I'm solo parenting today/tonight (every Wednesday and Friday actually), so on the days I am solo dinner is usually super simple. I definitely don't go all out on meals when DH is gone. It's usually waffles, cereal and milk, mac n cheese...I'm so exhausted by the end of the day that as long as my kids are fed, I consider it a win.
What do solo parenting meals look like? Are they the same as every night, or super easy?
coconut / 8483 posts
Easy! DH is going to be working a late shift for a few weeks in February, so I will be on my own for dinner nightly. Not sure what I will make! Or what DH will eat while at work? Ugh. Lol
pomegranate / 3212 posts
I'm solo tonight and I'm thinking spaghetti and meatballs. Veggies don't exist tonight.
pineapple / 12802 posts
Kraft Dinner? lol
Actually, sometimes I do one pot stuff, like ground beef (browned), noodles, jar of tomato sauce, water, cook for 20.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I'm solo M-F so I just cook normal meals. I cook the same meal for me and the kids. Unfortunately, we have a lot of leftovers since the kids can only eat so much. I end up tossing more food than I would like since I get bored of eating it. I never seem to eat food that I've frozen so I don't do that anymore. Working on cooking smaller portions.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Super easy stuff if we're staying in. If we're eating out, then there's more options. 
grapefruit / 4903 posts
It's just the same food as usual dinners, though I'm more likely to make double some nights and use from the freezer solo nights. DH is never home in time to affect my cooking, even on the couple nights he's home to see them before bed.
pear / 1648 posts
I solo parent 1-3 nights a week most weeks with 1 LO. We almost always do leftovers, although last night I stopped for pad thai 
DD and I split it - she loves shrimp. I'm too exhausted if I work all day, cook, AND solo parent.
apricot / 287 posts
I'm solo parenting for a couple months so I usually do a crockpot meal/quick meal about 2x a week and we eat those meals for lunch and dinner until they're gone then repeat.
Quesadillas, Annie's Mac&cheese (usually with broccoli mixed in), frozen pizza, and one pot spaghetti are also favs. I keep bags of veggies in the freezer for sides. My mom used to always do breakfast for dinner when my dad had night meetings, but I'm not very good at pancakes or eggs.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
Kraft dinner, chicken nuggets & sweet potato fries, grilled cheese, PB sandwiches, scrambled eggs, ham&cheese wraps ... Aka EASY.
I've been solo parenting a lot more lately because of DHs work sched and it sucks.
nectarine / 2521 posts
Tonight it's left over chicken with microwaved rice and peas. Tomorrow is quesadillas, DH is gone 4-5 days a week so I cook when he's home and LO and I live off the leftovers while he's gone.
pineapple / 12802 posts
@Charm54: mmmm. I love grilled cheese. It's such a staple in our house!
honeydew / 7917 posts
Every night DH comes home when dinner is already on the table. On nights when DH is on a business trip I cook a normal meal - protein, carb with a few veggie sides. Easy meals don't exist for my kids with their food allergies.
persimmon / 1467 posts
Tonight DS is eating the rest of his smoothie from lunch. Usually no matter who's home supper is the same for everyone. If he doesn't like it, too bad. At lunch I want some down time so I try to give him lunches he likes.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
I cook extra when DH is home so we can eat leftovers when I'm solo. Otherwise it might be simple like nuggets.
pomegranate / 3375 posts
We meal plan, so if I'm alone, I've usually prepped food or at least have a plan. Our food is always pretty simple: lots of rice bowls, etc. ... Today I made LO a freezer waffle + banana ... A chik'n patty + red beans + strawberries for her lunch ... Chickpea salad (like tuna salad) for my lunch ... And I'm grabbing chipotle for dinner.
hostess / cantaloupe / 6486 posts
The same as every night. My meals are generally meat, veggie, veggie so it's not like I'm killing myself.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Usually leftovers. Or boxed Mac n cheese, chicken sausage, veggie....frozen nuggets....frozen pizza....
grape / 80 posts
A fried rice packed with veggies, and this is also great if you only have egg for protein - otherwise I use left over/already prepared meat.
A pasta salad, similar idea. Lots of chopped up veggies, and a protein - using pesto sauce is our fave.
A bean or chicken quesadilla. I often use a rotisserie chicken through out the week on things like this.
Soup and sandwiches. Canned soup and a ham and cheese work fine'
French toast.
All these meals take minutes and are family favourites. I solo parent a lot.
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
My son pretty much eats the same regardless of whether we are solo or not. I always have fruit and some kind of easy meat like meatballs or sausage and rice on hand and if I can remember to have some cooked carrots or veggie pancakes in the freezer that's dinner for him. He doesn't like meat that isn't minced up (ground, sausage, meatballs, etc) so things like chicken are lost on him and he hates messy foods that cling to his hands (and he's self eats with his hands) so his food has to be "neat." He likes seaweed so I keep that around and wrap him rice in it and that helps it not stick to his hand. None of his meals take me more than
5 mins to make aside from when I'm batch cooking his meatballs or whatever on the weekends.
DH and I tend to eat foods that are different from him so when I'm solo it's MY meals that suffer. Usually I'll make a sandwich or something after DS goes to bed!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I solo every Tuesday and Thursday nights. We try to plan it so there are leftovers. Otherwise I have easy freezer meals. Tuesday was homemade ravioli I froze then I made some peas & carrots. Thursday was fish ball noodle soup with homemade beef stock.
nectarine / 2243 posts
I solo parent m-f normally. right now DH is in South America for work for the foreseeable future so I'm flying totally solo. Send help. Ugh. Fresh direct is my friend (grocery delivery with amazing premade meals and meal kits). Or simple pastas, fish, and I'm not above breakfast for dinner. I looooove to cook. But not when I'm exhausted and have no prep time
We do delivery every Friday night.
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