Kids growing and changing meal quantities

[Derdu]

We’re a fam of 5. 3 kids - 14/13/9. Over the years I felt that I was buying and cooking for 4 if that makes sense? With one being younger there was always enough to go around. The eldest didn’t eat much either. Recently though (and wonderfully and naturally!) they’re eating WAY more so I feel like I’ve jumped in the last year to cooking for five adult portions so for example large pack of mince is no longer enough etc. Any tips and tricks from cooks for 5? Do you buy double/ triple meat and fish and freeze? I’m just struggling to know how best to do it most efficiently. I’m having to reconfigure how I buy because of the wastage- everything seems geared to catering for 4 but I don’t need 8 portions! Thanks

I've always cooked 8 portions roughly - I'm always cooking for am army that may or may not be. Then leftovers overnight in fridge for next day lunch and in evening I will freeze leftovers and note how many "portions" it is. Sometimes same dinner 2 days to finish it.

I've always bought 1kg minimum or whatever is on offer (not discount but bulk sales) even though a lot of the time there's only 3 of us and will cook large, leftovers for lunch potentially and freeze.

Then on occasion may have a "leftovers" meal where I tell people (depends who is over) what we have and people will choose and I either prep day before leaving in fridge or I defrost in microwave/oven or however is best so the meal tastes decent.

I never know how many people I will have (kids bring friends, have group learning sessions here, family visiting, friends visiting) so I always cook for minimum 8 😂

In uk the more kg you buy the cheaper it is and in the eu where I am part of the year they have mad discounts on meat that is fresh and I buy in bulk and cook and freeze leftovers.

So there isn't any wastage. Is it possible for you to freeze or have some people eat leftovers for lunch?

I do have standing freezers at both properties though, it also takes some planning (inventory etc) and I appreciate not everyone has the time for this.

@Mindyourfunkybusiness thanks so much. This is great advice. I think I need to rethink how I do things and maybe invest in a cheeky extra freezer. As they grow there’ll be friends/ extras too! I think I’ve been putting off the inevitable by JUST making enough and not rethinking my strategy! I thought about buying from butcher too- so you can get the right amounts but 😥 the prices! We don’t have a microwave either for reheating/ defrosting. Maybe something to look into to make things easier… I obviously need to shift mindset

I would just freeze the leftover meat portion (it was 3 for me rather than 5) but top tip, write the date on the plastic. Once you have enough spare portions, defrost for a "free" meal. Other meals eg lasagna make 6 portions and freeze one as a homemade ready meal

We have 3 children. 2
are at university.

I add extra vegetables (lot!), rice, pasta and potatoes. I never add ever extra meat.

I do double and freeze.

We eat leftovers for lunch.

Just be careful that the 9 year old is not getting an overlarge portion. A dietician I know keeps telling me that in his experience we have lost sight of what a serving of food should be. I think that buying extra and freezing what is not required to be eaten immediately is a good plan. Establish what foods are most popular, buy those in the largest packs possible and only remove the necessary quantity each time you cook that meal.

I find that buying from a butcher actually works out better - because their meat is a much better quality I'm not loosing loads of the weight out as water. Also, have a look at your local butchers Facebook pages if they have them - a few in our area do a weekly meat pack and they're really good value.

@mitogoshigg I think an extra freezer is going to be a must. I don’t freeze much now tbh and just use the small drawers for veg and ice cream. Great tips. Thank you

@MumChp sounds good. They’re a bit fussy about too many carbs. I was thinking maybe of doing raw veg and hummus type thing too to start with? Get the veg in.

@RedLemur I was thinking I may look into a local bulk buy outlet too. I think their meat is fairly local. 9 yr old is fairly scrawny tbh. Just his natural build and being an outdoorsy farm boy. I know what you mean about portions though. I saw something recently - visual about how sunday lunches have changed since the 40’s!
😲

@KnickerlessFlannel that’s bloomin great advice. I’ll have a look. Thanks

Weve added an extra side dish onto a couple of meals recently as it wasn't quite enough.
Extra cooking, but soup can be a good starter.

Soup is a good hint.

Ooooo that's a good point. There are meat websites you can get delivery and freeze! Like big boxes of meat.

Soup is also a good idea as a side or starter - I have 6x diff soups (they defrost easily but in various ways) that can be added to diet.

I didn't think about portion control etc - I know uk has problems (over where I am it's a completely different mindset) but hummus is a good idea like you said OP and snacks in general.

We're an active family (youngest has got into school via sport so that's why I'm abroad) so we need to fill calories throughout the day with regular snacks too but snack type meals can be a good side to bulk out the meals you're currently doing!
I also chop fruit and veg into boxes in the morning so the kids can grab what they want throughout the day and I don't have to be called for when I'm busy. I find if its chopped its more likely to be snacked on. I eat the leftovers in the evening or next day are my leftovers and make fresh for the kids again.

@coodawoodashooda @TickingAlongNicely good call re soup and again freezable and veggy heavy. Thank you!

@Mindyourfunkybusiness you sound so organised! I’m inspired to make a plan. We’re active too- they’re out on the farm and one of them dances five times a week. Honestly- they’re meals are not touching the sides. They’re prowling around like hungry ferrets within half an hour of eating! Veg drawers sound perfect as any fruit is inhaled in seconds. I’ve also started making lunch boxes the standard of the food in the school is shocking. Run by a private company making food as cheap as possible. Plain pasta in a pot and part baked baguettes filled with plastic cheese for £3.50 🥴

If they're active - pancakes and waffles I have frozen, pancakes they defrost in microwave and waffles our toaster is that one where you press frozen bit and it defrosts (I make own waffles 2 types!) Pancakes freeze in like 5s and baking paper between and take out in portions too as a snack.

