meal ideas

[ffionparsons]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend quick easy healthy meals? I have 2 young boys who are fussy eaters which makes it a little tricky.

[Sheepfan 6kg]

I know my brother was a really picky eater growing up and mum used to just grate veg such as carrots or peppers etc into anything saucy like spag bol, cottage pie or curry. Once it's cooked it just tastes like the sauce and it was one way of getting some veg into him. Hopefully some other people might have more ideas which are more helpful!

Good luck, it sounds like you have your hands full! 🙂

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg in reply to Sheepfan]

My kids loved curry and stir frys . They enjoyed prawns which you just use out of the bag . Get them used to whole meal bread anfd brown rice / pasta and anything on toast is an acceptable meal . Let them eat what you eat not cooking anything different. Make meals fun and colourful. Broccoli and cauliflower can be fun if you have your own small bowlof cheese sauce to dip . Sit with them not play waitress then you get a sit down too . If you are walking about they will hurry their food or invent things they do or don’t want . If you sit and try to ignore them showing them you are eating or ask them politely to wait . I had 5 boys at one time under 11 . Most food was prepped before they got home from school whilst younger were napping . Batch cook ‘ready meals so you have instant food . Water with ice is acceptable at meal times . Give them slices of lemon to squeeze in or a large jug of well diluted cordial which they pour themselves helps with dexterity and independence. Boys are hungry creatures but I found plenty of carbs and veg made them fuller . Porridge is great in a morning with chopped fruit as many boxed cereals are full of sugar .Toast with peanut butter went down well at our home too .

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Good suggestions from Sheepfan. I suggest you aim as far as possible for meals you can all eat e.g. they might have bolognese with a little pasta and you could have it on a bed of mixed veg

[Eryl Visitor]

I agree. Don't try to please them at every meal otherwise you'll make things more difficult for yourself. Things like stews and stir fries are useful as everything is mixed up and tastes don't tend to stand out. If they object particularly to a certain ingredient they can pick those out.

[ffionparsons]

OK thank you everyone

[PandQs Maintainer 3st 7lbs]

I think this probably has more emphasis on the quick rather than the healthy, but if as a busy working mum when I was also doing the school runs, this was extremely quick from store cupboard that my boys would eat no problem. Boil pasta on the stove, in a large bowl in microwave, heat together tinned sweetcorn, tomatoes, tuna and tin of condensed chicken soup. Stir pasta into the heated sauce, serve with grated cheese. You could use fresh tomatoes instead if you had them handy.

[ffionparsons in reply to PandQs]

Great thank you.

[fromcooktochef 3kg]

My quick lifesaver rescue dish every Christmas eve has now become an unintended tradition! So I recommend making something they like into a consistent event on the same day or time or pre or post event meal, and unbeknownst to you they will probably not notice, will look forward to it , and you may start a tradition of your own!

I'll explain. I was a professional photographer and of course was still doing christmas present portraits and Christmas present pickups right up to the last minute on every Christmas eve. My wee daughter would be waiting for me to start Christmas eve. It started with the local church carol service. So I would rush in and pop some pasta on, fry some onions and open a tin of tomatoes and tin or tuna. Add some oregano and maybe basil and voila I had a quick tuna pasta. When she was a lot older and I was able to relax more and we were invited to Christmas eve dinner with friends I was delighted - she was so sad and disappointed. Why was I ruining a Christmas tradition ! I had no idea what she was talking about. I had no idea that for years I automatically did the same thing but didn't realise it!

So to this day we now celebrate Christmas eve with tuna pasta.

Last year she invited her significant other for the first time, and he made a really special tuna pasta. We now have a posh new recipe, and the tradition will go on.

So whilst you think it's a quick and easy or healthy thing, just pour loads of love on top, and I hope you also find that your boys will love you for this special meal you're making them!