Due next week with DC2. finding motivation to cook nice meals

[Littlerayofsunshine]

Due next week with DC2, DD is 18months. and DP is away until October this year. I have been finding it hard to get motivation for cooking nice meals throughout this pregnancy. and especially for myself as I usually love cooking family meals for us all. DP not being here (since 5months ago) I have just lots interest.

I also need to keep up with variety (for DD and also myself especially as i'm hoping to breastfeed again) obviously needing all the energy i can get.

Just wondered if you could advise on snacks/healthy meals for DD & I, especially in the first few weeks of having our new DC, and whilst i'm doing it alone. finding the time and not always thinking "well...... what shall I throw together now?" when i want to have dinners prepared etc.

As for me, This past week, i've got a funny appetite. DD & I had a sickness & diarrhoea bug so was off food. i'm now craving crap (quick energy boost but not good food) just craving chocolate again and causing havoc for my skin.

What foods can i prepare for myself that are slow-release energy? I also need to eat more fruit and veg

Go easy on yourself . You're 39 weeks pregnant and alone. A few shortcuts for a couple of weeks will do neither you nor dd any long term harm.

Tuna and pasta (with pesto, or a bit of mayo or olive oil) with parmesan cheese is a good easy meal, wholemeal pasta is especially good. Salad is good in this weather, also stock up on frozen veg!

Fish is easy as pie to cook and salmon is VERY good for pregnant women/breastfeeding. Most fillets will cook in 20 mins (or less) baked in an oven at 180.

I eat fruit for pudding in the evening, with yoghurt, usually when I realise how little I've eaten during the day!

The odd biscuit/bar of chocolate won't hurt though!

Do a nice big online shop with all the basics NOW!

Also snack on hummous or cheese and crackers, a good one when you want a quick fix.

If you can afford it now is the time to start buying preprepared fruit and veg and other convinience items like micro rice. Frozen microwave pouches with veg/rice are also useful.

Something like salmon with pesto, rice/veg - quick and simple if half of it takes 5 mins in the microwave.

Sausages or pork chops + bought garlic bread + mixed salad leaves/cucumber/baby tomatoes or get a premade salad pot for variety.

YOu can even get fried onions in a tin. WHen dd was born I used to chuck a tin of those in slow cooker with some frozen diced peppers, diced meat, curry paste from jar and carton of passata. 5 mins to prepare, leave to cook and served with micro rice. You can do it on the hob if you like.

I used to use the tinned onions and frozen peppers with mince, kidney beans, spice mix and passata to make a chilli (all chucked straight in slow cooker) and again served with micro rice.

Jacket potatoes + baked beans + cheese or whichever topping you prefer are easy as long as you remember to stick the potatoes on or don't mind microwave. You can buy frozen oven cooked jacket potatoes now but not sure how good they are.

Tray of mediterranean veg for roasting + couscous and some feta or tinned chickpeas or chicken is easy.

Tinned fish is very good for you plus needs no cooking, goes well with basic salad and nice bread.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Just trying to tackle online shopping now with crappy signal on laptop.

I have such a sweet tooth, grrrr my body is craving chocolate :(

Doesn't chocolate have iron in? I'm sure a little bit won't hurt you .

Jacket potatoes are an excellent suggestion. You can make endless varieties of meals with them -beans/tuna/leftover bolognaise/cheese/anything really. Also, bear in mind DD won't mind odd combinations at 18 months. As long as you have the major elements there (protein/fat/carbs & veg/fruit, plus some calcium at some point). Lots of toddlers will happily eat leftovers cold too.

Tinned sweetcorn is useful, and frozen peas. I often freeze small tupperwares with an individual toddler portion of tomato pasta sauce, bolognase or cheese sauce. These can then be blasted in the microwave and poured over pasta. The pasta could be straight from the fridge leftover from the previous day, and then it magically cools the hot sauce and is ready to serve instantly.

You can poach salmon by filling a pan with boiling water from kettle, chucking in piece of fish (and bay leaf/lemon if you have time, or not), bring back to boil and then turn it off and leave for 10 mins to stand. It's easy to do when you don't have free hands for long.

For snacks, if you can afford them then graze boxes can be great. Very convenient, but not cost efficient in the long term!

For snacks fruit, glass of milk, hummous & breadsticks/veg sticks, cubes of cheese, raisins or other dried fruit (not too often -bad for teeth!), for you handfuls of nuts or seeds are good, plain popcorn, rice cakes, oatcakes, crackers, breadsticks, small sandwiches etc.