Swamped at work this week. Any quick meal suggestions for 3 and 6-year olds?

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

McDonalds, Chick-fil-a, Lunchables...

[Anonymous]

Pasta. I'll often serve it with freezer veggies (nuked) and frozen berries (straight out of the bag.) Olive oil & Parmesan or tomato sauce, depending on the kid.

Breakfast for dinner. Cereal, scrambled eggs, etc.

Lunch for dinner. Apple w/ peanut butter, whatever other fruits / veggies you have around and available. Any leftover meat you've got (if they like it.)

Frozen pizza & whatever fruits/veggies are available.

Leftovers.

Rice with butter and salt (we have bags in the freezer that are ready in 5 minutes.) With some edamame and any other fruit/veggie readily available.

[Anonymous]

Scrambled eggs and toast and fruit.

Costco fish sticks.

Mac and Cheese with Broccili.

Veggies burgers (fried up in frying pan) and mashed potatoes (I get the organic dehydrated ones that are super quick to make)

[Anonymous]

Canned soup and salad

Salad and cheese/peanut butter and crackers

Potatoes baked in microwave and eggs

Nachos-chips, beans (meat if you eat it) chopped tomato cheese, avocado/pre-made guacamole (love TJs) and salsa

Sandwiches with whatever is easy, quick and on hand

[Anonymous]

Top pita bread with piazza sauce and mozarella cheese. Microwave or broil until cheese is melted. (I prefer oven and crispy crust, my 4year old prefers soggy microwave crust. Serve with fresh fruit and /or veggie sticks.

Quesadillas. Two tortillas, shredded chicken (rotisserie or pre-cooked), shredded Mexican blend cheese. Put in frying pan with a little oil or no oil for a few minutes. Serve with sides of salsa, guac, sour cream, frozen corn, salad, or whatever your kids like. You can also sneak leftovers vegetables in there if you have them.

[Anonymous]

Pastas:
-Fresh grapes tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, salt and olive oil. No cooking of the sauce. Toss tomatoes, mozz & basil with salt and olive oil and then add cooked pasta.
-Sage and butter (add parmesan cheese if desired)
-Peas and ham cooked in butter and then tossed in cooked pasta
-Broccoli and pasta. Cook the broccoli in the pasta water for the last few minutes. Toss with olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Breakfast for dinner:
- eggs however you like (scrambled & fried are fastest)
-sliced tomatoes
-canadian bacon
-omelette

Frittata with your choice of veggies and cheese

I've had plenty of those weeks! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Delivery or take out. It's just for this week.

[Anonymous]

easy chicken parm is a favorite at my house. I buy the pre-breaded (and cooked) chicken breasts from the refrigerator section and heat them for the 12 minutes it says on the package, slather on some sauce and sprinkle some moz. cheese and put it back in the oven for three or four minutes and bam! Yummy and easy and the chicken is baked, not fried so not bad. Serve with a little pasta and sauce and a veggie or fruit and dinner!

[Anonymous]

grilled cheese or quesadillas - we like them with just cheese on the tortilla, takes like 2-3 minutes

fried/baked/bbq chicken or other 'to go' dinners from the grocery deli

[Anonymous]

My children (3 and 4) love mini-pizzas made with polenta (one kid has issues with wheat, so this works out well). I just buy a tube of polenta (the quinoa polenta is good too and has a little extra protein), slice it into circles, and put it on a baking sheet and stick under the broiler till it crisps a little. Then I take it out, flip it over, and put pizza sauce (we like Muir Glen brand), a little veg, and some cheese on top and stick it back under the broiler. There are never leftovers.

Breakfast for dinner is also a great idea, as are quesadillas.

My kids also like "snacky" dinners: hummus and cut up vegetables and some rice chips, or apples and PB. I'm all about a hot meal, but these get some healthy food in their bellies and don't heat up the kitchen!