Meal Planning

[Tipsylizard]

I am trying to be more organised with my kids evening meals - with school/work/after school clubs etc we always seem to run out of time/energy so I end up making things quick and easy and probably not as nutritious or interesting as they should be. So I am going pull together a meal plan that I rotate and can shop/prep for.

What are you best meals for young kids at the end of a busy school day that can be prepared for in advance or don’t take an age to make? Or any general tips around meal planning?

If they had their way they would eat pasta every single night

Weirdly I just posted a thread in chat about batch cooking ideas for exactly the same reasons as you! I also need to get better at meal planning too so following with interest. So often, I default to pasta plus a sauce from the freezer for DS but it would be nice to have some more exciting options.

Mine are really fussy but meals that they enjoy and are easy:

Cornflake chicken (chicken breasts flattened and coated in egg/flour/crushed cornflakes & fried) with potatoes & broccoli

Meatballs - can be made with mince/veg and frozen

Southern fried chicken wraps (I buy the sf chicken, and have wraps/salad on the table)

Mac n cheese - easily frozen

Ommlette & alphabites with peas (not the most nutritious but quick and easy!)

Make bigger portions and freeze leftovers

I always say this on threads like these, but our go to quick and nutritious option is some form of protein that is grilled/fried (eg steak or lamb chop) served with new potatoes (or other preferred carb but we like new potatoes because they're quick to cook) and steamed veg.

If I have time to bake/simmer the protein then my quick-to-prepare but takes a bit longer to cook things are options like chicken tray bakes, spaghetti bolognaise (or possibly meatballs), roasted veg (only works for children who will eat those).

Sorry, pressed send too quick.

And then I have quick and easy options like scrambled / boiled eggs on toast with a big fruit salad; pasta pesto; bacon and broccoli on spaghetti; sausages.

I find tray-bakes really easy. Ok, you have to take a few minutes putting everything in the tray but then they cook away whilst you get on with something else

These are some of my DC’s favourite meals which are on the table in less than half an hour and aren’t pasta!

Sesame chicken noodles www.myfussyeater.com/sesame-honey-chicken-noodles/
Fried rice www.greengiant.eu/sweet-corn-fried-rice/
Tuna burgers www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tuna-sweetcorn-burgers
Fish finger tacos realfood.tesco.com/recipes/fish-finger-tacos.html
Paella www.myfussyeater.com/10-minute-meal-cheats-paella/
Risotto (easy to double) www.wcrf-uk.org/uk/recipes/cheats-salmon-risotto