If you do 1 meal for both children & parents what do you cook?

[user1488702315]

I've always prepared separate meals for me & the husband and the two kids. Maybe this is unusual?

I have a one and half year old, a 4 year old and then there's obviously me and my husband.
The 1.5 year old is quite adventurous, the 4 year old is a fussy git. My husband is an even fussier git. Whereas I'd eat anchovies and spicy curries and sea food ,.. well anything!

I'd like to do ONE meal every evening that would suit us all! This is because I'm going back to work soon and also I need to save money massively.

However... what can you cook? So far all I've thought of is

1. Plain mild pizzas
   
2. Lasagne
   
3. Cottage pie
   

Any other suggestions? Preferably sort of one pot type things that are really cheap and mild enough for little kids.

As a side note my husband git won't touch:
Eggs, mushrooms, pork, fish that isn't a sodding fish finger. Anything with bones in it. Chicken that isn't coated in bloody breadcrumbs or batter. Any seafood. Anything spicy. Pineapple. Do you feel my pain?

Thanks for your advice!

[Doublemint]

Two dds here- 1 year and 2.5 years. And a DH.
Spaghetti bolognese
Sweet potato mash/salmon/peas
Mushroom risotto
Sausages and mash
Sausage, tomato, garlic pasta (a big favourite!)
Burgers and homemade potato wedges (chop up potatos toss in olive oil, bake for 30mins 200degrees- put salt pepper or herbs on half for the adults)
Tuna pasta bake
Korma chicken curry
Low salt stir fry. Plain noodles and sweet corn are good, you can also give them the stir fry before you add the stir fry sauce to make it healthier/plainer
Can't think of any more right now!

[confusedaboutthis]

Inspired by another thread I have just made a leek, bacon and pea macaroni cheese for supper tonight. I will probably serve it with extra broccoli on side.

[BrieAndChilli]

We've always eaten the same thing, your husbands list of dislikes makes it harder
The sorts of things we have are ;and I realise half of these will be crossed of your list but you may find it's easier to cook for you and the kids so they are exposed to a range of food and reheat some leftovers for DH on those days)

Risotto
Roast meat and veg of various sorts
Fish pie
Salmon noodles
Lasagne
Spag Bol
Meatballs (with in tomato sauce and spagehttti or with mash and gravy)
Chilli (mild)
Sweet and sour
Pasta bake
Sausage couscous
Korma
Chicken wraps
Pie
Ham egg and chips (leftover roast ham)
Jacket potatoes and various fillings
Fish in a tomato sauce
Pork in apple and honey sauce
Carbonara
Potato and ham cheese bake
Chicken apron casserole
Beef stew

[PutThatPomBearBack]

Pasta bake? Try different sauces, veg etc
Bubble and squeak
Soup and crusty bread
Vegetable fried rice
Tortillas
Cheesy beans on toast

[champagneplanet]

Any sort of pasta bake: tomato (with added chicken if you like), leek and bacon, chicken & broccoli. Soft cheese is your friend here.

Corned beef hash (pink mash in this house)

Beef stew

Sausage casserole (with potatoes or mash)

Bacon & cheese hotpot

Spag Bol

DD (5) eats all the above no problem.
Why is DH fussy is it dietary or just personal taste?

[champagneplanet]

Wraps are good too, slice up breaded chicken (for DH ) with salad and grated cheese. Bung some wedges in (homemade if you don't want spicy shop bought) and serve with mayo.

[Thomasandhisshuntingtrucks]

Champagne I think it's from his dad ...

[Thomasandhisshuntingtrucks]

I'm the OP by the way - changed my name

[wobblywonderwoman]

Going back to work I would batch cook a load of beef stew and bolognese.

Freeze them in tin foil trays, take them out in the morning and oven cook in the trays while you boil potatoes or cook pasta.

But if dh can eat chicken with breadcrumbs, he can eat them without !!!

[strawberrypenguin]

God I couldn't do with the faff of different meals every day. There's 4 of us, me, DH, 5yo and 9mo. We all have the same or at least a meal that can be easily adapted i.e. Curry I take the babies chicken out before adding the curry sauce.

We have
Spag Bol
Meatballs
Pesto chicken
Curry
Burgers
Pasta bake
Chicken nuggets
Fish pie
Roast
Chicken and veg wraps
These are accompanied with rice, pasta or baked potatoes where appropriate with veg like peas or sweetcorn

[Mummysh0rtlegs]

18month old, 3 year old and us eat together every day and the kids are dairy free and I loosely follow slimming world type recipes.
Spaghetti and meatballs
Roast chicken
Risotto (I don't put wine in as I don't need the calories!)
stir fry
fajitas (I use half a pack of seasoning and tonnes of veg)
sausages and mash
baked fish and vegetables
tray bake (sausages/apples/root veg / sweet potato, herbs, fry light, some red wine or balsamic vinegar)
curry
meatloaf
cottage pie
kofta and pitta and salad
gammon and egg / pineapple
campfire stew

I tend to cook a roast on a sunday and then use leftovers monday and tuesday and if possible wednesday. We do have nuggets / fish fingers and waffles and vegetables / beans once a week, but we all eat it.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Tbh ud leave dh to sort himself out. Kids need to be exposed to a wide range of foods and restricting them on the basis of a fussy adult won't do anyone any favours.

