Meals for 1 + 4 year old

herillusion
herillusion Posts: 62 Member
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
I just finished my first 5k last Saturday and my knees are bothering me so I haven't kept up with the exercising so I haven't lost any weight this week. I am struggling with foods to eat and how to make meals for me and my son. I hate wasting food. Is there any website that helps with meals for small families? My son and I like just about anything. Any help would be helpful.

Replies

  • louloup
    louloup Posts: 87 Member
    Why not make a casserole or soups etc and freeze them in portions. Thats what I do. I also do it with mashed sweet potato etc. It means you can have healthy homemade food in minutes and you could freeze them in child size portions so no waste :)
  • PennStateChick
    PennStateChick Posts: 327 Member
    Everything I made from emilybites.com has been boyfriend and 3 year old approved. Now, I will tell you. Either of them are picky eaters, but they have eaten Mac & Cheese Muffins (3 yr old LOVED them), Bubble Up Enchiladas, Spaghetti Squash, etc.

    Mac & Cheese Muffins - makes 12 muffins - you can eat them 2 or 3 at a time for fairly low calories.
    Bubble Up Enchiladas - makes a 9x12 pan, but 1/6 of it is a serving
    Spaghetti Squash - makes an entire squash, but it really enough for 2 or 3 people if you get the smaller ones.

    All the recipes that I have made from there are fairly manageable sizes. While you will probably have leftovers, it wouldn't be so overwhelming.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I am only 1. When I shop I seperate meats so I can take one out at a time or make a lot so I can have it all week.
    As for pastas. I cook only what I am going to eat and freeze the sauce in 1 serving containers so I don't waste it.
    I freeze breads.
    Shop every week for fresh veggies and fruits. But I only buy what I am going to eat. (No waste)
    If I want something different I will search for healthy recipes online. http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html
    I would not make your 4 year old anything different then you eat. You can teach him from the beginning.
    You can always make recipes with pureed veggies, Mac and cheese with butternut squash or cauliflower, sauces with anything, turkey meatballs or meatloaf with spinach, carrots, onions.Keep him involved with the process, kids love to help in the kitchen. :flowerforyou:
  • herillusion
    herillusion Posts: 62 Member
    Why not make a casserole or soups etc and freeze them in portions. Thats what I do. I also do it with mashed sweet potato etc. It means you can have healthy homemade food in minutes and you could freeze them in child size portions so no waste :)

    I really want to make some to freeze but my freezer/fridge is entirely too small to make food and freeze it. :/ Unfortunely at this time that is.
  • herillusion
    herillusion Posts: 62 Member
    I am only 1. When I shop I seperate meats so I can take one out at a time or make a lot so I can have it all week.
    As for pastas. I cook only what I am going to eat and freeze the sauce in 1 serving containers so I don't waste it.
    I freeze breads.
    Shop every week for fresh veggies and fruits. But I only buy what I am going to eat. (No waste)
    If I want something different I will search for healthy recipes online. http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html
    I would not make your 4 year old anything different then you eat. You can teach him from the beginning.
    You can always make recipes with pureed veggies, Mac and cheese with butternut squash or cauliflower, sauces with anything, turkey meatballs or meatloaf with spinach, carrots, onions.Keep him involved with the process, kids love to help in the kitchen. :flowerforyou:

    What do you store your sauce in? Do you label it? I have limited space in my freezer but I may be able to get some sauce froze to limit the waste of the enire jar of spaghetti sauce.

    My son only eats what I eat... and he prefers vegeables and fruits to meats and pastas. He is the only kid I know who loves spinach, broccoli, salads, peas, carrots, etc.
  • youngmum
    youngmum Posts: 114
    I love that your son loves veges! There are a bunch of things I make with my 3 year old, she especially likes making pita pizzas with lots of veges on top. Another idea I've heard of is "mummy and me" omelettes. I read about it on a blog but I forget the blog's name. The idea is that you use 3 eggs, the mum gets one whole egg + one egg white, and the child gets one whole egg + one egg yolk. Add veges, potatoes, salsa, or whatever else for a quick easy meal.
  • nrvo
    nrvo Posts: 473 Member
    Try www.skinnytaste.com!
  • mmk137
    mmk137 Posts: 833 Member
    Meal plan. the beauty of meal planning is that you may only have to cook 4 days a week because you will eat left overs.

    And if you have lots of left overs, then freeze them.

    Try low fat quiche or slices. my 2 love them.
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I am only 1. When I shop I seperate meats so I can take one out at a time or make a lot so I can have it all week.
    As for pastas. I cook only what I am going to eat and freeze the sauce in 1 serving containers so I don't waste it.
    I freeze breads.
    Shop every week for fresh veggies and fruits. But I only buy what I am going to eat. (No waste)
    If I want something different I will search for healthy recipes online. http://kidshealth.org/kid/recipes/index.html
    I would not make your 4 year old anything different then you eat. You can teach him from the beginning.
    You can always make recipes with pureed veggies, Mac and cheese with butternut squash or cauliflower, sauces with anything, turkey meatballs or meatloaf with spinach, carrots, onions.Keep him involved with the process, kids love to help in the kitchen. :flowerforyou:

    What do you store your sauce in? Do you label it? I have limited space in my freezer but I may be able to get some sauce froze to limit the waste of the enire jar of spaghetti sauce.

    My son only eats what I eat... and he prefers vegeables and fruits to meats and pastas. He is the only kid I know who loves spinach, broccoli, salads, peas, carrots, etc.

    I store it in plastic containers but you can let it cool and put it in plastic freezer bags. I don't make that much at one time so I use it up pretty fast.
  • klbeal
    klbeal Posts: 20 Member
    I am a single mom of a 2 1/2 year old so we end up with a lot of leftovers too, I have started storing EVERYTHING in freezer bags. I portion out brown rice in sandwich baggies, I portion out sauces in sandwich baggies. They take up very little room when they are in baggies and they thaw really quickly. I just lay them flat to freeze then the stack really easily.
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