Struggling with Dinner Ideas: Seeking Easy, Kid-Friendly Meals for a Busy Schedule

[angel547]

Amanda Ravenall mine would be delighted to throw it up the walls themselves given half the chance

 

[btalley]

Down load Pinterest I get all my ideas for meals for this app.

 

[stratocaster]

When my children were younger I used to cook 3 separate meals every meal time. Husband and I eat meat, our eldest daughter was a vegan and still is, and youngest daughter was a vegetarian, now vegan too. It was very fraught at times but we got through it. Taking your children shopping or ordering online these days seem to be the way forward. Let them make their choices and give them a budget too. We used to have stews, casseroles, roasts, bakes potatoes with different fillings.

 

[todd765]

Follow a HelloFresh or gusto that sort of thing as easy to do. My 12 year old helps me do them as well.

 

[hayesatlbch]

Ive just bought this and its great. I prep night before and it doesn't feel like I've cooked properly since the new year. I also follow the batch lady on Instagram. Easy straight forward cooking perfect for families. I have 4 boys so feel like I'm cooking most of the time. so it's really working for me even though I've always batched,plus every meal I've done they have loved. xxx

 

[uugghh7]

Terribly fussy kids here often need to adapt meals for one or both. Recent break throughs….
Burger night Friday night (one has nuggets now ) we all eat together.
Lovely lamb sliced thin kids have different sides to us but after 3 weeks they are telling me they like it!
My super fussy one likes chicken roasts so I found these lovely chicken and gravy pies.
Another one was teriyaki stir fry chicken with a small amount of blended up stir fry veg mixed in (with rice)
Tomatoes soup for one, chicken soup the other was another minor win.
THE BATTLE IS REAL! but I’m slowly creeping forward….I think!

 

[allen88]

Home made pizza, breaded chicken wraps and salad and jacket spuds with a choice of filling are all quick firm favourites in our house x

 

[igivemylife2jesus]

If they have a hot dinner at school every day, you can give them a lighter dinner! If mine have had a hot dinner at school, sometimes they get sandwiches or something on toast for tea.

 

[phoenixrisinggirl17]

Fajitas, tacos, pasta bakes, spag bol, chilli, home made naan bead or pitta bread pizzas, cowboy pie, fish cakes, home made kebabs, egg on toast, jacket potato cheese and beans, beans on toast, pizza pin wheels, home made sausage rolls with beans

 

[wheld]

We meal plan for a week and just do one big weekly shop and the odd top up if we run out of something. I have ME so we try to make healthy but fairly easy to cook meals so that if I'm not well my husband can make them quickly after work. Favourites in our house include spag bol, chicken pasta, stir fry, jacket potatoes, fajitas, stews and casseroles made in the slow cooker, curry, chicken stuffed with cream cheese wrapped in bacon, chilli, fish or gammon with wedges and veg or salad, fish and chips, sausage and mash, home made pitta pizzas, homemade burgers, roast on a Sunday, chicken soup. We try to cook most meals from scratch.

 

[jesusboosted]

I hear you. I do a big batch cook for things I like and freeze them. Then I cook what the kids will eat and if its something I don't want, I'll eat one of my premade meals.
Don't stress about what that kids are eating. As long as they're getting all the food groups and enough fruit and veg you can work on expanding their palate when life allows.

 

[candleccc]

A slow cooker is handy put everything in there in the morning, switch it on and leave it all day. You can make stews, chilli, bolognaise.

 

[alexch]

Do you have an air fryer? I have 2 children well teenagers like different things, if you have a load of potatoes chopped leave them in water and you can just pop them in when you get home and maybe what’re beans or veg, and some sausage or chicken in the air fryer to. Honestly the air fryer is expensive but it saves so much hassle when your out all day.. x

 

[katyn]

Why don't you get your children involved with planning and cooking what's for dinner that week, Nachos, homemade pizza where they add their own toppings, fajitas, soups and toasties etc.. I find the kids eat better when they get involved. X

 

[hungryforjesus]

To begin with, I recommend alternating a dinner you like one night, with a dinner they like the next night. Bread/toast on the side with every meal, then at least they will eat that! Food in bowls in middle of table and they can serve themselves. I keep jars of Dolmio/curry/chilli sauces in the cupboard in case I don't have time to cook from scratch.

 

[alexch]

Also ciabatta halfed and add anything on top to make pizzas x

 

[nicolar]

Loads of easy and quick ideas on tiktok. Lots of ideas with the slow cooker too.

 

[worshipflags]

I buy wraps and some fillings and get my children to make their own. They love this, as they are choosing what they want and preparing it. Obviously I insist some salad goes in them. I also buy pizza bases, sauce and toppings and they make those and then I bung them in the oven.

 

[lawrenceryan]

Try lollipop app- it’s brilliant saves so much time

 

[marktaylor52]

Get the children to plan meals and then shop and cook with you might help