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Post by karinms on Aug 15, 2014 23:25:05 GMT
Is anyone on shifts or in a situation where they won't be home on a regular basis til after dinner?
I'm trying to come up with some ideas to feed my fairly picky 15 and 19 yo. They can handle kraft dinner etc on their own, but I would like them to eat a little healthier than that if I am on afternoons for a week.
I might let them get pizza one night, but could use some great ideas, maybe something that works for you in situations like this?
One is a simple eater and quite frankly would be happy with cold chicken or pork chops or chicken fingers etc. The other eats a more varied diet.
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Post by trixiecat on Aug 15, 2014 23:54:46 GMT
Not sure if a crock pot meal is an option. I put beef cubes and golden mushroom soup in a crockpot and cook for 6-8 hours.
Another thing is I have a cookbook where you prepare the chicken/meat/fish...whatever and freeze. For example bread chicken, spray Pam in a foil tray, put chicken in and freeze. When you want your kids to eat it, thaw it and then they can pop it into the oven and cook. You could have them help you on a weekend prepare food like this and freeze.
Spagetti and frozen meatballs are easy to bake.
Rotiserrie chicken. I know I spelled it wrong.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 16, 2014 0:18:12 GMT
Mine can make pasta & rice (rice cooker) and will add whatever protein is available plus raw veggies (usually carrots, red peppers and/or cucumber) if I'm not home. They are funny about what foods belong at each meal and for them Kraft dinner is a lunch choice  There are lots of pasta dishes that are just as easy to prepare as Kraft dinner (freash tortellin is the favorite around here). I would have chicken/pork/beef/fish precooked to it could just be heated up. If your kids are not picky about food mixed together, lasagna and other casserole dishes are great and can be prepared in advance. Breakfast for dinner is also something easy for kids. |
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217 
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Aug 16, 2014 1:41:17 GMT
My kids are 14 and 11. They make pasta and sauce, homemade pizzas, sausage and pierogies, nachos, I always have cooked chicken breast and the 14 yr old will make a big salad with the chicken on top. Ds 11 will take most of the same veggies and make quesadillas or a wrap with the chicken. Use your crockpot, make chili and soups. My advice get a simple cookbook and teach them to cook "real" food for themselves.
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Post by Pahina722 on Aug 16, 2014 1:47:02 GMT
Mine just made himself Velveeta and shells to match up with leftover crowder peas and roast venison. We always try to keep chicken salad, cooked chicken breasts, and salad fixings in the fridge. If you do a couple of casseroles and/or crockpot meals per week, they can add a salad. With the leftovers they will have plenty of options.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Aug 16, 2014 1:50:17 GMT
At 15 and 19 they are quite capable of cooking for you, and they are even capable of going to the grocery store.
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Post by Linda on Aug 16, 2014 2:05:43 GMT
At 15 and 19 they are quite capable of cooking for you, and they are even capable of going to the grocery store. yes- that exactly. My 14 y/o (May birthday) spent the summer cooking one night a week. She's picky so she picked the menu (I had veto power but really didn't use it) - stipulation was that she had to try new recipes/cooking techniques and couldn't cook the same meal twice during the summer...and there had to be protein and veggies in every meal She doesn't like to cook but I think it's a life skill she needs (her big brother loves cooking - he cooks once a week also - and once he graduated high school, he buys the food for that meal as well) Maybe let them take turns planning the menu when you're not home to cook - that way the simple eater can pick pork chops or chicken fingers and the other one can try new things |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 19:10:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2014 2:17:40 GMT
Congratulations!! YOu are on the verge of sending out incompetent adults. We are talking about 19 and 15. not 9 and 5. Your 19 year old is an adult.
The are both past the age of knowing how to read a recipe, how to use a knife, a stove and an oven. If they don't know you need to spend the next few week ends teaching them how.
Menu plan for the week. Let them be responsible for meals on the nights you work late. Proper, cooked, nutritious meals just like mom makes. Unless they are disabled there is no reason for them to not be able to put on a full meal.
I wouldn't have them cook on the same nights though. ONe is the kitchen per night. They are too old to be defaulting to processed microwave food.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Aug 16, 2014 2:17:57 GMT
If they don't already know how to make the following it would be easy enough to teach them how to make: stir fry, pancakes and sausage or bacon, grilled cheese with soup that you already made, kielbasa baked in the oven with beans, hot steak and cheese grinders, baked potatoes with cheese sauce and broccoli, eggs/omlets, hot dogs and hamburgers, meatball grinders, homemade pizza, tacos.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Aug 16, 2014 2:18:46 GMT
If they don't already know how to make the following it would be easy enough to teach them how to make: stir fry, pancakes and sausage or bacon, grilled cheese with soup that you already made, kielbasa baked in the oven with beans, hot steak and cheese grinders, baked potatoes with cheese sauce and broccoli, eggs/omlets, hot dogs and hamburgers, meatball grinders, homemade pizza, tacos.
