need ideas for single-portion frozen meals that can be heated in microwave please?

[Anonymous]

My friend is going through chemo right now and is either sleepy or nauseous at least 3-4 days per week. Her 9 year old son has been living on pbj, easy mac, cereal, etc. for most meals because her husband works full time (and is fairly useless even when home). I volunteered to make up some frozen single-serve meals that her son can pop in the microwave (she doesn't want him to use oven/toaster oven even though she's there, just in case), but now I'm drawing a blank on what to make. Any good ideas? He doesn't have any hates, and a couple of his favorites are tuna w/chopped onion and sausage/mushroom pizza (just an example to show his tastes are a little broader than some 9 year old boys). When mom was diagnosed w/cancer, she'd started changing their diet to eat less highly processed foods, so I'd like to respect that change and give him a full meal that requires very little additional prep or purchase.

thank you!

[Anonymous]

That's a tall order to fill. They'd almost be better off buying frozen RTE meals and get back on the less processed foods bandwagon when mom is closer to back on her feet. Otherwise I would do things like mini lasagna with 4 servings and the kid can eat lasagna for a day or two.

[Anonymous]

I would consider single servings of hearty soups or chili. When I was in grad school and super stressed my parents used to also freeze single servings of pasta/sauce/meatballs and beef stroganoff with noodles. Frozen pasta gets a little mushy when reheated but its still good.

[Anonymous]

OP here, those are great ideas! I know he likes stew, so likely soups/chili, too and I can pack protein and veggies easily in those. And I will look up some of those "hide the veggies" recipes for a pasta sauce for lasagna and other pastas.

I knew the DCUM food forum wouldn't let me down. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Shepard's Pie
Lasagna
Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Hungarian goulash with egg noodles

[Anonymous]

Carrot soup.

[Anonymous]

I batch cook things like chili, mac and cheese, stuffed shells, BBQ chicken legs, soups, veggie burgers, ziti and pizza then freeze individual portions for my kids. Then they can pick what they want, defrost in the microwave, add a veggie on the side and they have a meal.

[Anonymous]

Lasagne, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, chili, veggie burgers, meat or veggie balls, most soups and stews - these can all be frozen in individual portions.

[Anonymous]

Prepare 4 different dishes but enough for a family. Buy plastic containers and portion out.

There’s 20 meals in the freezer.

[Anonymous]

Search muffin tin recipes, eg:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chowhound.com/food-news/91455/muffin-pan-recipes-that-arent-muffins/amp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider single servings of hearty soups or chili. When I was in grad school and super stressed my parents used to also freeze single servings of pasta/sauce/meatballs and beef stroganoff with noodles. Frozen pasta gets a little mushy when reheated but its still good.

I was going to suggest this. If you undercook the pasta (not quite to the point of al dente) it helps a bit. Also single serve casseroles (could do a veg heavy), soups/stews and anything that is saucy all freeze great.

[Anonymous]

OP again, printing this out because these are such great ideas. Thank you! (He's coming over tomorrow, since I've been keeping him while she has treatments, and we're going to have a cooking day.) You all have helped so much.

[Anonymous]

You can also freeze slices of pizza and reheat them. I prefer them reheated in the toaster oven (and I know you said she doesn't want that) but my kids don't mind them in the microwave. Bagels also freeze/toast really well. And, as PPs have said, you can freeze a lot of soups.

On a different note, have you thought about maybe just buying him a bunch of Trader Joe's frozen food packs? They're not too expensive and a lot of variety. I especially like the Fettucine Alfredo and the Indian foods. Oh, the Teriyaki chicken is really good as is the frozen rice. They all heat up nicely in the microwave.

[Anonymous]

Breakfast burritos can be eaten at any time of day. Scrambled egg, cheese, sausage/ bacon, whatever veg he likes. I used to make them for myself in grad school for the week, microwave for 45 seconds and eat on my way to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prepare 4 different dishes but enough for a family. Buy plastic containers and portion out.

There’s 20 meals in the freezer.

Nice!