LOL

[rochelle789]

Well, I used to eat HH in college because it was cheap and I remember liking it then. I don't buy boxed dinners now (I'm a cancer-phobe so all the fake ingredients scare me a bit), but I certainly don't see anything wrong with using them on occasion as long as something fresh and healthy is served along with them.

[Jennilyn]

You know what I loved? Chicken Helper Alfredo one...they don't make it anymore though. They always discontinue the things we like the most!

[nonnie]

ooo - If gas keeps going up I'll be eating it a lot more - Gotta save money for my Sat spending sprees!!!! :blink:

[nonnie]

LMAO Katrina. No, not semen.:p It's pronounced kind of like the name Simon but with emphasis on "min"( as in minuit). Make sense?

OMG that is the funniest!!! Thanks for that now every time we eat Raman that name is going to pop in my head!!!!!! :p

[lizzyfizzy]

can i just chime in {chime} and say that there are 7 pages here about hamburger helper!! LOL!!!!! :thumbup:

[Kat Stokes]

I made it once when DH and I first started living together and it was just YUCK! DS has never had it that I know of and probably wouldn't like it anyways.

However, for an easy meal I do have chicken nuggets and Ore-Ida Zesties in the freezer. We will also do cheese quesedellas some nights... :blink: We have pizza at least once a week too.

[Angie4b1g]

We have pizza twice a week. :blink:

I used to love to cook. I even made homemade bread 3-4 times a week. And we always had a homemade dessert on hand (cheesecakes, cakes, etc).

Then I had that 5th kid. He's a whopper that one. Totally changed our entire family dynamic.

Now I'm lucky if I cook once every 2 weeks. (Although I did make box mac and cheese for the kids last night before dh and I went out for date night, does that count??? LOL)

Every restaurant in town knows me, I think. We're either in for carryout, or eating there. Every day. Mostly carryout, because taking 5 kids out to dinner gets expensive. :p

[ZaCola3]

I admit it!
I make it maybe twice a month-my kids LOVE this stuff...I throw some frozen peas in it right near the end of the cooking time and they eat it up...with Wonderbread and butter I bet its easily one of thier favorite meals.
They like the Cheeseburger Mac or the Stroganoff...

[LenaGardner]

Chiming in late but....

I don't think I had it once at home growing up because we did not eat red meat at all....but I knew what it was from eating at friends' houses. I thought I'd get off easy once I moved out and I could make it for an easy supper....wrong! XDH wouldn't touch it because he said his mom made it 3x a week growing up!

So after 7 years with him, and meeting David who does like it, we have it on occasion....maybe once a month? Everyone in the house likes it so it's a good solution, though I don't consider it quick...it takes like 1/2 hour and my standard for quick is different than that! :p

We like the 3 cheese kind but I put ground turkey or ground chicken in it because I'm still not much of a red meat eater. Habit, I guess.

[aquiverfull]

I love it, but my husband can't stand it, so I rarely make it anymore. Most of the kiddos liked it too when I used to make it.

[ashleyprugh]

wow. i make HH once week sometimes, lol :o I dont' like all of them; its usually only a couple of them that i buy.

my mom makes it. she always has. it's what we all grew up with. she worked evenings when my brother and i were growing up. so, when she worked, she'd make HH and leave it. since my dad can't cook.
even now, we're all grown up (lol). she works 3-11, and generally cooks before she leaves. HH to the rescue! we like chicken helper too. i prefer it, actually.



oh, and col. i agree. i LOVE spaghetti-o's. mom buys them in bulk. cause my brother eats them after school. lol

[gyllenhaalic]

I'm dying over here. I can't believe we had such a lengthy discussion about Hamburger Helper!:D