quick meal ideas for my 2.5 year old (and maybe his parents?)

[Anonymous]

I'm running out of ideas for what to feed my son for dinner. Usually he eats at 6pm and then my husband and I eat later.

I usually try to make sure the meal has a protein, a carb, and a veg or a fruit.

What do you feed your 2-4 year old for dinner?

[Anonymous]

Trader Joe's is my lifesaver. I particularly like the frozen rice (brown or jasmine), because I tend to get home right around 6 and want to feed my daughter right away.

Favorite Meals
Rice and Beans - I mix in peas and corn and serve plain yogurt and sliced tomatoes and avacados on the side
Spaghetti with Sauce - I mix spinach into the sauce and serve about three meatballs on the side

[Anonymous]

While we try to give our 3.5yo daughter whatever we eat, I do keep things on hand for a "quick" meal to replace or supplement whatever we are eating. Here are some quick/easy favorites that are easily adapted to whatever you have in the fridge or to likes/dislikes:

- couscous (which cooks in 5 minutes!) or rice, with chick peas, some fish or chicken leftovers, and a frozen vegetable (carrots, peas, green beans, etc.), sometimes cooked with a bit of broth or other seasoning if the protein is not already "flavored"
- Mac & cheese variations: Mini elbow, ABCs, stars or other fun shape (drained), any kind of cheese melted with a bit of margarine and milk, also mixed with a leftover protein or can of tuna and some frozen veggies
- soups - canned or made fresh with whatever vegetables are around
- "chinese" fried rice made with leftover rice, and sauteed veggies and protein (including tofu)
- cream cheese sandwiches with almost anything mashed together with the cheese (smoked salmon, carrots, herbs)
- breakfast for dinner - cheese omlette with veggie and/or protein snuck in, potatoes or bagel, maybe pancakes (again, can always sneak in some fruit or vegtables)
- almost any kind of pasta, with sauce from a jar (and, surprise, suprise, with some vegetables (spinach) and/or protein mixed in
- veggie burgers (protein, vegetable, carb all in one!)

Obviously, the frozen vegetables are a staple in this house. I try to limit other packaged foods (mostly due to sodium, even in the "healthier" options), but use canned tuna a lot, as well as veggie or chicken dogs.

I always like when these requests come out as it is easy to get in a rut and it is always nice to hear (or be reminded) about other easy options...bon appetit!

[Anonymous]

Safeway has great pre-made Pesto (make sure you buy the Safeway brand) which our 2 1/2 year old devours, along with Mom and Dad. Also, have you seen the Jessica Seinfeld cookbook? It's a lifesaver, enables you to have good healthy meals. We've made the "buttered noodles" (has yellow squash mixed in), grilled cheese sandwiches (with sweet potatoes mixed in) and the bolognese sauce (has carrots, celery and sweet potatoes mixed in) all of which were really good--surprisingly so given the odd, but healthy, ingredients.

[Anonymous]

great ideas, keep them coming!