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

[stefanm]

@arancf13 OK, you take 1st place with the beans!

 

[arancf13]

@stefanm my daughter said the other day ‘I’m surprised we survived lockdown and it was nothing to do with covid’ she meant I didn’t kill them with my cooking skills

 

[stefanm]

@arancf13

 

[sethhappy]

If they’ve had a hot meal at school then picnic teas, or pesto pasta with lots of veggie sticks. Beans on toast, build your own hot dogs, noodles and veg, wrap pizzas under the grill. Jacket potato. All things my son likes x

 

[arancf13]

@sethhappy this is the stuff I do but I always feel guilty. I imagine other moms cooking for hours every night

 

[sethhappy]

@arancf13 I can guarantee most mums aren’t! Balanced, veg and fruit they like and healthy as you can. X

 

[irinaforkids]

@arancf13 no… they don’t I had to work today….looked at the pack of mince in the fridge, thought about all the lovely homemade things I should’ve made whilst putting ready made breaded chicken in the oven and boiling pasta! Life is to short some days… the other child just got bread and hummus after preschool…. Not even an attempt at cooking

 

[alter]

Slow cooker I bung everything in put on slow all day sorted also air fryer made tinned potatoes in it today for first time they were fab and so quick and easy x

 

[thewayforme]

If they eat school dinner everyday then just do a cold dinner. Also if they manage to eat what schools offer they can't be that picky surely

 

[arancf13]

@thewayforme funnily enough I keep saying this, why will you eat schools meals but not mine. Not sure I want the honest answer though

 

[thewayforme]

@arancf13 Cook what you feel up to or want to and they eat or don't. You know they don't have a food illness or they wouldn't eat at school, you also know they won't starve because they ate at school. Most thing can be out in the fridge if not eaten so doesn't have to be wasted either x

 

[godschild1368]

Slow Cooking UK

 

[boona]

I write out a menu for the week, ask the kids what they would like or make some suggestions. Some are simple like hotdogs. I also look to see what they like at school ans do similar things but obviously not in the same days

 

[arancf13]

@boona great idea, thankyou x

 

[boona]

@arancf13 meal planning helps me so much I do it for us too. Helps to cut down on unnecessary spending and waste of course. And there are days where I put food in front of them and they decide they're not hungry. It's a battle. I feel ever so guilty if they don't have their evening meal. A nice quick meal is I get a tesco chow mein ready meal (£1.60 from the frozen section) add some extra noodles and a bit of soy and they seem to love that. Jacket potatoes. Tuna pasta. I keep cheese sauce mix in for a quick pasta meal. Can always throw in some mixed veg in. I do a quick version of a roast using pre cooked slices of meat, ham beef chicken turkey etc. Microwave in the bag new potatoes and some frozen mixed veg. Bit of gravy and a Yorkshire thrown in if I have them. Can of chicken and veg curry and microwave rice. Poppadoms too sometimes. Sorry for long comment lol

 

[croseb92]

Try not to feel too overwhelmed. Keep it easy to begin with and build up.
Jacket potato, something on toast, sausage & mash, tin potatoes with cheese & beans.
These can easily be built on when you feel brave enough - sausage casserole (packet mix, sausages & a tin of beans) to go on the jacket, or a chilli or curry.
Put some chicken or fish & veg with the tin potatoes etc x

 

[arancf13]

@croseb92 thankyou, I think you’ve nailed it, I’m over whelmed with it all. I mean in my head I’m 16 and just want to party every night, not 36 and a mom of two and a full time job

 

[elmarie111]

@arancf13 you could be me I feel like that to… and also hate cooking

 

[arancf13]

@rebelrider4christ ain’t that the truth haha x

 

[boona]

@rebelrider4christ daily battle! Sick of hearing the words whats for tea