I'd perhaps get in a shopping order with some breaded chicken etc that dh will be able to eat and is quick ajd easily available in the freezer and obviously any nights where stuff he eats is on the menu he can have it with you guys and eat the left overs the day after.

I usually do stews

Curries

Pasta salads

Chicken fajitas (everything placed out I'm bowls and everyone helps themselves to whatever combo of chicken and salad they want)

Pies (made with left over stew)

Roast chicken with salad and coleslaw amd potato salad.

Tuna and salmon fish cakes

Jacket potatoes

Chicken stir fry with noodles and toasted cashew nuts

Spaghetti bol

Meat balls

Shepherds pie

Sausage and mash

Breaded chicken

Omlettes

Falafel served in pitta breads or wraps with salad and coleslaw

Not sure how many your lot will eat though.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Also add that sometimes if dp isn't keen on stuff he sorts himself out. As discussed I if there's only enough fir him and the kids with the left overs.

No big deal here of one of us or both of us just end up with toast or a sandwich later on as long as the kids have had something decent.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

As do I if

Stupid autocorrect

[Thomasandhisshuntingtrucks]

I've probably over exaggerated DH's food stuff. He does eat chicken in fajitas ... I mean he's just generally fussy but not unreasonable. But eggs & mushrooms are a definite no no.

[rainbowunicorn]

I would be leaving your husband to sort himself out, I have no time or patience for adults that are that fussy with food. Just make what you enjoy yourself for you and the kids. I would be concerned that your husbands childish attitude towards food would be rubbing off on the kids. If they see dad being fussy and not liking things they will try the same.

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

I usually just liquidised our meals for DS as a baby and he wasn't particularly fussy. We don't eat curry or too spicy food but the sort of things I have always cooked are:

Spaghetti bolognese
Cheese and potato pie
Steak and mash
Fajitas
Bahia moqueca
Coconut rundown chicken
Sweet and sour chicken thighs
Chilli con carne
Mince and tatties
Lamb chops
Stew
Chicken and chorizo cobbler
Hunters chicken
Pad thai
Stirfry

Obviously some of these things may not meet your husband's requirements. However my rule has always been the majority over rules the minority, but each person gets to choose at least one meal per week that is completely their decision. I don't cook things that one person loathes though (DH can't abide celery so I don't even buy it) and if we are eating at different times there may be more than one meal cooked, although I would expect the others to shift for themselves if they don't want to eat when I am cooking. Luckily DH and DS are great cooks.

[HeadDreamer]

Sounds like it's your husband that's the problem. I have a 2 and 5yo and they have been sharing meal with us forever. They eat the same thing as us. They don't always tuck in with enthusiasm but they can surprise you what they have no trouble with. DC1 didn't like pizza for example until school.

Friday night was baked while sea bream stuffed with walnuts and pomegranate seeds, roasted parsnip and garlic bread. Both DCs loved whole fish and had never had problems with it.
Saturday was a creamy walnut pasta for lunch. Dinner was an orange chicken stir fry and a green vegetables, tomato and bacon stir fry.
Today is tarka dal and a green bean with mustard seed for lunch. And a chilli and roast potatoes for dinner.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I don't think listing meals my family eat will help because dh's dislikes rule most of them out! The only ones I can think of
Jacket potatoes and toppings
Quaesidillas
Tacos
Mild chilli
Falafel in pittas
Veggie toad in the hole (you say no pork so assuming sausages are out?)
Veggie sausage casserole
Chicken and veg skewers
Puff pastry tart
All day breakfast
Chicken breast stuffed with garlic and mozerella
Stuffed BNS

[BaronessBomburst]

I was going to post to cook whatever you fancy, and eat that with the children leaving DH to sort himself a sandwich, but I see I've been beaten to it.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

If dh eats fishfingers would he eat homemade fish cakes?
Also tagine are often flavoursome without being too spicy

[BaronessBomburst]

Sardines/ pilchards, smoked salmon etc are great foods for children. Easy to prepare, easy to chew, and high in omega oils for brain development.
Tinned pilchards in tomato sauce can be topped with mash and popped under the grill to make a pie. Smoked salmon is good with pasta or in scrambled egg.

[Cookingongas]

If lasagne svd cottage pie are good so is

Bolognese
Meatballs
Mince and tatties
Mince and scones
Veg cottage pie (see below)
Mince and onion pie
Moussaka

But it's your dh that's the problem- with no seafood, pork, chicken or eggs you're left with vegan options- tagines, dhal, curries etc but he also rules out spice

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10035/golden-veggie-shepherds-pie%3Famp

[Cookingongas]

What do you make currently? For you and dh?
Can you make that but for all of you?

[Thomasandhisshuntingtrucks]

Thanks Everyone. I usually make for the two of us things like fajitas (I put jalapeños on mine separately) mild chilli, lasagne, steak, roast dinners, burgers, spinach & ricotta Canneloni and pasta stuff. Didn't think about kids having it cause son is so fussy (he has no idea about dad's dislikes so it's just due to him being 4). He's not even interested in pizza or pasta so it's really difficult. The youngest will eat anything but didn't think about giving him proper adult food with onions and garlic in it?! But maybe that's normal. I'll give it a go.