What do you do for dinner?

PrettyInPearls23

I'm finding it next to impossible to cook a dinner/supper for me and DS to enjoy together during the week. I usually only have time to whip something together for him to eat, before he has an all-out meltdown from being hungry. I pick him up from daycare 5:15-5:30 and he's usually eating dinner by 6:00. On a good day, I'll have a bowl of cereal or sandwich after he's in bed. Sometimes I don't have the energy to eat dinner at all.

 

What do you do for meals? I have little to no time after I pick up DS from daycare, because he's always ready for dinner. He has a snack at 3:30 at daycare, so I know he's not famished. I've tried giving him a snack after daycare so I can cook dinner, but then he's not hungry when it's time to eat.

I want to get in the habit of having a "family" dinner each night, but it's so difficult. Any suggestions

achase123

What about the slow cooker?  Or making dinners that you can freeze on the weekend, and then just defrosting them so you both can eat together.  I understand the dilemma for sure, but eating with DS is not what I would consider family time because he normally eats three bites and declares that he's DONE.  We usually eat at my parents and it's just never very relaxing.  I'll get his plate all ready and sit him down.  By the time I have my plate and start eating he thinks he's ready to be excused.  It's frustrating because I can try to make him sit there but he pretty much throws a fit and I end up giving in and letting him get down. 

Can you eat a sandwich or cereal WITH him?  What are you usually making for him and would you eat the same thing yourself (so you both can eat together)?

PrettyInPearls23

Haha...B does the same thing as P -- Eats three bites and says "All done!" It's so frustrating.

That being said, I try to feed him no-fail things like applesauce, ravioli, sandwich, mac & cheese w/ veggies mixed in, grapes, quesadilla, etc. I do make big batches of pasta/sauce/chicken/veggies that I freeze into individual portions to send with him to daycare or use at dinner.   I want to use my crockpot more often, but it doesn't have a timer and with my commute, I'm away from home nearly 10 hours. That could be disasterous, ha! I've tried eating my dinner with DS, but then he wants what I have and when I give him some, he won't touch it. You know how toddlers can be! We have the most success when I eat the same thing as he does, but I don't really want applesauce and a cheese and turkey roll-up every night for dinner.

achase123

PrettyInPearls23:

Haha...B does the same thing as P -- Eats three bites and says "All done!" It's so frustrating.

That being said, I try to feed him no-fail things like applesauce, ravioli, sandwich, mac & cheese w/ veggies mixed in, grapes, quesadilla, etc. I do make big batches of pasta/sauce/chicken/veggies that I freeze into individual portions to send with him to daycare or use at dinner.

 

I want to use my crockpot more often, but it doesn't have a timer and with my commute, I'm away from home nearly 10 hours. That could be disasterous, ha! I've tried eating my dinner with DS, but then he wants what I have and when I give him some, he won't touch it. You know how toddlers can be! We have the most success when I eat the same thing as he does, but I don't really want applesauce and a cheese and turkey roll-up every night for dinner.

Yah, I will make him mac 'n cheese and then later I'll make a really simple salad with just butter lettuce, lemon juice, olive oil, and shredded parmesan.  Of course he wants it and lettuce is definitely not the easiest thing for him to eat.

I hear ya on the crockpot. I have ruined many a dinner in that thing.  I need to get one with a timer because I'm definitely away from it for at least ten hours and that's far too long. 

If I was rich I would get one of those ovens that keeps things refrigerated until a certain time, and then it turns the oven on. So you could feasibly stick dinner in there and it will keep it cold until the appropriate time when it would turn on the oven and cook it.  Would be waiting when you walk in the door!

PrettyInPearls23

achase123:

If I was rich I would get one of those ovens that keeps things refrigerated until a certain time, and then it turns the oven on. So you could feasibly stick dinner in there and it will keep it cold until the appropriate time when it would turn on the oven and cook it.  Would be waiting when you walk in the door!

Whaaat? How have I never heard of such a thing? That would totally go on my non-existant dream kitchen wish list!

DarthNBJenni

I'd make a family sized batch of food on Sundays (chili, beef stew, meatloaf, casseroles, etc) and freeze them in small amounts that the three of us girls would eat. That way, during the week, I'd just pull one out and re-heat it. I always keep frozen veggies on hand - I'm a huge fan of the Alexia Foods brand. They usually take a few minutes to heat up.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

PrettyInPearls23

I'm tempted to invest in a nice crockpot too. I have a cookbook for 5-ingredient crockpot recipes. How easy is that?! They're probably not the healthiest (loaded with sodium, as a lot use canned soups) but it would be ok a few times a week. Especially if I paired it with some frozen veggies.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

achase123

beccaga16:

PrettyInPearls23:

I'm tempted to invest in a nice crockpot too. I have a cookbook for 5-ingredient crockpot recipes. How easy is that?! They're probably not the healthiest (loaded with sodium, as a lot use canned soups) but it would be ok a few times a week. Especially if I paired it with some frozen veggies.

Is it the healthiest? Maybe not but you can make little changes to the recipes or use the low sodium soups. PLUS if you are active and watch portion size it should be fine We can't all find the time to grow our own veggies and hit up the local butcher shop lol

 Plus it is better than fast food.

There's a lot of recipes that don't require the canned soups too.  I don't worry too much about the sodium, etc. but there's just something about cream of chicken and cream of mushroom anything that kind of creep me out.  I found this website though for slow cooker recipes and some are really good and easy.

https://slowandsimple.com/

JCGreene85

I try and "plan" what we'll have for dinner each day Sunday night. This is an example of what I've done recently. 

Monday I picked up a rotisserie chicken and had chicken, veggies, and roasted potatoes, Tuesday we had chicken enchiladas and taco rice. Wednesday would be chicken salad sandwiches. Thursday I was off work so I cooked a pot roast in the oven. Friday I made the left over beef into tacos, and Saturday I made the leftover into BBQ sandwiches. I usually always have sandwich items on hand so I can do a quick rollup or sandwich if I don't have time to cook. Same goes for the essentials like: yogurt, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and grilled cheese. 

Its hard to eat with him every night but I try hard because breakfast usually consists of him sitting in his high chair eating why I run around and get everything together. Some nights be eats at 5:00 and I eat way after.