Healthy (and quick) family dinners

[AdriannaP]

Help please!

I am on mat leave now and in charge of cooking most family dinners. I am not a great cook but can do basic stuff. Ideas for quick and healthy meals needed! Ideally not too carby as DC1 eats lots of carbs at school lunch.
We eat meat apart from DH who eats fish but no meat. I can cook meat stuff occasionally with a different protein for him ideally. DC1 is not a fussy eater.

Would also appreciate any book recommendations for family recipes.

have a look at the change4life recipes, I cook a lot of the ones on the website as they're fairly easy and healthy

www.nhs.uk/change4life/recipes/dinner#all-dinner-recipes

Fridge surprise omelette!
I know you said no carbs but my go to that is a favourite at the moment is baked rice in stock with any veggies I have lying about in. Served with fish fingers, premade chilli/spag bol whatever is going really

Salmon fillets wrapped in a foil parcel and baked in the oven, served with asian style noodle & vegetable stir fry. Quick tasty and not much washing up.

Make a risotto with peas, leeks and asparagus, and serve topped with a fillet of sea bass cooked in the microwave.

Bake fish (cod, sea bass etc) in a shallow dish with chopped tomatoes, olives, chopped peppers, pre fried onions, garlic, capers if liked, serve with rice or tagliatelle.

I like Hugh FW's "Veg Everyday" cook book for ideas, also Nigel Slater for interesting combinations, try his "Real Fast Food".

Thanks all!

Salmon traybake www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/salmon-pesto-traybake-baby-roast-potatoes
Stuffed peppers with halloumi realfood.tesco.com/recipes/halloumi-stuffed-peppers.html feta realfood.tesco.com/recipes/cheesy-stuffed-peppers.html or mozzarella
Sweetcorn fritters www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sweetcorn-courgette-fritters
Filo quiche traybake realfood.tesco.com/recipes/speedy-quiche-traybake.html
Veggie sausage casserole realfood.tesco.com/recipes/carls-all-change-casserole.html

How about a shakshuka? If you can cook the sauce for a while before adding eggs you get a richer flavour but not essential.
Haloumi skewers and veg skewers, add when every veg you have to hand, cherry tomatoes, aubergine and courgette is good, serve with garlicky stir fried peppers and red onions.
Cod and chickpea tray bake. In a bowl, add ground coriander, cumin, turmeric and chilli powder to olive oil. Take some cauliflower florets and soften for 2 mins in the microwave. In a roasting tin put a tin of chickpeas, chopped onion, chopped mango and the cauliflower. lightly toss in the spiced oil (you don’t want t to be too greasy) bake for 10 mins, brush cod with spiced oil, place on top of veg, sprinkle over some Nigella seeds and bake for another 15-20 mins. If you want it to look pretty sprinkle on some fresh coriander before serving.

Omelettes and salad
Chicken or fish (various flavours) wraps with salad
Baked sweet potato with fillings
Stir fry
Sausage/chicken/salmon tray bake with roast veg
Stuffed peppers
Veg soup
Felafel, hummus and salad
Grilled fish/chicken and green beans
Baked pork belly and park choi/broccoli/asparagus
Puff pastry veg tart and salad
Quiche and salad
Corn or courgette fritters with feta, salad
Veggie sausage rolls
Lamb or chicken skewers with roasted med veg

Lovely ideas here.

Salmon peas and baby potatoes
Pork chop and roasted veg tray bake
Steak and salad
Homemade soup
Omelette

This is what we often have (also curry chilli and spag bol)

Jamie O did two great quiches yesterday with squash or mushroom, liquidised, Instead of cream. If you have it, look on catch up.

I’ve just bought “The Green Roasting Tin” cookbook, It’s one tin oven cooking Vegan and vegi recipes. It’s brilliant, even my meat eating husband is enjoying the recipes.

There are several books in that Roasting Tin range. They are an absolute winner with minimal washing up.

I love Spice Pots recipes - though I use less spice than the recipes state so my kids like them. My kids particularly like the korma stir fry (I substitute prawns for chicken) - and they also do an amazing lentil daal which I pad out with whatever vegetables need using up in my fridge.

www.spicepots.com/pages/recipes

Have you tried the What Mummy Makes/Rebecca Wilson recipe books.
These are great books as they are meant to be cook once for your family and are suitable for babies form 6 months old.