Slow Cooker meals for a preschooler?

[Anonymous]

Just bought my first slow cooker today after seeing some yummy recipes on here recently . I need some easy and simple meal ideas that even a semi-picky preschooler will eat please! He doesn't much like multiple food items mixed together and will go to great lengths to pick apart foods so each bite only has one item of food (ie when eating chicken noodle soup will eat all items in the soup, but can't eat a noodle and carrot in same bite). Prefer not to use canned items unless absolutely necessary. Appreciate any ideas!!!

[Anonymous]

Great thread topic! I am also new to slow cooking and I have a preschooler so anxious to see what people post. My picky preschooler enjoyed this recipe last week - it is called Salsa Chicken and it has a lot of healthy items disguised in the chicken. The original source is Sparkpeople web site. We found there was no need to add any extra sour cream before serving (but did add sour cream to the slow cooker as called for).

Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 480
Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients
2 pounds (32 ounces) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
1 cup salsa, homemade or purchased
1 cup petite diced canned tomatoes (choose low-sodium)
2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning
1 cup onions, diced fine
1/2 cup celery diced fine
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
3 tablespoons sour cream, reduced fat
Directions

Place the chicken in a slow cooker. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat then layer the vegetables and salsa on top. Pour a half cup water over the mixture, set on low and cook for 6-8 hours. The meat is cooked when it shreds or reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. When ready to serve, break up the chicken with two forks then stir in the sour cream.

[Anonymous]

One or two main ingredient soups, sloppy joes, simple pasta dishes, potato dishes, cheesy dishes.

[Anonymous]

Cooks country on PBS has a great looking brisket recipe. You probably need to register to look up the recipe online. You could also watch cooking shows with him and let him help make stuff. This helps with my kid.

[Anonymous]

Basic slow cooker recipe is some sort of meat, covered with some sort of sauce or soup and cooked for 6 hours. Use your family's favorite meat and sauce.

[Anonymous]

If he will eat soups, definitely try them in the slow cooker. I just made a delicious lentil soup in mine that did not have much else in it (just some carrots & celery) so there wouldn't be much for him to pick apart.
I won't give you my 15-bean soup recipe - it's yummy, but that would be a LOT of sorting for your guy!

[Anonymous]

My son will eat any kind of pot roast (chuck roast / beef short ribs) cooked in the slow cooker-- as PPs said, you cook low-and-slow with a sauce. I layer veggies on the bottom (often carrots and mushrooms), then the meat, season it with salt and pepper, then the "sauce." Sometimes crushed tomatoes with seasoning, sometimes a can of condensed cream of celery or cream of mushroom. Cook 8 hours on low. This is easily separate-able. Then I make a starch on the side.

Meatballs also work well in slow cooker. Prepare as you normally would (ground meat of some sort, breadcrumbs, egg, seasoning), bake on cookie sheet for 45 minutes (or until done), refrigerate until next day. First thing in the morning put in slow cooker with tomato sauce (I make my own using crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, seasoning, etc.) Cook all day on low.