I'm a bad cook... making meals in advance?

[MrsSmithers]

When I say bad, I mean so bad that my DS (3 years) has just told me that my food is the worst he's had and why can't he eat granny's food every day instead? I've bought a couple of cookbooks that have been recommended here - Good Housekeeping Step by Step and What to Cook And How To Cook It. I think I can manage to make a few meals if I follow the recipes to the letter. But I take ages to cook anything and my DD (10 months) is not happy to play around while I faff around trying to get meals together.

What meals can I prep the night before (when DCs are in bed and I can faff to my hearts content), that will leave me the minimum to actually cook the next day? It's not so much how long the food needs to be in the oven / on the hob etc, as it is actually cutting veg, prepping etc. Apart from pasta sauces, I don't what I can do the night before that won't reduce nutrients and still taste good the next day.

Have you got a slow cooker? You could do something like a casserole and freeze the leftovers into portions, that'll save a lot of cooking. You could use the leftovers to make pie or something if you fancy it (using ready-made pastry ). I cook lots of stuff in bulk and then freeze for when I can't be bothered or don't have time to cook. You do need lots of freezer space though.

Also don't forget simple things like pork chops, potato and veg takes very little preparation, it's just chopping and peeling a couple of carrots for example.

You do get much quicker with practice!

Thanks EauRouge. A slow cooker is a good idea. I haven't got one but I could borrow one from granny as she's offered in the past. And especially as DS has been complaining to her about my food.

Practice is what I've been lacking, mostly becuase my practicing results in people suddenly being 'not that hungry'. But I am determined to get better at this cooking lark and to save my family from a diet mostly made up of pasta, jacket potatos and fishfingers (oh, the shame!).

I make a lot of food in advance because of my job I don't get time to cook on the night. But if I can't be bothered to cook in advance, what saves me is giving the kids 'starters'.
So for example tonight they will be having grated carrot while I cook the meat and potatoes. It's a good way of getting the veggies in. Sometimes the starter is just a bit of chopped apple and a few chunks of cheese. But it keeps them occupied. Also now your son is 3 you can show him how to use a not table knife and with that he can cut up certain things. Like if you half and core and apple, he'll be able to manage the rest.

Thanks Othersideofthechannel. I've just realised I do a form of starters for breakfast - the children have a few Cheerios while I sort out the rest of the breakfast. Never considered it for lunch or dinner; will give it a go tomorrow when I brave another new recipe!