Fresh Summer Meal Ideas for Kids Who Get Bored Easily

[BeGoldScroller]

My kids are always hungry in the summer and constantly asking to try something new. I’m running out of ideas that are easy, fun, and not too heavy in the heat. What are your go-to summer meals or snacks for kids that keep things interesting without being too much work?

How old are they? Can you get them cooking?

Depending on their age a children's cook book and take them shopping.

Tapas might be an idea, lots of different things and you can make them in to a meal.

souvlaki and Greek salad
paella
shawarma
raid the fridge nights
Noodle salad

snacks are the same as always, they like to make ice lollies

The one who complains the most is my 6-year-old, the younger one (4) is usually fine with repeats, but the older one is always demanding “something different.

Is “something different” code for fussiness (I don’t want what you’re offering but I don’t know what I want either ) or is she truly adventurous and wants to try meals that she’s never had before?

My teen went through a period of saying that we never have “good food” in but got the message that I can only buy “good food” if he makes a list of what to buy.

When you’re next out and about, pick up Tesco magazine (free) or some cookbooks from the library and get the 6 year old to choose some dishes that look good. My local charity shop had some of the “Good Food” cookbooks with themes like “healthy” “curry” and “quick suppers” that have a photo as well.

Well both can help with planning and the elder one with cooking.

Soups, back of the fridge soup, stem soup (the stems of veg like broccoli and cauliflower). I use my slow cooker, I just chop and throw things in and then when I want to eat I use a stick blender.

Rice dishes

Kedgeree, probably best to make it a mild one, paella - well I'm saying that what I mean is a dish of rice with spices and chicken added. I make a smoked haddock and rice both cooked in a mix of water and orange juice.

Tray bakes of various types.

Stuffed things, peppers, aubergine, courgettes (you can use the left over rice dishes as long as you cool the rice quickly and keep in the fridge).

Home made chicken nuggets / goujons. Buy chicken mini fillets (or what ever boneless chicken is cheapest) a bowl of flour, one of beaten eggs and finally one of breadcrumbs.

Get yourself and the kids on a production line of flour, egg, breadcrumb then either fry or oven bake.

Fishcakes, a mix of fish and mashed potato, formed in to patties and baked - again a 6 year old should be able to mix it, and can certainly help shape them (if you won't mind odd shapes).

Omelettes with various fillings, rolled omelette, soufflé omelette.

Scotch eggs. Don't try to get the slightly runny centre, that's for chefs to do, but hard boiled eggs, sausage meat - again 6 year old can help, then egg and breadcrumbs as above.

There is an Indian dish called egg nargis / nargis kebab it is very similar to a scotch egg but it has spiced lamb instead of the sausage meat.

I’d say it sounds like a mix of both, a bit of fussiness in not wanting what’s already there, but also a genuine curiosity and desire to try something new. It’s that in-between stage where “something different” can mean “I don’t know what I want, but not this” and at the same time “I want to explore new tastes.”