Old Style meal inspiration needed for child visitors

Sweet_Pea_2

Hi everyone,

Can I please pick your brains?
When DD's have friends to tea I usually feed them all before OH and I eat as OH does not get home until 6.15. DD's are 7 and 10 so obviously their friends are similar ages. What I usually do is ask them what they would like for tea and give them a choice in case of fussy eaters. So the choice is usually:-

Chicken nuggets, turkey dinosaurs, fish fingers, pizza, sausages, spag bol, jacket potato or something on toast
because all of these I can grill or microwave fairly quickly and easily, they can all have different things, and there has got to be something on that list to suit the fussiest of eaters. To go with it there is a choice or chips, smiley faces, pasta, mash etc.

BUT - it's not a very O/S or healthy list is it? I don't want their friends parents to think that I have just fed their children on junk. Some of their friends eat really well, unfortunately my own two are terrible eaters. Also having friends round tends to make them a bit excitable so they are even less likely to eat a reasonable amount.

What I would like to do is assemble a few things in the freezer for those occasions when a friend is coming and I end up with hardly any notice. I need something I can get out of the freezer and cook fairly easily so I can keep an eye on what they are all doing at the same time. But, I also want healthy options, homemade and O/S too.
Do you have any ideas?

savingpennies

Don't know if you have a BM but I've made home made pizza base and put a selection of toppings on the table so the kids can make their own pizza. they don't take long in the oven. Or you can buy ready made bases.

Pink.

I'd agree with savingpennies, home made pizza's is a great idea. Have the bases already made and in the freezer and let them choose and arrange their own toppings.....it should entertain them for a little while and they all get to leave out anything that they don't like.

Another idea is soup frozen in individual portions so that you can give them a choice of what soup they'd prefer. There are lots of soup recipes on this thread: Soup Recipes, I'll share mine if you share yours! If you have a breadmaker and can serve home made bread your children's friends will think you are seriously cool.

Pink

comping_cat

You could make your own bread rolls in the BM, and i now make my own beefburgers, using minse, salt and pepper. You can always add onion and anything else you like, just pat them together firmly, and they grill/fry without problems, and taste just like shop bought, but you know whats in them!!!!
Catherine x

Sarahsaver

When dd has friends over its my daughter who's fussy. We tend to have traditional stuff like toad in the hole, bangers and mash or homemade chips, and sometimes we make pizza. it's still done from scratch, just simple stuff though cos with dd's friend here there are 4 kids running around demanding my attention :rolleyes:
Chicken wings are a good bet if you like that kinda thing, I do mine with a cajun marinade, or soy sauce and pepper, and we had some great barbecues in the summer.
And most kids like spaghetti bolognese, lasagne or macaroni cheese. Read Nigella's How to eat if you get time, her chapter in feeding kids is great;)

Dobie

Why not make up a batch of home made burgers & keep in the freezer? You could even make a selection of beef, chicken, turkey & veggie. Most kids love these in a bun (home made?) with or without cheese/salad etc.

foreverskint

I agree with the 'getting the kids involved approach.

I do this with child guests and they seem to really enjoy it. Don't forget that not all children get a chance to cook at home, and love the chance to have a go.

The pizza option is usually the favorite choice. The kitchen usually looks like a bomb has gone off in it, but the look of pleasure on the Childrens faces when they eat their own homemade food is wonderful to see.

I often get comments from other mums regarding the fun the kids have had.

If the kiddies are younger they also enjoy making fairy cakes and the icing and decorating them with sweets etc, for pudding. Encourages them to eat the dinner first.

rainbowkanga

I go for the hm pizzas too when mine have friends round - but also a big favourite and never had problems with is hm meatballs - pork mince, whizzed up breadcrumbs, v finely chopped onions, teaspoon of sage, bound together with egg - walnut sized, freeze raw. Then defrost and cook in slow cooker with v simple tomato sauce. Serve with pasta and grated cheese. For visiting kids I normally serve pasta and meatballs and sauce seperately and have never had it refused!

rainbowkanga

Should have said too that I (very meanly I guess) don't tend to offer choice and always assume that if there was something they really didn't like the mother would say!

Mrsbojangles_2

I do HM pizzas, but use muffins (quicker than making dough, if your pushed for time) as the base, then just put tomatoe sauce, cheese and a variety of toppings for them to help themselves, perhaps serve with some HM jacket wedges, which can be done in the oven for a healthy option. For dessert, ice cream and sprinkles.

HTH

thriftlady_2

I find it's the visiting children who are more fussy than mine.Some are just not used to real food,if I ask their mum's what they like it's 'nuggets,burgers etc'.

The hm junk food route is one I've tried with some success,and the DIY pizza option,but the most successful(esp.with my kids) is the High Tea option.This is where I serve up an old-fashioned tea-type meal.I include a couple of savoury things like sausage rolls and ham sandwiches,some carrot sticks and tomatoes,then some hm cakes,jam tarts,biscuits etc.I enjoy this,as its not what we usually have,it fills my freezer with lunchbox snacks and it gives the visitors a choice.

I have fun making the menu seasonal too.Gingerbread and little sausage and apple tarts in Winter.Scones with cream and strawberries and potted chicken sandwiches in Summer.

Don't forget, some good quality sausages and hm oven chips or mash and frozen peas is a pretty safe bet too.