Please help with meal suggestions

Skint_yet_Again

Hi
I cook for my DS age 21 who works full time changing shift pattern every 2 days for 6 days a week & he then does voluntary work on 2 of the nights on his 4 "days off", plus studying for a new job.

I work part time so I volunteered to batch cook for him as he doesn't have a lot of free time to cook and I feel this is a good way to support him. He pays for his own food and I try to get him good value foods and shop at aldi using the super 6 and any cheap veg. .

He doesn't like spag bol sauce or eggs.
He doesn't like "casserole" type meals with gravy.
Most meals are scratch cooked but there are a few ready made sauces he will use (black bean / piri-piri)
I've tried other fish meals but he doesn't like the smell or taste when warmed up in the microwave.
Blimey when I write it all out he seems a really fussy eater :rotfl:

He eats 200g of meat per meal (weightlifter) and lunches/dinners are with mainly rice or sweet potato for carbs but will eat wraps too and as much veg / salad as I serve up
Breakfasts (no carbs no eggs no yoghurt no fruit no cereal :eek: )
Sausage, bacon & spinach in cheese sauce (cream & cheese)
Sausage, bacon & mozzarella in tomato sauce (passata)
Chicken, bacon & mozzarella in tomato sauce (passata)
I have tried pork mince & turkey mince breakfast meals but he doesn't like the taste/texture. He says he's happy with the 3 breakfast meals.

However he has asked for something different for lunch/dinner and this is where I need some inspiration ! I have listed the regular meals I cook and if anyone can suggest others I would be really grateful. Most meals have to be able to be frozen/defrosted & warmed up in the microwave. I have looked at lots of recipes both online and on MSE but I seem to have become food blind.

Lunches / Dinners - need 14 a week.
Mince
Chilli
meatballs
Chilli shepherds pie - sweet potato topping
Home made burgers

Cubed beef
beef curry
beef & butternut squash chilli

Pork
Pulled pork
Hot & spicy pork steaks

Chicken
Piri-Piri Chicken
Chicken curry
Tandoori chicken (hm with yoghurt & spices from oriental store)
Chicken and peppers in black bean sauce
Cajun chicken
Chicken fajhitas
Chicken enchiladas
Chicken & broccoli pasta bake (cheese sauce)
Chicken stir fry
Roast chicken dinner with gravy - this is usually when he's home for dinner and the only time he will eat gravy "on the side" he doesn't like meals cooked in gravy (so no stew / beef in ale or casseroles)

Tuna & sweetcorn cold pasta "salad" with mayo - he doesn't like warm tuna

Frying steak strips with soy garlic ginger chilli & honey stir fry

Any meal suggestions (as cheap & cheerful as possible) would be gratefully received.

Prinzessilein

Just a few thoughts....

Protein doesn't HAVE to be animal protein....you could mix things up a bit with a few high protein veggie meals....

3 bean chilli
lentil curry
quorn - can be used instead of any mince, or get the 'chunks' for a curry.

I am very fond of Auflauf (similar to a Spanish Omelette or Frittata) - basically you get to use up all your leftovers (very MSE!) ...if you have a bit of sweet potato or pasta left throw into a bowl (cut up the sweet potato into chunks)...add some cut up leftovers of meat...lots and lots of leftover veg...mix it all up...season a bot...add a couple of beaten eggs (plus a little milk of liked)...pop into an oven prood dish and bake until the eggs are set (or cook in a frying pan if you prefer)...this is equally very good eaten hot or cold if cut into slices and taken as a packed lunch (adding cheese will up the protein too)

Toasties?
Peanut butter and bacon
Cheese and ham
Curried mince/quorn (think poor man's samosa!)

Chicken/Fish in a 'bag'
Chicken or fish (try a 'meaty' fish like salmon or fresh tuna (VERY different to tinned!)) with veggies wrapped up in a paper parcel and oven cooked.

Thick chunky 'meaty' soups...thick pea and ham....lentil and sausage...cabbage with mini meatballs....all good for packed lunches in a wide-rimmed flask

helcat26

Cream based sauce?
eg.
Chicken in a creamy tarragon sauce
Chicken and mushroom pasta
Chicken and ham pie


Mustard?
Pork chops in cider and mustard sauce


Thai curry- can coconut milk, thai paste (spoonful) chopped potatoes or butternut squash, chicken, spring onions



Sausage casserole but spicy with a tomato based sauce and peppers- add a good spoonful spicy chutney

Pollycat

helcat26 wrote: »

Sausage casserole but spicy with a tomato based sauce and peppers- add a good spoonful spicy chutney

I'd second this (although I'm not sure how well sausages reheat in the microwave) but add mushrooms & a range of beans (red kidney, baked, cannelloni, borlotti). I serve ours with mashed potato (that you can also freeze & reheat in the microwave) or add sliced new potatoes to make it a one-pot dish.

Ring the changes with shepherds pie by using pork or turkey/chicken. I put chopped tomatoes, chillies & mushrooms in mine.
You can also do different toppings. I add mashed swede, carrot, parsnips, cabbage or cauli to potatoes - easy to hit your 5-a-day.

Ditto burgers. Lamb with mint (you could do these as kebabs), pork with grated apple etc.

PS - well done to your son on his work ethic.

ETA: sorry, just read he doesn't like pork/turkey mince.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks for some great suggestions.


I also found a recipe today for orange chicken - strips of chicken with honey and a few tablespoons of orange juice. Sounds too simple but I will be giving that a try too.


I think I've just got stuck in a rut with cooking and sometimes batch cooking is less enjoyable when you are trying to make 14 meals for the week. I try to do it all in one day so the oven is only on once and filled to capacity.


I would like to find more recipes for the slow cooker so I can spread the cooking through the week. He likes pulled pork, and I've done pulled gammon, in the SC so will look for other recipes without gravy.

Slowly57

sweet and sour sauce - add chicken
sweet and sour sauce - over pork chop or loin
instead of chicken - turkey
tinned salmon or tuna
venison sausage
houmous (protein in chickpeas)
lentils (protein)
kebabs (skewers threaded with meat + veg)
minced chicken, turkey, pork, steak (meatballs/burgers/patties)
meatloaf http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/meatloaf_12471