Dinner Ideas for LO

natalee36 · January 2013

So my DH started a new job as a shop lead for a prominent Oil and Gas Service Company. It is great for us because I'll be able to be a SAHM when #2 arrives.

The downside is since he is in charge of the shop he has to stay late most nights. Which leaves me to handle dinner/bath/bedtime for D on my own. I am running low on energy so I need some ideas for quick and easy meals for LO.

I have mac n cheese and chef boyarde? ravioli on my list already...but I think D is bored with them.

becasmeca · January 2013

How well does your DS eat meat? If well, You could grill some chicken breasts, salmon filets, or ribs in advance and cut them up for dinners with a side.

I think early prep or freezer meals would be your BF since you are low on energy. Can your mom or friends come over and help you?

that said, I would make a beef stew, chicken and dumplings, tuna casserole, pasta salad, meatballs, and homemade chicken nuggets.

The stew, dumplings, and tuna casserole would have a protein, veggie, and starch so you would just need to add a fruit to his tray.

for meatballs, and nuggets you could bake a sweet potato, make mashed potatoes, brown rice, noodles, or french fries which could be made in advance, stored in a ziplock container in the freezer and defrosted when you need to use it.

I make a fruit salad on Sunday nights so I always have a berry salad to add to meals like this.

The plus side to this idea is you could eat these things too.

I have been using this website to gain inspiration

https://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/

Breakfast is always quick and easy too!

CiCi44 · January 2013

Grilled cheese/grilled ham & cheese is one of my favorite go-to's. Quesadillas as well.

My DS really, really like fruit -- so that's a really easy side. I usually dice up whatever we have and give it to him as an appetizer while I cook the grilled cheese.

I have french toast sticks in the freezer that are easy to pop into the oven.

vnstacie · January 2013

O and I were alone a lot last year. I just made a regular meal for us.

Spaghetti

hamburger patties with mashed potatoes and brown gravy

bean and cheese quesadillas with avocado

hot dogs and French fries

french fry casserole (Pinterest)

no peek chicken (chicken & rice)

ravioli with red sauce

Mac & cheese and hot dogs

there is more! Lol

missbrightside10 · January 2013

We do dinner without my H 5 nights a week. I either have him eat what I am eating or I make him something like chicken nuggets with sweet potato fries, grilled cheese, quesadillas, sandwiches, and I buy precooked chicken strips or turkey dogs. I always have frozen veggies on hand and I got a microwave steamer that is a lifesaver. He loves fruit so he usually has bananas, strawberries, grapes, peaches or pears. We do breakfast for dinner a lot too and I'll scramble up eggs and make us toast.

carolyn6609 · January 2013

We do a lot of dinners without my h too. L and I usually eat the same thing. Some of her favorites are -

spaghetti and meatballs (make meatballs on the weekend), Mexican lasagna, tortellini in Alfredo sauce with ham and peas mixed in, beef stroganoff.

If I'm really out of ideas she gets grilled cheese or Annie's Mac and Cheese. Like PPs, she loves all fruit so that's an easy side. I keep a couple of veggie pouches on hand in case I don't have a kid-friendly veggie for dinner (she is picky about some vegetables).

linzica · January 2013

eggs scrambled with veggies and cheese.

grilled cheese.

crock pot meals.

chicken with artichoke hearts.

natalee36 · January 2013

Wow you all have great ideas. D is very picky but I think he'll eat some of these. He loves fruit....hates most meat. But I'll just keep trying. I do wish my mom lived here so she could help...but she's 5 hrs away. I think I'll make some stuff this Sunday when DH is home to freeze for thr week. Thanks a bunch everyone.

septmom11 · January 2013

I am very lucky that K will eat whatever I make for dinner which is awesome since its just the 2 of us! I do have to pack meal for her every day while i work and i would highly recommend freeze ahead meal for your LO.

I portion pasta and meatballs and freeze them, so easy to pop right in microwave. I also make mini meatloaf, chicken pot pie and mac and cheese ( cook in muffin tins and freeze, perfect portion for toddler) If you make a whole batch and freeze you wont have to worry about dinner for a while. I serve with a side of fruit or veggies.

solsburyhill · January 2013

We are alone for a week at a time at least once a month. Plus Augie is quite picky. Some stuff we have:

pizza

ham and cheese sandwiches

spaghetti and meatballs (but he doesn't eat the meatballs) (also, I make big batches so I always have some in the freezer so all I have to do is boil water and heat up sauce/meatballs)

This might not be helpful but Augie and I go out for dinner one night while DH is gone. It gets to be a long week and we just need to get out. Plus he eats SO much better in restaurants for some reason.

natalee36 · January 2013

solsburyhill:

We are alone for a week at a time at least once a month. Plus Augie is quite picky. Some stuff we have:

pizza

ham and cheese sandwiches

spaghetti and meatballs (but he doesn't eat the meatballs) (also, I make big batches so I always have some in the freezer so all I have to do is boil water and heat up sauce/meatballs)

This might not be helpful but Augie and I go out for dinner one night while DH is gone. It gets to be a long week and we just need to get out. Plus he eats SO much better in restaurants for some reason.

Yes D also eats way better in restaurants. Maybe its the entertainment of people watching? lol I will probably do this one night a week as a little break.

bluejetta · January 2013

We often have dinner just us two or on daycare days don't have tons of time especially with N's early bedtime these days. I am big on making one or two things and using leftovers for her early dinners/lunches

Quiche with broccoli or spinach

Quesadillas with veggies

Mac and cheese plain or with broccoli

Baked beans (from a can or from deli prepared)

lasagna (with veggies)

Meatballs in marinara

Rice - we just introduced it from Indian Take out but I hope we can add different rice/sauce to what she eats

Our goal is trying at least 2 new things a week from the meals we have or from prepared food items we buy. I have also been baking pumpkin, banana, zucchini bread once a week or two and use that as a snack or added meal item. Yogurt and fresh fruit round it out.

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