Honestly all food I make is in bulk and I have a standing freezer where all leftovers go. Chest freezers I find you lose stuff. Dates on everything that I put away (masking tape on boxes or ikea freezer bags, 2 sharpies live in my kitchen) and another paper outside of freezer where inventory is put and dates.

Silicone freezer containers which are 250ml and 500ml portions from webake if not mistaken (I have loads) where I freeze portions of soup and take out depending on how much I need.

You can also freeze cake and defrosts nicely enough, I also freeze tiramisu 😂

Two frozen bananas, take out, leave 10min on side and 200ml milk and milkshake is made, I add sesame sometimes or whatever else I feel like, golden syrup etc. Or just banana and milk.

Overnight oats in the fridge. Couscous salads in fridge.

You can also make sauces in batches like ragu, or cottage pie everything par the potato and then defrost and put together the dinner if tough on time.

Curries freeze well (we do a lot of Dahl and overall vegan or just the base of a curry and I defrost the amount I need for x people and add a protein).

There's also bread you can make fresh that can stay in the fridge for days until ready for baking (Sally's addiction or something, rustic) and bread can be frozen and defrosted and heated up lastminute.

I'm pro at feeding, the one in sport eats the same dinner I make max 4x hefty portions but on regular day she'll eat 2x dinner and expects a soup as a starter too a little while before dinner.

I'm only organised as I'm juggling a lot with calorie hungry.

Muffins can be frozen and taken out day before to defrost for kids to inhale.

There are also cookie balls, made by jemma cupcake on YouTube that are frozen balls and can be shoved into oven and you'll have cookies.

PM me if anything lol I am honestly pro feeder

My children love raw veg & hummus!

@Mindyourfunkybusiness oh my goodness. Thanks! This is SO helpful. I am definitely going to make a few curry sauces etc. I’ve just ordered a freezer! Basic but it’ll do. I’ll look at the silicone containers too. I could do a huge batch if soup no problem and it’ll take the edge off! I struggle to fill them up with stuff that’s not junk but that won’t bankrupt us either so those muffins and some energy ball type things will be ideal! DH is a big eater too- thin as a rake but does at least 30,000 steps a day so he’s hungry. Thanks so much for the offer of help- I may take you up on it if I hit a problem x

@Derdu good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine. You'll find your own rhythm.

I got a 15L ikea pot to give you an idea of how I batch cook for my household 😬 plus the huge slow cooker that was on sale years back in lidl. Its like 6.5L or something 😅

Slow cooking - that's something you could look into too and casseroles filled out with veg too. There's also freezer to slow cooker prep sorry my excitement you can also do freezer to casserole pot too - youtube is your friend.

I get so excited about food, meal prep, feeding etc 😂

Hopefully 14 and 13 will be able to defrost their own meals without your input too - might make your life a bit easier too! Mine are still a tad too young for this but I can't wait for that day!

You have reached peak food intake time. It’s hard to change your mindset. My brothers bickered over lunch one day as to whether I ate like a pig or a cow. Dad didn’t lift his head from his own lunch. “Sandy eats like a horse. Slowly, carefully and all bloody day”. Then my brothers reached my age and blew me out of the water.

Think five full meals per day. Breakfast, lunch, after school, dinner and supper. And then snacks.

Loaves of bread, cheese equals a toastie. Baked or a chilli beans on toast. But I found teens are brilliant at eating but not so much at preparing so I had to organise and then leave strict instructions about what was to be eaten and when.

Eggy bread is more filling than just toast as a snack and easy enough for a sensible teen to cook themselves

@TheSandgroper I just snorted out my tea 🤣👌🏻
This is definitely it. Peak food. And I think I’ve been burying my head in the sand and not making a proper change. I’ve just made 16 pancakes and they’re looking at me like gannets. And hard agree- we’re an ingredients household so anything that’s eaten has to be made (usually by me) so I feel I’m constantly catching up rather than being one step ahead. It’s getting stressful and I need to radically and fundamentally change my approach. Thanks for the giggle 🤭

@TickingAlongNicely good shout! I can make those sweet too can’t I? Little bit of cinnamon…

I add 2 tins of tomatoes, shredded veg and lentils to a 500g pack of mince to stretch it out. This easily feeds 5 with leftovers to turn into lasagne or something else.

Increase your carbs, vegetable and salad portions to make the meal go further.

This is what got me through - we also have a farm and very active kids, now all nearly grown.

Snacks- when they are in the full on growing stage I found a plated meal when they got in was actually cheaper and healthier - they often had leftovers from the night before, or an omelette, beans on toast etc.

Mince, don't buy more mince, bulk with veg. Mushrooms in a blender go like mince, lentils and beans can be added to lots of things which when cooked long enough just add to the sauce (one of mine is fussy)

Make sure they are drinking enough as well.

Pancakes with wholemeal flour. Add rolled oats.

I hate to say it but you aren’t quite at peak food intake just yet, it gets worse (mother of three sons here).

@Ducksurprise you’re right. I think I’ve been stuck in an old fashioned rut with the protein. I should definitely add in pulses beans etc. Thank you! And yes- I think a meal when they come home is the way forward. They kind of hunt around at the moment and snack and then when meal’s ready they wolf down and then want more before bed. Maybe a small meal will regulate the snackage!

@NewHeaven you can get packs of ready to eat beans and lentils can’t you? I wonder if you could whack those in for ease…

@SparklingSpa 😂 Oh Lordy. I’m gonna have to set up a catering company and give up work!

@Derdu I use tins of ready cooked green lentils and add this to bulk out of mince as it's quite similar in texture to mince. Most beans and pulses can be bought ready cooked in tins.