https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 13:02:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2848032 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 19:58:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2848032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like we eat the same thing practically everyday.</p> <p>Pasta and meatballs. I’ll either use ground turkey or my grocery’s store pre-seasoned and perfectly round meatballs. I cook it in spaghetti sauce, but barely give LO any of it. Less mess. Side of veggie (peas or tring beans) and side of fruit.</p> <p>Rotisssere chicken or smoked beef sausage, butter noodle pasta or rice pilaf and side of veggies and fruit. Sometimes I’ll make broccoli for myself or just have pre-packages salad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2848022 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:37:56 +0000 brownepiano 2848022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As to the leftovers problem-the other night I just got out all the options and let my kids choose from that. They were so excited and it was the same food they had complained about eating the night before. </p> <p>Another idea- I got a kids cook book out of the library and am having my 4 year old help pick meals for this week. </p> <p>But honestly if I had to feed just myself and kids I'd definitely stick to a formula like I do for lunch: wrap with meat and spinach for me, sandwiches and veggies and dip for them. Another bee said that she'd make a veggie tray and just get that out with dinner. That might be a fun way to encourage a balanced meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847736 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 17:08:04 +0000 jaybirdie 2847736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You might find it a lot easier to cook on nights when you're on your own if you've prepped a bit ahead of time. I also hate spending too much time in the kitchen if it's just me and the kids eating. </p> <p>Here's a couple things that might help:<br /> -wash/cut most of your veggies when you get home from the store. I almost always have bell peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and onions washed, cut and ready to go in my fridge. And I usually have avocados, tomatoes and pre-washed lettuce available too.<br /> -cook extra chicken on a night you're cooking for the whole family (or pick up a rotisserie chicken)<br /> -when you cook brown rice/quinoa, double or triple the batch and freeze in 1-2 cup servings. Then you just have to heat it up. </p> <p>With those ingredients I can pull together tacos/burritos, pasta, a salad with protein and rice, etc. with minimal effort. My kids are equally happy with some leftover chicken, slice of toast with butter and sautéed veggies than if I spent 3 times as long making enchiladas or a chicken pot pie. To keep it interesting I usually have sauces in the freezer too. If I have leftover pesto, pasta sauce, etc. I'll freeze it in a silicone ice cub tray and can pop 1 or 2 out to add some different flavors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847721 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 15:18:56 +0000 Mama Bird 2847721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wacky sandwiches - with cheese and veggies, butter and honey, homemade lunchables... Yogurt or cottage cheese with berries. Hot dogs, because I love them but DH always grumbles that they're not healthy :silly: Or we'll just stick to one dish - soup or main course, as long as it's something the kids like so I don't have to drive myself nuts convincing them to eat it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847687 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:54:12 +0000 agold 2847687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel your pain! Chick fil a is so easy. I have the same situation at my house. I'm home with the kids 3-4 (or more) nights a week. I'm terrible about cooking and I work full time. </p> <p>Tacos. Tacos, and more tacos. </p> <p>I will make so many at a time and wrap them individually in tin foil and put them in the fridge. We are all so time-restricted at my house, that we will eat them cold, on the go, at times. For my 2 year old, I make like a taco-bowl and mix it all together. </p> <p>It's the easiest thing to do. Obviously I do other stuff too, but that is my go-to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847685 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:50:53 +0000 Sams Mom 2847685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: I wish we had a Trader Joe's but we don't :(</p> <p>@jennlin821: I think? I know chicken and noodles freeze because my mom did it, and I imagine others would. I just hadn't ever looked into it or thought of it (I did not plan well enough during pregnancy to have freezer meals ready. ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847674 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:03:17 +0000 Littlebit7 2847674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a Trader Joe’s nearby? They are my go to for easy weeknight dinners.<br /> Frozen: fried rice, sweet potato gnocchi, orange chicken, pizza crusts and pizzas, cauliflower gnocchi, frozen veg<br /> Their filled pastas (fridge case) are good too.<br /> I really enjoy cooking but only if I have the time and no kids around (which is not my life). So I want easy or else I resort to eating bizarre kitchen sink salads every night </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847666 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:33:25 +0000 jennlin821 2847666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sams Mom: do any of those meals freeze well? You could make it, then immediately freeze half. You’ll soon have a freezer stash and you won’t have to cook as much!</p> <p>I usually make a double batch of a recipe (soup/sauce/taco meat) and freeze the extra. Then you have a ready made meal without any prep. Or drive thru! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847663 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:25:12 +0000 Sams Mom 2847663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: when it's all of us, I make chicken &amp; rice casserole, spaghetti or goulash, steaks &amp; potatoes &amp; veggies, tomato cream soup with chicken tortellini or grilled cheese, chili white chicken or traditional red chilli, lasagna, chicken tenders w/ Mac and cheese &amp; veggies, or burritos</p> <p>I think my main problem is quantity. I learned almost all my recipes from my mom portioned for a family of 5 w/ leftovers. I don't mind left overs, I'm usually the only one to eat them really, but it just seems like so much work if it's just for me or for my son to pick at. