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AIBU?

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Original poster

How can I feed my kids?

113 replies

Larsz · 16/11/2024 19:21

Sorry for the bait-y title. Just needing suggestions.

I have a surgery coming up very soon on my right arm. I will not be able to properly cook for a while. I’ve meal prepped some casseroles in advance but our freezer is quite small.

I am a single mum and will struggle to cook without my dominant hand. I really don’t want to use the hob as I fear I would not really be much good if anything went wrong and I needed to act.

Please can you suggest things I can pop in my air fryer for meals.

So far I have got:

kievs
frozen fish
fresh soup (carton)
fishcakes
gyoza
jackets
sausages
frozen pizza as a treat
beans on toast

will serve with salad, microwaveable sides/veg

If I buy weekly freezer space shouldn’t be an issue

I want to feed my kids so don’t mind leaning on upf right now. But would love to know what aren’t the worst options.

I do have friends and a sister who will drop off meals here and there. But I do like being self reliant.

Kids are 5 and 6 so can’t really help

OP posts:
Waffle19 · 16/11/2024 20:08

yeesh · 16/11/2024 19:48

M&S do family sized ready meals like cottage pie, pasta bakes ect that are quite reasonable in price. You could just add salad or micro veg (they also do loads of ready prepped veg that go in the microwave)

Also you can often get these on reduced to clear and then just freeze them until the day you want to use them!

Waffle19 · 16/11/2024 20:07

Burgers in the air fryer, we do veggie ones even though we’re meat eaters for a slightly healthier option!

Corn on the cob goes lovely in there.

Also most supermarkets have a good range of chopped potatoes, med veg style bake things etc that you could just bung in.

wintersgold · 16/11/2024 20:07

Just order ready meals like Frive for a while

smaugbythesea · 16/11/2024 20:03

you can always use a food processor to chop veg for meals, just don't leave it too long so it becomes a puree.

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/11/2024 20:02

StSwithinsDay · 16/11/2024 19:51

What age are your children?

It's in the OP! What's the point of getting involved in a thread if you don't even read the starting post?

Redlorryyellowcar · 16/11/2024 19:59

StSwithinsDay · 16/11/2024 19:51

What age are your children?

5 and 6

Overthebow · 16/11/2024 19:55

Larsz · 16/11/2024 19:28

Thanks for suggestion. I don’t think I will be able to chop well using my left hand. I’ve been “training” in preparation and realised my left hand is borderline uselessness for fine motor activities. Don’t want to lose a finger!

Edited
Show quote history

lots of supermarkets do bags of pre-chopped ingredients you can just throw in a slow cooker. For example beef stew - bag of pre-chopped mixed winter veg and potatoes, packet of pre-chopped beef, packet of casserole mix and some water.

RumNotRun · 16/11/2024 19:51

Frozen green beans and Brussel sprouts are surprisingly tasty cooked in the air fryer, if your children will eat them. I have them most days, sometimes with garlic, sometimes with mozzarella over the top.

Ilovemyshed · 16/11/2024 19:51

There are lots of pre chopped veg options available in fresh and frozen options. Take a look at Delia how to cheat at cooking for ideas.

StSwithinsDay · 16/11/2024 19:51

What age are your children?

CatStoleMyChocolate · 16/11/2024 19:49

Would your kids eat rice? If so, I’d look at those microwaveable rice pouches. And couscous, as well as any pre-prepared potato that can be put on a tray in the oven or heated in the microwave.

I’d try to minimise the need to drain things, though the suggestion above about using a spoon to lift stuff out of hot water is an excellent one.

yeesh · 16/11/2024 19:48

M&S do family sized ready meals like cottage pie, pasta bakes ect that are quite reasonable in price. You could just add salad or micro veg (they also do loads of ready prepped veg that go in the microwave)

GinToBegin · 16/11/2024 19:47

Be careful of weight, I’m guessing you might not be able to lift anything heavier than a kettle of water. We’ve got a slow cooker, and it’s great, but the cooking dish is really heavy, even when empty. Similarly, one big pasta bake for the three of you could be pretty weighty; if you have individual pots, they’ll be far easier for you to wrangle single-handed.

sel2223 · 16/11/2024 19:47

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/11/2024 19:44

From the OP:

I’ve meal prepped some casseroles in advance but our freezer is quite small.

RTFOP

Show quote history

Thank you, must have completely skipped over that in the OP

Willsnbills · 16/11/2024 19:47

For the odd meals that you want to do in the slow cooker, etc you could buy pre-chopped veg. Also M&S dinners for once off occasions every so often

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/11/2024 19:44

sel2223 · 16/11/2024 19:35

Get a load of food containers like the takeaways use and do some bulk meal prep now.
Anything suitable for freezing then you can just take it out to defrost each morning and microwave it for their dinner.

What about a microwave omelette maker as well?

From the OP:

I’ve meal prepped some casseroles in advance but our freezer is quite small.

RTFOP

x2boys · 16/11/2024 19:44

Hellisemptyallthdevilsarehere · 16/11/2024 19:28

It's rather difficult to chop everything that goes into these without the use of your dominant hand, though.

I'd seriously stick to things that can be placed in the oven.

Show quote history

You don't need too just buy frozen or pre chopped

x2boys · 16/11/2024 19:42

Larsz · 16/11/2024 19:28

Thanks for suggestion. I don’t think I will be able to chop well using my left hand. I’ve been “training” in preparation and realised my left hand is borderline uselessness for fine motor activities. Don’t want to lose a finger!

Edited
Show quote history

You can buy pre chopped veg or I just use frozen.

ArminTamzerian · 16/11/2024 19:37

Hellisemptyallthdevilsarehere · 16/11/2024 19:28

It's rather difficult to chop everything that goes into these without the use of your dominant hand, though.

I'd seriously stick to things that can be placed in the oven.

Show quote history

You buy frozen or fresh peeled and diced veg etc. there's really no need to chop a single thing for simple dishes like suggested.

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/11/2024 19:37

applestewing · 16/11/2024 19:25

Pasta bakes are super simple
dried pasta & jar serve with veg
depending where you are cooks ready meals are fab
if you have an air fryer salmon or chicken with roasted veg and cous cous
tray bakes with chicken or fish, sweet potato and veg

Edited

She literally just asked for air fryer ideas 🙄

sel2223 · 16/11/2024 19:35

Get a load of food containers like the takeaways use and do some bulk meal prep now.
Anything suitable for freezing then you can just take it out to defrost each morning and microwave it for their dinner.

What about a microwave omelette maker as well?

Overtheatlantic · 16/11/2024 19:34

How many meals will you need?

Rhayader · 16/11/2024 19:34

You can buy pre chopped veg like mirepoix (carrots onion celery) that you can make bolognese etc.

Wendysfriend · 16/11/2024 19:34

With regards to chopping, you could always buy a load of veg now and chop and freeze it and then you can use it in a slow cooker rather than trying to freeze full meals, in saying that there quite a few ready chopped vegetables in the supermarket in the freezer section then you just put your meat in with it.

Wonderlust233 · 16/11/2024 19:33

The costa molica range is non-UPF. They have pizzas and gnocchi.