How much is enough?

So Maiya is back to not wanting to eat much again. I think it's mostly because she doesn't want to sit still and take the time to eat. She would much rather be playing and won't eat until her tummy "rumbles". Mayumi is starting to do the same thing. So how do I know when they've eaten enough? I don't want them to go to bed hungry but I also don't want to have to make second dinner, third dinner, etc. I also don't want to hear an hour of whining if I do happen to send them to bed hungry. Help!

Expiration dates

So, how long can you really go before you have to throw something out? Of course there's the sniff test and the "oh i didn't know mold could be brown and green" test, but is there a general rule of thumb I should know about?

The Straw Trick

So I was watching Food Network the other day with Mayumi (how can I not with her in the house) and Allen Brown was talking about how you don't need a vacuum sealer or freezer bags. All you need is a cheap zip-top bag and a straw. The theory is you suck out all the air with a straw and that will prevent freezer burn. I used to have a FoodSaver but after 10 years it gave out and it was too expensive to replace. So I've been buying the Ziploc brand freezer bags and also using the new Reynolds Handi-Vac Vacuum Sealer - which is one of my new favorite items. The catch is you have to buy the bags. Has anybody used the straw method successfully? If so, please leave a comment. Also, what are the cheapest zip-top or slider bags and where do you buy them? Thanks!!