My god its relentless (lighthearted)

Pitta pizza. Wholemeal pitta, passata, cheese and toppings - dh go to meal
Usually serve with sticks of veggies - peppers, carrots, cucumber etc

So you are going on holiday but you are being the servant - eat out all the way!!!

Yes, lovely meal and one of our regulars when my four DC lived at home and we had lodgers. I used to just use the tray that came with the oven, lined with baking paper or that non-stick fabric, and make a huge one. You can make one end spicy and different veggies in different places to cater for everyone. I sometimes added batter in places like a toad in the hole for those who liked it (held in place by the lumpy bits or folded foil). I usually cooked the main carbs separately to give more room in the tray, but for less people your cooked new potatoes are nicer

My DIL really doesn’t like fish, she’s tried but hates it. I usually do her a Chicken Kiev or another version of chicken if I’m cooking fish. They can go in the air fryer together but not touching.
A Lidl has opened locally and we’ve got a craze for their slow cooked ribs at the moment (various flavours). The sauce is added after heating ribs, so you don’t have to add it to everyone’s portion. Even my fussy grandchildren like them.

I work in a school so in the holidays I batch cook. Make enough chicken casserole and spaghetti bol mince/sauce to last til next holiday and shove it in the freezer. Then I only have to cook up pasta/mash to go with it. We have also stated having the ‘fresh pasta’ on the really busy day as it only takes 4 mins to cook!

Not sure this is something they'd all eat, but I just made this for dinner & it was delicious. We had it over warm noodles, but I think would be even nicer chilled. No reheating needed. I used almond butter as my ed has reacted to peanuts. I also mixed the veg together with the coriander, put in a bowl, mixed some sauce with the chicken and layered that over the salad & then poured the rest of the sauce over the top & chilled it for about 30 minutes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/bangbangchicken_82544

Marinate chicken in flavours of your choice. Cook and serve in pittas or wraps with salad and corn on the cob.

Batch Cook soup (roast butternut squash or tomatoes with onions till soft and browning on edges. Then simmer in stock for 10 mins then blitz. Serve with toasted sarnies.

Jacket potatoes.

Falafel wraps.

Omelette and salad

We had a something on toast night once a week when I got really fed up. Anything that works on toast depending on taste. Gave us one easy night.

Oh and this! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBChotZseKW/?igsh=dnJid3BvbXE4N20y
I make it with salmon and also make a mushroom version - I fry the mushrooms to soften first (use mushroom soup). I also add peas and corn from the freezer. We have it topped with rocket, Parmesan and squeeze of lemon and some crusty bread. It feels mad that the entire thing is made in the microwave 😂

My fave quick meal right now is Mexican bean stew. Red onion, lazy garlic, chopped peppers, chopped sweet potato. Simmer it in a tin of chopped tomatoes & a veggie stock cube with water until soft and reduced. Add a tin of mixed beans, half a tin of rinsed kidney beans & a handful of frozen corn. Chuck in a packet of El Paso mild BBQ mix (it’s the best) and simmer until it’s all hot. A squeeze of lime and it’s ready. We have it with rice, guacamole, tortilla chips, sour cream & a bit of cheese. I’ve yet to make it for anyone who didn’t really, really like it 😊

I saw a thread recently where someone had put all their requirements into AI and asked it to come up with recipe ideas.

I’d make myself some toast and go to bed. Easily sorted x

So much love for this thread. The meal thing was not even an issue I considered before having three children. Now it (and the laundry) are daily torture. And I say this as a former chef. I have lost ALL LOVE for cooking and dream of the time I don’t have anyone extra to feed and can eat a carrot and a bag of crisps for dinner when if I can’t be bothered to cook in the eve.

last week I had a pot of olives, a babybel, and a glass of white wine for dinner as kids had all come back stuffed from a bday party so it was just me eating and IT WAS HEAVEN.

some slummy mummy things I throw together which pretty much cover all food groups:

• poke bowls. I prep all the ingredients seperately and Kids can pick and choose what goes in them thereby building their own bowl
• sausage and mash and broccoli / tinned corn / tinned beans
• fill a wrap with grated cheese, some kind of meat, sweetcorn, salsa unless your child will run screaming from it. Roll it up, microwave for 30 seconds. Serve with cucumber, carrots, something to dip it all in. The fact it’s hot makes it acceptable as a dinner I think
• ditto toasties with fridge leftovers in them
• dippy eggs with cheese on toast and chopped up fruit

Hunters chicken (sauce separate) and veg.
Chicken Kiev and veg.

Will youngest sausages? They do chicken ones. So sausage and mash and veg.
Can you do a thing over summer where everyone writes 5 meals on paper they like. See if there’s overlap.

I've always said it the thinking what to cook that's the hard part, not actually doing it.
I regularly make the following for my lot. We also do a lot of sport between us so things that reheat easily or can be quickly cooked separately are a winner.
Naan bread pizzas
Quesadillas
Halloumi pittas
Burgers
Paella
Tacos
Lentil casserole with halloumi
Cheesy tomato pasta (pasta with tomato sauce and grilled with cheese on top)
Chicken kebabs
Mac cheese
Bacon and tomato risotto
Baked salmon
Chilli
Sausage and courgette pasta bake
Chicken wraps (fake KFC)
Quiche

I try to cook a new recipe each week, usually something from the Tesco magazine, but that takes headspace and time so not on a busy evening!

Can you do similar to meals to your list. So if roast chicken dinner is a hit do chicken pie and veg. Pasta and meatballs acceptable do some form of chicken pasta like parmigiana.

I hear you! I have 2 ND DC. Eldest is veggie with likely ARFID. Youngest more open to different things but still has issues with a lot of food.
On a good day I make 2 different evening meals but it's usually 3. There is no longer any meal that everyone will eat. My summer challenge is to find one!

Things you assemble so everyone can have a bit they like eg fajitas but all components separately, baked potatoes various fillings.
Fish - would little one do goujon type

Mine have school dinners so only require a tea. In the holidays we eat out a lot especially at cheap places. Saves a significant amount of hassle

I'm extremely fussy 3yr old LOVES chicken noodle soup. It is a great meal too. I freeze the soup in those huge ice blocks so I always have some on hand. Then make the noodles as it defrosts in the microwave

Same as me! Packet of crisps and some dip and i'd be happy!

This is similar to our household eating challenges. Food cart style chicken and rice is a favourites ll. I’ve also managed to convince my fussiest that creamy spinach pasta is pesto so he now eats that too.

God, I've got a filthy mind...😳

The older 2 can "help" him make stuff together.

The little one, just cook hers separately.

I have a freezer full of good quality, frozen noodles (don't use the dry ones, they're gross) along with frozen veg. I can whip up a really tasty dandan noodles in 15 minutes if I have mince in the fridge. Lovely if your girls like peanut butter.

Or make some char sui noodle soup. Really savoury and delicious. I roast the pork at the weekend and slice it as I need it through the week. Broth comes from the roasting sauce + chickens stock. Again, with frozen noodles and frozen veg. it tastes amazing and takes under 15 mins to pull together.

Before baby over relied on deliveroo, so most of my meals are lazy quick.

My other hack are grain pouches / couscous packets. Add pomegranate seeds, spring onions and herbs to anything and it becomes moreish. Takes under 5 mins plus whatever grilled fish/meat and salad you want to prepare. Squeeze of lemon over the top and you're done!