What's your quickest, easiest meal for children?

[abigaillockhart]

I always end up serving gnocchi when I'm not eating with children. Tonight they had it with veg (frozen) and salmon fillet (microwaved). Took about 4 mins in total.

Would love some new really quick ideas for those days when you don't get in until 5 and need something speedy.

One of us cooks, the other baths, then we sit down at 6.30 at latest, usually 6.20 and eat. Finish about 6.50, straight upstairs; clean teeth, read story, have quiet time and sleep. Am now wondering about the digestion bit though!
What takes you hours, the bathing?! Ten mins max, she plays whilst I hang up laundry, then quick wash and dry and into pj's.
Should explain, this well practised system that I currently have working well is about to be thrown into disarray by the arrival of my second dd in the next six to eight weeks.

love cheery toms!

Oh and yes, she is co-operative about eating and bath time, but then we're considered really strict parents so don't tolerate any messing about. It won't last, second one is bound to be a complete nightmare!

lol - was typo!

Message withdrawn

indie - respect to a well ordered system. Ours has degenerated because dp works later now so is usually only me doing it and I have a 3 year old and 6m old now. I think the key to your system is that, from what I understand from your post, you bath before the meal. My children smear most of their meal over themeselves so that would never work for us. Oh and I am a crap disorganised cook as well which doesn't help. Anyhow, I start dinner at 5.30 and aim for bath at 6.30 and they are normally in bed for 7ish but it is hectic and fraught these days and usually involves a lot of shouting and cajoling and attempted washing whilst bf on the toilet etc. And on work/nursery days when we get in after 6 it can be closer to 8, even with just a snack as has supposedly had dinner at nursery. Good luck with number 2 - it will f* it up for a while but I'm sure you can get it back on track. But remember you will be knackered again (and therefore short tempered if anything like me) so take it easy at first!

5 is late for me as I'm a SAHM so we've been at park / beach etc. My two are used to eating at 5ish and indiechick I always 'cook properly' just sometimes they would like to be fed quickly so want healthy options.

Pesto pasta of course!

Avocado on brown toast.

Baked sweet potato with fromage frais / feta / cream cheese.

Rice with peas and egg.

Omlette with anything in (peas, ham, sweetcorn, new potatoes, peppers)
Scramled egg with cheese and tomatoes on Toast
Pasta with pasata and leftover
Defrosted Casarole and precooked mash
Lashing of cut up fruit with custard

I am a SAHM and have loads of stuff stashed in the freezer for those times when I need meals in minutes.

Mine are fed at 5ish and then bathed and bed for 7. I too could not feed after bath - too messey and I also feel digestion is needed.

Some great ideas here, just thought we might all like to share some fresh ideas. I think that all the ideas here come under 'proper food' just we don't always have time to make a fish pie/casserole/home-made fish fingersetc
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I've been reminded of loads of things that I've done in the past but not for ages. I find that when DH and I don't eat with the children it's easy to fall back on the usual standby of gnocchi or pasta with veg. Nothing wrong with it, just nice to have some variation!

Also beans on toast. Sometimes with a poached egg on top if I'm feeling la-di-dah

Abigail, did you used to watch 'Knots Landing' by any chance?

pasta and brocolli cooked in same pan and sprinkled with grated cheese

my kids favourite quick meal is tinned sardines (in olive oil) on Nairns herby oat biscuits. Serve it with tomatoes and cucumber on the side to ease my guilt

eggs, beans, cheese, all on brown toast. Ditto toms, cucumber.

???? Maidamess

Omelette, made with added onion and peas. Then I add sliced cheese before I fold it in half so it's all gooey.
Quick and nutritious and DSs always eat the lot.

I also keep fresh soup cartons in the fridge. Takes minutes to heat and serve with fresh bread. New Covent Garden do lots of interesting varieties.

scrambed egg with a handful of cheese, chopped tomatoes and whoemeal toast

noodles and stir fry veg

wraps with tuna/pre-cooked&frozen spag bol, re-heated in the microwave

dippy eggs

pasta and sauce (altho this is also the stand-by for poorly kiddies as is their fave for then!)

soup.

pasta and butter, with pots of tuna/hot dogs/sweet corn/salmon/cheese on the table to mix thro in combinations to suit.

cheese on toast with beans on the side

mini pizzas (take ten mins under the grill) with ham and mushrooms on top

chips from the chippy with ham and eggs

ooh. Ham, eggs and chips! Might have to get that tomorrow.

I like ham egg and chips too.

have to say, now that the kiddies are older, we rarely feed them seperately so we all roughly eat the same.

oh, forgot to add.......baked potatoes are also a great standby one to have. 10mins on the micro then in the oven for 10 to crisp up, amd lots of fillings. tuna is the biggest staple in our house!

DH and I always eat on our own on a friday, whether at home or going out. Also, at least once a week we will have been at a friend's house or the park. DD (18 months) gets v.grumpy if not fed promptly!!

Loved BBBee's idea of a starter. DS would love a cocktail stick to wield!