Quick kids meal ideas for fussy eaters - for tonight!

[PavlovtheCat]

DD aged 7 eats most things. DS aged 3.5 is a fussy ol fusspot when it comes to food. He mostly likes pasta, sausages, peanut butter.

They have had hot dinner at school/pre-school today of spaghetti bolognaise, so don't need a big dinner, something light and some fruit for pudding. But, DH and I are stuck for ideas and inspiration, mainly as DS is so fussy!

Any ideas of light meals that can appeal to the fussiest of eaters? DD would be happy with toasted sandwich and some salad. DS would be happy with peanut butter on toast. but he had that for breakfast.

[ppeatfruit]

Gently fried slices of tofu (marinaded in some lemon juice and soya sauce) with quinoa or rice has always been popular with our GD.

[PavlovtheCat]

I have never thought to give him tofu! We eat it very occasionally. I will give that a try soon! Thank you for the suggestion.

[ppeatfruit]

The Japanese wean their L.O.'s on it apparently! Some people think tofu has no flavour but I reckon it soaks up the flavours you cook it with like garlic and onions (of course you don't have to put the veg. on his plate).

[PavlovtheCat]

I agree with that. Tofu soaks flavours amazingly well, so soy, ginger, garlic, spring onions are fab with it, blackbean sauce is too. Fry it in sesame oil and that also adds a lovely flavour. I can see that it would be bland eaten on it's own, but then, so is chicken.

[ppeatfruit]

OOh yes you're making my mouth water now! the heat from the ginger might not please your DS though!! Talking beans you could liquidise them and make into burgers which he might like. I tend to make enough whole rice (if you cook it long enough it goes white in case you've got brown haters in your family)! and quinoa for the week and freeze so it's quick to reheat for suppers.

[gastrognome]

I often do a pack of cheap instant noodles but use marigold stock powder instead of the flavour packets they come with. Then add cooked peas or soya (edamame) beans cynics I also call peas when I earshot of the children) and sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Protein, starch, vitamins all covered. If they are extra lucky I might cook a couple of fish fingers too.
Both DDs gobble this down and it takes all of five minutes to make.

Alternatively, quesadillas with a spoon of passata or tomato paste and grated cheese, to make them pizza flavoured.

Failing that, pasta. There are weeks when my kids eat it at least once a day. Hey, if it's good enough for the aitalians, who am I to argue? Just vary the shapes and it's practically a different foodstuff each time! And hide puréed carrot in the tomato sauce, or broccoli and spinach in the pesto.

[gastrognome]

Who on God's earth are the aitalians? (perhaps they eat naice ham)
I meant Italians of course.

[PavlovtheCat01]

I googled cooking for fussy eaters and I came across this from 2013!!! No way! Same child, now 7.5yrs and pretty much just as fussy! Actually he's a wee bit better. But not hugely. He will eat pasta til it comes out of his ears and fave is lasagne even knowing veg is there he will generally refuse trying new things, dislikes veg with a passion, eats apples, grapes, cherries and mango though from fruit section! He is a meat fiend. Ok with fish.

So. Ideas are still welcome! For some variation as poor DD has been over exposed to pasta! And is going through a 'I wanna be vegetarian except for ham' phase!

Still chuckling!