I need meal suggestions!! Update post 11

[Super~Single~Mama]

I'm posting here b/c I have a 17mo, who has become something of a picky eater lately. I try to have a variety of foods available to him throughout the day, but lately he's been throwing hunger related fits and then refusing to eat. I try everything I can think of, and offer him tons of different choices, and he just refuses.

I also don't have tons of time to cook (although I'm home with him right now on T/Th/F) M/W are tough though since I work those days, and then we go play at the track with some friends from 5-6 (this is really fun, DS loves it, I love it - its really important to me to keep this up. We go every day, I always take snacks and plenty of water and he nurses.)

What are some FAST (read: less than 20 min) recipes? Cold recipes are also welcome since its summer and cooking in the summer is no fun where I live. I need toddler friendly foods (he has all his teeth and can chew almost anything - but tough stuff like green beans he has trouble with b/c they are stringy)

Help???

[mamadelbosque]

IDK, what *does* he like? If he likes pizza, you could mix up a bunch of pizza dough (3 cups whole wheat flour, 1 tbsp yeast, 1 cup water - mix together, let rise in 200* oven for 20 minutes), and freeze it, then just pull out a ball in the morning to dethaw and make him a quick pizza (topped it takes like 15-20 minutes to cok @ 425 - I *NEVER* preheat my oven...). Or you could just do snakc trays for dinner (cheese, veggies, fruit, dip of some sort, crackers/chips)... Or pb & j

[Honey693]

Corn on the cob
pbj
homemade mac and cheese (you can freeze this and pop it out when you need it)
noddles, butter, whatever veggies you feel like throwing in
veggie trays (DD will eat an entire tomato and call that dinner)

[Super~Single~Mama]

He doesn't like veggies - unless I make a stew and cook the veggies in the broth - maybe I need a crockpot . It's just so hot in my kitchen that I hate having the stove/oven on during the day.

I like the pizza dough idea - how do you make pizza dough though??? I'm new to cooking so bear with me

He likes beans and cheese, but has gotten tired of it I think. Same with pb&j - now he just likes PB plain (spoonfuls before bedtime is his fave )

He's also not a fan of cheese unless its on something else like pizza. Ugh.

Thanks!! Keep the suggestions coming!!

He also really likes nutrigrain bars (not the best I know, but its food). sometimes he'll eat lamb, he loves fruits - almost all kinds. hmm...I'm trying to think what else he likes...

[AKislandgirl]

hardboiled eggs, mac and cheese, pasta or rice salad, waffles w/ berries on top, chips salsa and guacamole, nachos, grilled cheese with turkey and spinach, smoothies with kale or spinach and fruit...

[Anna's Lovey]

I do nitrate-free hotdogs sometimes,
or canned chicken mixed with mayo,
sliced cucumbers on the side
and whole wheat couscous.

Pasta sauce with ground beef and finely chopped vegetables is quick and easy as well.

Also, quinoa cooks up pretty fast, and I've heard it's a complete protein.

[dividedsky]

how about breakfast foods? like french toast or pancakes (i make it w/half whole wheat flour, add a little flaxseed meal and fruit)?

pasta is always easy and good - boil it with some broccoli, drain, toss w/butter + garlic powder + a little salt/pepper, or with pesto and leftover veggies or meat tossed in...

pizza dough is very easy to make in a breadmaker - look into it - i use mine constantly!! you can top with anything, great quick meal.

quesadillas, i make them all the time. top w/guac or sour cream or whatever he likes.

grilled cheese, you can add things to it to make like a panini too....

[Carhootel]

great suggestions from everyone, I'm totally taking notes. Also - what about having some baked potatoes on hand and then when needed cut them open, throw some frozen veggies on top and some cheese and bake it for 5 minutes to get it to melt. Fresh veggies too or whatever you have - sort of like a baked potato crust for a pizza - big hit around here

[dividedsky]

oh another idea... pizza pita... i always have pita in the freezer. toast it a smidge to warm it up, then top as pizza, or with whatever toppings and whatever cheese you may have and toast it again to melt. my boys love this.

on the same note, pita w/hummus is fast and always a winner. you can even see if he likes the falafel balls from the boxed mix (surprisingly tasty, you can broil it).

dumplings - make spaetzle dough (it has eggs for protein, and is EASY, just mix it up, google it) and just drop it into simmering broth from a spoon. they're done when they rise to the top. my boys LOVE them. i serve them as-is and serve with carrots, chicken, etc from the soup. or use boxed stock and just toss some baby carrots in until they're done. easy easy. you can even sub whole wheat flour, i do.

baked tofu cubes marinated in teriyaki is always a winner too. marinate a bit, bake @ 375deg and toss it a bit as it cooks until it's as done as you like it.

make brown sushi rice and press into molds for easy grabbing, or just roll into balls. yummy with chopped avocado bits mixed in (sounds weird, but actually incredibly tasty).

[lotus.blossom]

Our go to snacky meals are:

cold soba noodles (buckwheat noodles with a sweet/savory sauce)
yogurt with frozen blueberries + cinnamon
cream cheese and jam sammies
whole wheat english muffin pizzas
eggs in a nest (butter bread cut a hole in the middle and fry an egg in it)
crepes with fruit
bagel sammies (cream cheese, tomato slice, lunchmeat)
chicken sausages cut up w/pasta

[Super~Single~Mama]

Update

Thanks everyone for the ideas!!

I figured out the problem. I talked to my ex last night when he was dropping off DS. Turns out, when he feeds DS he gives him baby food still (3rd foods), whereas I haven't been giving baby food since DS was 13-14mo (I know most of you probly did BLW, but we didn't for a variety of reasons). Not only is he still giving him babyfood, but to get him to take bites he puts a Gerber Puff on top of the spoonful. Umm....gross. And I don't buy puff's - way too expensive for not any nutrition.

So, I have to counter that somehow. I tried to convince ex that he shouldn't do that, but I've tried in the past and it doesn't work. Ugh.

[leanbh]

we do quesadillas, hard boiled eggs, ham and cheese rollups, cheese sandwiches, veggies (raw or steamed) and dip (dip has become a super fun thing around here that convinces her to eat sometimes), nitrate free hot dogs, annie's canned pasta, black beans/rice/chicken in a bowl (naked burrito style).

sesame street actually has a cook book out that dd liked a lot of the suggestions from. http://www.amazon.com/Sesame-Street-...7213104&sr=8-1

hth!

[baglady]

My 17 month old DS is currently really into turkey and cream cheese on whole wheat. I make it with one piece of bread like an open faced sandwich and he loves it.

You can also buy some premade frozen ravioli or tortellini which is not so bad ingredient wise. You can boil as much as you want and toss it with butter. That's a hit here too.