Dinner when you Just Can’t

[Anonymous]

I call it “DIY” night and everyone does their own thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tell my kids to figure it out themselves. Eat whatever they want that's healthy. By age 6 they could put together something simple. Maybe they needed me to cut something or pour boiling water out.

The thought of 6 year olds making their own dinner is sad to me. Really any kid under like 12. Geez.

My 5 year old does this occasionally. Or makes his own lunch on the weekend. Usually a tortilla with nut butter and toppings like fruit, granola, etc. I don’t find it sad…

NP. The occasional weekend lunch is fine. Dinner, that’s sad. Dinner should be family time. Dinner should be parents taking care of kids. Once in a while, fine. Not regularly. That is sad.

Not PP, but who said this is regularly? No one!

[Anonymous]

The problem I have is that when I need quick and easy, I only have so many ingredients on hand. Yes, salmon is quick but I don’t always have salmon. My quick and easy is rice and beans. Top it with pick de gallo and sour cream. Kids love it and it is minimal effort with ingredients I always have.

[Anonymous]

Lentils and rice. Fry an onion, add lentils, rice, water, salt, simmer 20-30 min. Add dollop of plain yogurt

Eggs. Some members want fried, some scrambled, some omlete. Add some cut veggies on side

Canned of refried beans, some cheese, in a tortilla, grilled in a pan. Is this a quesadilla? A taco? I don’t know but it is good. Raw vegetables

Grilled cheese and tomato/red pepper soup (TJ in a carton)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tell my kids to figure it out themselves. Eat whatever they want that's healthy. By age 6 they could put together something simple. Maybe they needed me to cut something or pour boiling water out.

What heathy meal can a 6 year old make? An apple?

[Anonymous]

Tuna melts on bagels
Omelettes with cheese and tomatoes
Spaghetti with Rao’s four cheese pasta sauce and frozen meatballs
Fried rice
Peanut noodles
Baked chicken breasts with a vegetable
Steak with boiled potatoes and a frozen vegetable
Takeout pizza or subs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spaghetti with a jarred sauce. (Preferably a sauce that I made and canned or froze last summer, but sometimes a grocery store jar does it)

Hamburger patties - with our without bun, depending on what we have around - with sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes

Tuna melts - I'm with you on that one!!

🙄 are they handmade buns also? Lol

NP. Are you really that sensitive about your lack of culinary skills that someone making their own spaghetti sauce occasionally and freezing it threatens you or makes you feel less than? Triggered!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tell my kids to figure it out themselves. Eat whatever they want that's healthy. By age 6 they could put together something simple. Maybe they needed me to cut something or pour boiling water out.

The thought of 6 year olds making their own dinner is sad to me. Really any kid under like 12. Geez.

My 5 year old does this occasionally. Or makes his own lunch on the weekend. Usually a tortilla with nut butter and toppings like fruit, granola, etc. I don’t find it sad…

NP. The occasional weekend lunch is fine. Dinner, that’s sad. Dinner should be family time. Dinner should be parents taking care of kids. Once in a while, fine. Not regularly. That is sad.

DP, but don’t find it sad at all. I think we’d be in a better place as a society if more kids were taught to be capable, contributing humans.

Teaching your kid to cook and eating dinner together is a far cry from telling a 6yo to “figure out” their own dinner. My daughters know how to cook a few things, but I’m helping and involved. At the very least, they know it’s “tonight you are cooking for the family and I’m here if you need help” vs. “figure out/get your own.”

[Anonymous]

I don’t know what’s worse, a six-year-old, having to eat their own apple that they “made” or some of the combos the adults came up with on here!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

I was only half serious. I'm an excellent cook. My comment was about the fact that you asked for simple dinner ideas when you "just can't" and then you're posting this list as a simple meal. I guess I should have said "Give me a break" instead of go to hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you make for dinner when you have no energy and are totally phoning it in? I’ll start:

Open-faced tuna melts, tomato soup from a can

Veggie “chicken” nuggets and oven fries, salad

Refrigerator-section ravioli or tortellini, jarred sauce, salad

Cavatappi with jarred light Alfredo sauce with frozen peas mixed in, asparagus

Make-your-own pizzas, salad

Each of these is a real dinner in my house. Not remotely phoning it in. Seriously, what do you consider a decent meal?

OP here. Fresh but simple:
marinated roast salmon, steamed spinach, rice
Homemade chicken pot pie (weekend)
Homemade chili, soup or stew with cornbread and a salad
Eggplant Parmesan, salad, garlic bread
Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus (weekend)
Lots of things that would be considered “30 minute meals” or Pioneer Woman-level effort

Basically, two fresh/homemade things and maybe one phone-it-in side like Rice a Roni or frozen rolls

Go to hell.

I’d tell you the same, but I think you’re already there if the salt from all that Chef Boyardee is making you this cranky. These are all dead easy meals, and some are indicated as “weekend” cooking.

I was only half serious. I'm an excellent cook. My comment was about the fact that you asked for simple dinner ideas when you "just can't" and then you're posting this list as a simple meal. I guess I should have said "Give me a break" instead of go to hell.

PP with elaborate meals was responding to someone who wanted to know what they made on regular “decent” meals, not the break or phonin meals. Expand the thread.

[Anonymous]

Costco rotisserie chicken, deli cole slaw, and Stouffers frozen mac and cheese.

[Anonymous]

The Halal truck just outside the subway station on my way home has really great Gyros. I got that last night for us when we were all coming late from - sports practices and industry open house event. My first take out for me and the kids in years.