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847641 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 10:49:58 +0000 foodiebee 2847641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This one-pot chili mac is a versatile recipe. I make changes to mine (meatless, etc.), but it's probably perfect as is for kiddos. <a href="https://damndelicious.net/2014/03/15/one-pot-chili-mac-cheese/" rel="nofollow">https://damndelicious.net/2014/03/15/one-pot-chili-mac-cheese/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847612 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:45:01 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2847612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do all the cooking and I work late 2 nights of the week so DW and DS (and now DS2!) are by themselves. I keep it mainly to heat and eat only. Every meal I make is eaten twice during the week or re-done to use the leftovers. Crock pot beef or pork is one night and then made into quesadillas another. Big pasta dishes reheat well like Mac and cheese, lasagne, baked whatever. Big batches of soup from the instapot are good too. So I would plan two or three of your regular meals to be larger and then 2-3 nights are taken care of. If we don’t have leftovers, I always have a frozen pizza, Kraft dinner, eggs, grilled cheese on hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847604 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:17:16 +0000 Mrs D 2847604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find meal prepping on Sunday (or some day when DH is there and you can afford the time) is a huge saver for me come the weeks when DH travels.</p> <p>I prep roasted veggies, whole roasted chicken, salmon, rice, pasta potatos, etc. You can make a lot quickly out of those components.</p> <p>We keep staples or pasta, pasta sauce, tortillas, tortilla chips, bread and cheeses on hand. </p> <p>In a pinch I can whip up:</p> <p>-Salad w/ diff toppings<br /> -breakfast scramble (kids love breakfast for dinner)<br /> -pasta or pasta bake<br /> -quesadillas</p> <p>Lots of mash up options too. Sometimes I just reheat as is. Sometimes I make it into a new dish. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847584 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 08:08:25 +0000 jennlin821 2847584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you mind eating the same thing for several days in a row? You could make just one or two meals on sunday and eat them for dinner. </p> <p>I guess I would start with what your LO eats, then build your meal around it? Such as sweet potatoes - then add your protein and veggie. Yours is now a stuffed sweet potato and you are eating the same thing as LO. </p> <p>Soups are great, just strain out the broth for your LO, stews might be a little easier.<br /> Sandwiches<br /> Pasta - with sauce or pesto<br /> Sheet pan oven roasted veggies</p> <p>What were you cooking for the three of you? Which of those do the both of you like and you can cook easily?<br /> I would start with what you know and can do and go from there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847582 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 07:57:25 +0000 skinnycow 2847582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband travels for work pretty frequently and the weeks he's gone I try to make as much food in advance as I can. Your son is about the same age as my daughter so I totally understand the struggle of trying to cook with a toddler running around!</p> <p>I typically make a bunch of brown rice, roasted veggies, and a few meats/main dishes on Sunday night before my husband leaves. I just heat up whatever we feel like eating when we get home at night.</p> <p>ETA - if I actually cook my go-to is chicken sausage. I just cook a couple links in the oven and serve it in a bowl with rice and roasted vegetables. Not super exciting but it's healthy and super easy.</p> <p>ETA again - I also make egg roll in bowl pretty frequently because it takes like 10 minutes to make. </p> <p><a href="https://peaceloveandlowcarb.com/pork-egg-roll-in-a-bowl-crack-slaw-paleo-low-carb-whole30/" rel="nofollow">https://peaceloveandlowcarb.com/pork-egg-roll-in-a-bowl-crack-slaw-paleo-low-carb-whole30/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847568 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 05:47:40 +0000 catgirl 2847568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is gone 2-5 nights a week for work. The big thing for me is I try not to cook those nights, we just heat up leftovers. So on a day or morning when DH is home I try to cook 3 or 4 meals for the week and then just cycle through them each night. So just our regular recipes.</p> <p>If I have to cook I typically will do breakfast for dinner, mac and cheese with veggies mixed in, frozen meatballs with pasta - just really easy, quick meals. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847564 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 04:47:17 +0000 Pumuckl 2847564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pancakes for dinner<br /> Pasta w. tomato sauce<br /> Pasta w. just ground parmesan cheese if I am really lazy<br /> Gnocchi w. tomato sauce<br /> Gnocchi w. just ground parmesan cheese if I am really lazy<br /> Pasta Bolognese<br /> Polenta with a sauce of canned tomatos and tuna<br /> Fried Rice<br /> Korean Beef Bowl (damndelicious style)<br /> Sweetpotatoes and Broccoli cooked in the oven (slice everything drizzle in oil and put it in the oven for 15 minutes)<br /> Scambled eggs with hashbrowns<br /> Eggs sunnyside up served on a toast with a slice of deli-ham<br /> Shepard's Pie </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847554 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 23:02:33 +0000 LemonJack 2847554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Crock pot chicken tacos! Chicken breasts, taco seasoning, and salsa. It’s always a hit with our kids.</p> <p>Edited to add that on weekends I like to make and freeze extras of our favorite foods for quick and easy weeknight meals. So, right now I have black bean burgers, a lasagna, a pot pie, and all the pieces for chicken fajitas in our freezer (sliced up chicken, peppers, onions), so I have options to pull from. I just need to remember to get the bigger items out of the freezer a couple days ahead of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847553 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 22:27:43 +0000 jhd 2847553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Breakfast for dinner is my favorite when I don’t know what else to cook! It’s fast, easy, cheap, and there are lots of options to mix and match. I don’t have many great ideas because my 4yo is just starting to come out of a really picky phase, but I’m following to see what others suggest. DH’s work is crazy in September and we have been eating lots of sandwiches! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meals-for-mom-amp-toddler#post-2847547 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 21:44:02 +0000 Sams Mom 2847547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my husband is going on 2nds (5P-3A) for a year. When he was on 3rds I could still cook dinner as usual, and then he would leave for work afterwards... Well now 4 nights a week it's just me and the 2 1/2 year old, and I'm finding myself not cooking at all and picking up fast food. </p> <p>What are your go to meals if it's just you and a little? I can't keep eating out this often, and honestly I'm tired of fast food. </p> <p>*No dietary restriction for either one of us, but no shellfish in the house so my husband doesn't die when he comes home. </p>