AIBU to rely a lot on pre-made Annabel karmel meals?

[Blueskiesandcherrypies]

My 18 month old loves them and I can see why, I've tasted all of the ones she's had and they're lovely!

The thing is, I cook from scratch for the rest of us (me, DH, ds9 and dd7) and well sit down to eat at 6.30. My 18 mo can't wait til then for dinner, she us often in bed by 6.15, so I usually start preparing ours while she is in her highchair eating hers and watching me. I usually have the intention of setting aside a portion of what we're having to give to her the next day but there's usually none left!

Anyway I watched a thing on this morning the other day about 'grown up' ready meals. It basically said what I already knew, that they're full of crap and a tonne of sugar, which is why we rarely have them. But it got me thinking, maybe I'm kidding myself in thinking that because these Ak meals are aimed specifically at toddlers (and are AK) they won't be full of crap?!

What do you think?

If you make lots you can freeze loads of little portions. IKEA do tiny plastic containers.

I do fish pie, spag Bol sauce, taco filling, stir fry, cottage pie, cobbler, beef stew, macaroni cheese. Fresh pasta freezes too, and gnocchi.

Thank you, some good ideas there.

Wouldn't it make more sense to have all of your DCs eating together at the earlier time?

We recently bought the red Ella's Kitchen Cookbook and there are some great ideas in there for tasty meals for all the family. Also, we do a lot of things like stews, spag bol, chilli, sausage and bean casseroles, omelettes, pasta and pesto too (as well as the occasional mini pizza, beans, fish fingers, waffles combo!)

I hate that woman, she was on this morning and doing a recipe, she added salt to something I was surprised needed salt and pip asked why she was adding it, her reply 'it makes it taste nice'. I made my own stuff in bulk and froze it, cheaper, healther and better as dc got used to my cooking iyswim.

Quick toddler meal idea, my DS loves this - roast a few chopped peppers, some spring onion, onion, whatever you've got. Blend with a tin of chopped tomatoes and some herbs (my DS likes a bit of chilli too). This makes about 8 portions of pasta sauce which can be microwaved from frozen - I often grill a quorn sausage and slice it into the sauce for some protein, but you could use ham, chicken, tuna etc.

If it's working for you and your family then carry on.

It's not like you are feeding her kids crap every evening ( by that I mean smily faces, waffles, chicken nuggets ect)

My DC like kid crap night

She has had more positive comments than 'stick' actually ...
And swoping meal ideas is a good thing , we all get stuck in a rut from time to time .

I don't think she is is getting unnecessary stick, she asked if she was being unreasonable, some of us said yes.

Buying ready meals plus cooking from scratch everyday seems like a waste of money to me. I batch cook and freeze all kinds of stuff because it's convenient.

As long as it's defrosted and cooked thoroughly there's nothing wrong with it. I've certainly never given DS food poisoning!

Don't get me wrong, there are times when he gets fish fingers. Like for example now, I need to get cooking as I've run out!

Oh, and you're not an awful mum OP. It's just a habit you've got into. I agree that a slow cooker, if you don't have one, is your friend.

Work full time but we get home in time to eat all together. You asked for ideas. For two adults, two older teens and DD 2.3 we do a lot of Jamies 15 minute meals and

Spag bol, chilli, salmon salad and cous cous, curry with chicken, paneer and spinach, sticky chicken and noodles, steak, veggie sauages with yorksires and salad, stirfry, wraps, chops and roasted veg, beef and chestnut stew with bread etc

I avoided Annabel Karmel with my DC after reading this about salt content in her meals .
That is not to say I avoided all jars or toddler meals, I didn't. I sparingly used the Hipp toddler meals when we had a take away. I think their salt content was lower than AK.

YANBU to use jars etc to feed your DD, but I do think it is a shame she misses out on your meals (which sound very good). I think there is a way you could maybe alternate her meals so she has a few of your "left over" meals, and fewer toddler meals (like everything a little now and again is no biggy). I think other peoples idea of doing some slow cooker meals is a good idea - I always have left overs in mine, where as a pan cooked meal everything goes!