Please come and talk to me about your cooking habits if its mainly just you and a toddler....

[tory79]

DH is often only in for 1/2 meals during the week, and sometimes not around at the weekend either, so its mainly just me and ds 21m.

I find that cooking for just me and a toddler is such hard work. For a start ds HATES me doing stuff in the kitchen, he pulls at me, whines for food NOW, usually ends up bawling (disclaimer, normally he is wonderful, but for some reason he gets really wound up by me in the kitchen!) I do as much as possible in his nap, but obviously there is a limit to how much you can prepare.

Also, I find that I lack motivation to cook anything new or that interesting, as spending time cooking when the chances are it is going to get outright rejected is a bit depressing! So as a result I tend to stick to the same old thing, which no doubt is a vicious circle as it means ds is even less inclined to try new things!

Don't get me wrong, he's not a bad eater, but he is currently in a pasta phase so he will pretty much only eat stuff with pasta. He won't eat other 'meal carbs' eg potato (except as waffles) rice, couscous etc He is also not very good with meat. Our current regular repetoire looks something like this:

Fishcakes and potato waffles
Homemade pizza (he will eat most things on top of this!) and sweet potato wedges
Various curries (served with pasta for him, and he generally avoids the meat)
Tuna and pesto pasta
Spag bol
Chilli (served with pasta)
Mac n cheese in various formats
Homemade chicken nuggets

Lunches include
Sandwiches (egg mayo, philly and avo, cheese)
Cheese on toast
Spinach tart (the one thing he NEVER refuses)

He eats fruit like there is no tomorrow, but won't TOUCH veggies, unless they are in something eg in pizza topping, in a muffin. He picks them off pasta

I just feel so rubbish about cooking at the moment. I don't get any enjoyment from it, I don't enjoy mealtimes as I never get to eat even vaguely in peace, my cooking mojo is dying a death. I really want ds to start eating a wider variety of TYPE of meal if you know what I mean. DH thinks I am fussing about nothing as a few months ago ds wouldn't even touch pasta and now he won't eat anything else!

Anyway, through all that waffle, my real question is if its just you and a toddler, do you still cook a varied selection of meals or do you also find you get stuck in a rut of toddler friendly stuff?

Single parent of a toddler here!

I cook with mine sometimes (he's 2.5). I let him stand on a step next to me and give him things to chop or stir in bowls etc.

I also cook immediately after breakfast when I can distract him with toys or a DVD.

Quiche and beans is a favourite meal here with lots of hidden veggies in.

Have you tried potato croquettes? They are quick to make to go with food.

Other easy to assemble food includes a sheet of puff pastry with tomato passata and veg, maybe some feta baked in the oven.

Ratatouille is also popular with rice and veggie hot pots.

I make a cheesy potato bake with hidden veg too which might work.

It can be bloody hard work; I'm afraid that tv is often relied on. I really miss spicy food as Ds won't eat it at all and I used to live on Thai and Indian foods.

Oh and pancakes! But they do need time to concentrate!

Since he likes spinach try this:

Carbonara (bacon/cream) & finely chopped spinach pasta

Burgers with Fish or chicken patties made with chopped spinach ( you can make a big batch and freeze portions)

Hi - Just wondering if you've come across "My Daddy Cooks" It's a book and blog about cooking with a toddler. Google it!
I feel your pain though - can be SO demoralising can't it?

If he'll eat spinach then try blitzing spinach (or broccoli) then adding it to pasta with soft cheese and pesto.

I eat similar to you do when alone with dd.
I do rely on the television when cooking, I think they all get whiny and needy when you cook.
What I have done, but takes some organisation and an enjoyment of cooking, is give dd beans on toast or a waffle on Monday, wait til she's in bed and cook a meal that serves four just for me. I then eat a portion at the table with a glass of wine, separate enough for me and toddlers lunch tomorrow and freeze the remaining for a meal for us later on. I did this recently with an aubergine parmigiana, it was very decedent.

I also make a large salad, at the start of the week to last two or three days with various dressings to add to meals, it adds a grown up edge and flavour that leaves me with more satisfaction than just pasta. dd doesn't partake of the salad, so I can add chilli

I also use the slow cooker to great effect, but again cook for four and freeze as necessary. I find that cooking in the morning leaves me less pestered, but slow cooking can be less tempting in the summer.

Would he do noodles? DS is a pasta fiend, but also adores noodles, particularly in soup so he can slurp them :) Slowly simmering belly pork with soy, sake, ginger, spring onions and star anise makes a wonderful broth - not much opportunity for veg hiding though.

There's a good thread in this section somewhere with different pasta sauce recommendations. I'll see if I can dig it out.