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,834
Location: NW PA
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Post by Judy26 on Aug 16, 2014 2:28:54 GMT
I agree with planning a menu in advance and having them cook on those days. There are many simple meals and you should be able to come home to a nicely prepared dinner after working all day. Give them a fish and they eat for a day, teach them to fish and they never go hungry.
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Post by mama2three on Aug 16, 2014 3:08:07 GMT
At 15 and 19 they are quite capable of cooking for you, and they are even capable of going to the grocery store. I agree with this. I often get home quite late from work, and we routinely eat late. My teens read recipes, plan meals, make lists of needed ingredients, and cook all kinds of things, sometimes quite elaborate. Of course, then I come home to a kitchen covered with messy pots and pans, but I'm glad they enjoy cooking. My 13 yr old DS is becoming quite the chef and has really enjoyed cooking new dishes this summer. He's looking forward to fall when it's cooler and he can make roasted veggies, lasagna and other baked dishes it's currently too hot to cook.
At 15 and 19, your kids should be able to read and follow recipes, plan meals, shop for ingredients, choose quality produce at the store or farm stand, use knives and other kitchen utensils and appliances, and cook what ever they would like to eat (and make enough for the whole family!- when my DD started cooking, she'd only make enough for herself). If they don't already have these skills, it's time to start working with them and having them help make meals until they learn.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Aug 16, 2014 3:25:06 GMT
Is anyone on shifts or in a situation where they won't be home on a regular basis til after dinner? I'm trying to come up with some ideas to feed my fairly picky 15 and 19 yo. They can handle kraft dinner etc on their own, but I would like them to eat a little healthier than that if I am on afternoons for a week. I might let them get pizza one night, but could use some great ideas, maybe something that works for you in situations like this? One is a simple eater and quite frankly would be happy with cold chicken or pork chops or chicken fingers etc. The other eats a more varied diet. Can your kids do laundry? They should do that too.... |
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oblibby
Full Member
Posts: 211
Location: Bonnie Scotland
Jul 10, 2014 10:30:12 GMT
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Post by oblibby on Aug 16, 2014 6:13:16 GMT
From the ages of about 14 and 11, if my mum was on back shift and my dad was working late or golfing, my sister and I were on our own when it came to making dinner.
It was wonderful - we worked together - I'd cook, she'd wash. Normally we'd squabble constantly but we didn't when we were doing this. In the holidays it was even better as we'd discuss what we fancied and go out and get it if need be (this was in the days before cellphones).
Fast forward 30 years later and my sister and I still love to cook.
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Post by gar on Aug 16, 2014 7:49:18 GMT
karinms - don't take fright at the replies...I see you're a new pea or former lurker...but honestly, they're spot on. I'm guessing that you're saying to yourself that as picky eaters they're not going to end up eating much if it's left to them but it might have the reverse effect! If they're on task to come up with a meal for all of you, not just themselves, you might find they want to impress you and the planning and cooking for themselves should trigger their interest more than having something just put in front of them as usual. Worth a try?
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Post by karinms on Aug 16, 2014 13:11:25 GMT
Great answers and you guys are right. They should be able to do more on their own, especially the 19 yo. The 15 yo is a little trickier as he has a fine motor skills disability but he can also accomplish more than I'm giving him credit for.
gar2, I love you, lol. I was fairly quiet but a 14 yo pea (original number 27?) with over 5000 posts and well used to the tell it like it is peas. This time, they are right on the money!
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oldcrow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,828
Location: Ontario,Canada
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Post by oldcrow on Aug 16, 2014 14:48:05 GMT
Congratulations!! YOu are on the verge of sending out incompetent adults. We are talking about 19 and 15. not 9 and 5. Your 19 year old is an adult. The are both past the age of knowing how to read a recipe, how to use a knife, a stove and an oven. If they don't know you need to spend the next few week ends teaching them how. Menu plan for the week. Let them be responsible for meals on the nights you work late. Proper, cooked, nutritious meals just like mom makes. Unless they are disabled there is no reason for them to not be able to put on a full meal. I wouldn't have them cook on the same nights though. ONe is the kitchen per night. They are too old to be defaulting to processed microwave food. I agree with this. All three of my children could cook a decent meal by the time they were 15. The argument at my house was over who got to cook. |
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,080
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Aug 16, 2014 14:50:48 GMT
I bought a variety if items and the only things my teens ate were the ones that were microwavable.
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Post by angieh1996 on Aug 16, 2014 15:49:02 GMT
My kids are 14 & 16. We sit down and plan a menu and they pick the meals they want to make. They help with the grocery shopping. We prep some stuff and freeze it like sloppy joes, taco meat, lasagna meat sauce. They like to help in the kitchen and I love seeing them learn new things.
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There are lots of pasta dishes that are just as easy to prepare as Kraft dinner (freash tortellin is the favorite around here). I would have chicken/pork/beef/fish precooked to it could just be heated up.
