Meals for working week & 1 year old

determined_new_ms

Hi we are currently looking after our 1yo dgd, and will be for the foreseeable future. I have just returned to working full time and do not get back until 6pm. DGD with a CM during the day.

However I am struggling and need ideas for quick/easy but nutritious meals. Even if I put dinner on straight away it's not soon enough for dgd. She's starving by the time dinner is made and goes to bed at 7.30 (by about 7.15 she's tired and cranky so keeping her up later isn't really an option).

Can people give me some ideas? I have thought about batch cooking at the weekend, and will start to do 1 meal at the weekend in the SC & then freeze for meals during the week, but this will take time to build up a collection.

Thank you!

good_advice

Good morning
When i was working i use to cook a Sunday lunch and Mondays dinner all in one go. Casserole, cottage pie, lasagne or something.

Things that can go in he oven as soon as you come in are ready in half an hour. fish and chips. Sausages for hotdogs.

Cold ham and poached egg.

I am surprised the CH does not feed the children?
I worked 15 years as a CM and often did a cooked lunch and then little tea at 4pm. The children did not need much when they went home.

Good wishes

Nicki

One weekday meal in slow cooker (do double portions and you then have one microwave meal the next week too)
One quick marinated in a bag meal (ie chopped meat left in a marinade in a plastic bag all day) then stir fry quickly with veg and noodles or rice when you get in. Vary the meats and the marinades for variety
One quick and easy simple meal - omelette, soup and roll, fish fingers etc
Pre bake potatoes one night, then warm up with a selection of toppings the next evening and serve with salad
Cold meals sometimes in hot weather
Fajitas are quick and easy to put together as are burgers and hot dogs

Frozen veg are quicker than preparing and cooking fresh and have more nutrients.

You could also serve some veg sticks with hummus or taramasalata to keep her going while you cook a meal which takes a bit longer

Nicki

Just registered your granddaughter is only 1. Another option is to feed her first and then cook after she goes to bed for you and your husband. I used to do that with my little ones as my husband got home late. They had our meal heated up the night after we had eaten and this worked well with things like cottage pie, pasta dishes, chillis, stews etc

SailorSam

I'm having lots of salads with the weather being nice. So for a rice salad i'll cook that first thing in the morning and leave in the fridge with a handful of assorted frozen veg and a boiled egg. If i'm having a stir-fry at night do exactly the same. Then get cooked chicken out of the freezer or fish, whatever you're having. Same with pasta, most things can be just thrown in of an evening if they've been in the fridge thawing all day. Things like Curries & Casseroles i'll get 8/10 portions in the slowcooker and they're ready to come out of the freezer.

skader

I would follow both Nicki and good advice's recommendations. I went back to work when my DD was 6 months old, and with DH working long hours I was the one doing the cooking etc once I had collected my DD from nursery.
I do all of the following as suits me time wise and freezer space wise:

- batch cook and freeze for quick reheats/bake in oven
- batch cook building blocks for freezer for example mince to be used in shepherds pie, lasagne etc
- slow cooker meals
- quick meals, sausages, chips, beans, etc
- toasted sandwiches, paninis, fajitas etc
- cook the day before as was said already, for example cook Monday nights meal on Sunday
- feed my DD the night before's meal as was said by Nicki, whilst our dinner was cooking

Good luck, it is do-able, just need to be very organised. I used to meal plan on Sunday so it's less hassle on the day trying to decide what to cook

Good luck

WantAnOrange

I am a CM and would be happy to do a cooked lunch for a 1 year old so they could have a sandwich or something for tea when they got home if that made life easier. It may be worth discussing with your CM what she can offer?

Otherwise, I would probably see if I could do some batch cooking one weekend and freeze as many meals as possible ahead for reheating. You could do massive batches of soup, stews, casseroles, curry, chilli, savoury mince, bolognaise, fish pie etc

In the week you could jacket potato with tuna and cucumber, or baked beans and cheese. DD likes toast with a poached egg, beans and grated cheese. We also like 'bits and bobs' dinner; some bread (or wraps or pitta), some cheese, olives and chopped fruit and veg sticks. Any website dedicated to Baby led weaning can be good for easy finger food recipes usually freezable, things like meatballs or little scones and muffins. It doesn't have to be a hot cooked meal.

JethroUK

Dnm you eat - just give her some of that - menu sorted!

Dragon_on_roller_skates

Baked potatoes can be done in the slow cooker; just smother them in oil and then wrap in foil. They take about 8 or 9 hours to do, but happily sit for well over 10. Then top with something quick and easy.

Or prep the night before - things like veggies to steam with some steamed fish. I think, at that age, I could get two or three portions out of a salmon fillet. Then it's just five minutes or so from walking in the door to dinner being served.

determined_new_ms

JethroUK wrote: »

Dnm you eat - just give her some of that - menu sorted!

Hi Jethro it's not what to feed her, she eats almost every meal I give her/what we have. The issue is being organised so she doesn't have to wait when we get in. Ideally we want our meals to be at 6 10 mins after I get in or she gets hungry and irritable which isn't the most conducive for cooking! Oh gets in with dgd about 5.30, so can put something already prepared in the oven to heat so it's ready by the time I get in/put rice/pasta on


Lots of great ideas here, thank you. Am doing a freezer/cupboard inventory & then meal plan at the moment

So far have planned

M: SC chicken curry
T: chicken & cheese toasties (we are going to fill in paperwork for CM Tuesday evening so want something very quick & easy!)
W: SC lamb should, potatoes & veg

It's a working progress! Also will do some days LO dinner for CM to heat at lunch time, so we can do sandwiches, furit & yogurt, scrambled egg on toast (a favourite!) omlette etc with a pud. Some days LO meal for dgd reheated & we will eat when she goes to bed

Thank you for all suggestions & ideas :A