Ideas for quick midweek meals for young family?

[musicalmama]

Going back to work full time and dinner time is a struggle as it is on Mat leave. 2 young kids. What are your quick family meals for through the week? Hidden veg or freezable would be a bonus!

PS one child only eats mash potatoes, breads and pastas carb wise!

Thanks!

Pitta pizzas recipes.sainsburys.co.uk/recipes/main-courses/fun-pitta-pizzas
Tuna burgers www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5863/tuna-sweetcorn-burgers
Falafel burgers www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5605/falafel-burgers
Hidden veg macaroni cheese (quick version) www.myfussyeater.com/one-pot-mac-cheese-with-hidden-veg/
Will they eat noodles? Stir fries are quick.

Mashing steamed cauliflower / butter beans / white corn into mash potato is a really good way of hiding veg. Used to trick my neice with it all the time.

Also cheese sauce pasta with tinned sweetcorn (green giant tends to be softer) tends to be popular with all the kids I know. You could use white corn instead and mash it into the sauce if needed.

Lasagna is a good way of hiding veg. I usually just add a whole heap of random veg to the tomato sauce, puree it, then add it to the meat. Children are the none the wiser.

Thanks for the ideas. Sadly no he doesn't eat noodles or rice so stir fry's are kind of out!

Cod fillets or salmon are so quick to cook and go well with mashed potato. If you haven’t tried Tesco’s frozen mash yet get some as it is good and very quick.

Any tomato sauce can hide vegetables - just blend altogther and use for meatballs, spag bol, shepherds pie etc.

Pesto pasta with the ready cooked chicken you can buy (can use any leftovers for your lunch the next day) or ready cooked salmon.

We do a ‘Make your own subway’ night with meatballs in tomato and hidden veg sauce (slow Cooker job) ham/cheese/salad on the table to construct yourself.

Chicken supreme - can serve with jacket potato for your rice refuser

Tacos! Cook the mince with very thinly diced peppers, paprika and garlic/onion powders. If the dc are Lego movie fans this will Go down well on a Tuesday!

Mash potatoes and beans is my dds fave. You can peel and chop the spuds the night before and leave them in a bit of water. Then you just have to turn them on when you get home. Dd also likes pizza made from tortilla wrap. I put some garlic and tomato purée on add sweet corn and peppers and cheese and stick under the grill for a few minutes. Then I roll them up.

Boiled eggs & toast
Pizza
Beans on toast
Pasta with sauce & cheese
Fishfinger in a roll
Jacket potato

Cheese toasties
Pasta and sauce
Jacket and tuna
Chicken salad wraps
Picnic tea - ham cheese salad new potatoes
Fish finger sandwiches
Pasties
Hotdogs
Mini gammon steaks and veg
Omelette

Throw in apple pie or bananas and custard

I don't do much proper cooking during the week so it's usually:

Beans (with or without sausages) or spaghetti hoops on toast

Fishfingers, crispy potatoes and veg

Jacket spud with cheese, tuna or beans

Spaghetti bolognese (either from a tin or leftovers from the freezer)

Fish pie with peas or sweetcorn (usually from the freezer)

Pizza

Pasta & (shop bought) sauce

Something from the slow cooker e.g. chilli & tortilla chips, curry & naan, sausage casserole, stew etc

Pasta pesto peas and sweet corn
Scrambled egg on toast
Breaded chicken, wedges, broccoli and carrots
Mini pizzas and salad

We often have chopped raw veg or a bowl or cherry tomatoes put as for some reason pirs will nibble on those when they wont eat cooked!