Meal Ideas

[Guest guest]

Although it is only August 1st, I'm already anticipating back to school

time. I am determined to start the year off right on the meal front. My

problem is lack of quick, healthy and practical meal ideas. My 4 year old

has a snack at about 3. Then, I keep a snack bag in the car with things like

granola bars, friut leathers, nuts etc and he is allowed to choose 1 on the

15 minute car ride home. We usually walk in the door around 5. He walks in

ahead of me complaining 'I'm hungry'. I don't even have my coat off before

he is in the fridge. He often ends up having things like cucumber and dip,

hummus and pita, granola and rice milk, etc because he refuses to wait. I

have two problems with this. The first is that we don't eat as a family

(he's done by the time I take my coat off, let alone sit down!) and the

second is that these are not the healthiest choices. I am not overly

concerned with the first problem as we usually have a cup of tea and snack

together before bedtime-7:30. As for the second problem, he does eat a

large, fairly healthy veg lunch ( school lunch is catered) so dinner is not

his main meal but....I'd like a little more variety and something more

healthy and substantial. I'm hoping some of you will have some tips, some

quick recipe ideas, etc. Also, I have been considering a purchase that would

make meal prep more convenient. I'm considering a slow cooker with a timer

(I have a regular one-no timer- I picked up from a garage sale but have had

no luck with it my food always turning out soggy, burnt, still crunchy,

etc.), a food processor to make veg prep more simple, or an Asian style rice

cooker (not the steamer type). I will probably start with only one of these

as my juicer has recently died and also needs to be replaced. Any

suggestions as to which one will be the most useful for a busy family? Any

recipes to accompany these gadgets? I should mention that my son does not

really like veggies, especially cooked ones. He does like potato, kale,

celery, cuke, raw carrots and mushrooms sometimes. He likes chick peas,

lentils, and rice though not beans. A quick stir fry is not the answer as he

would rather go hungry. I live on quick stir fry so perhaps he is tired of

this meal. Any advice would be appreciated including a cook book suggestion.

We are vegetarian and, though not vegan, try to limit our dairy consumption.

I also try to avoid fake meat, especially because my son often eats this at

lunch. Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance!

 

Madeline

 

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