Turning your fussy little eater into a happy little eater!

A week’s worth of meals

Meals for the whole family
I very rarely cook meals specifically for my children, not to be smug (!), but because I don’t want to be a short-order chef! I choose meals where there are components which everyone can enjoy. This immediately takes the pressure off the little ones to try everything on their plate as this is not the goal here. The goal is about creating happy mealtimes where children feel they can try new food at their own pace, which then creates healthier associations with mealtimes.

Type of meals
Some of these meals seem so basic I am slightly embarrassed to post them (!), but I think most people want just some sort of direction when they go to the supermarket rather than coming home with lots of food but nothing specific to actually make! (or is it just me?!) Or even wanting to cook a simple dish such as pasta sauce, but not knowing which recipe actually tastes good as there is no time for trial and error! It is now lockdown 3.0 in the UK with schools closed so I am planning on having our mail meal in the day then doing a lighter tea in the evening. You will see I have made suggestions for both lunch and dinner each day on the recipes.

Cooking in manageable stages
I often do my cooking in stages and prepare part of the recipe the day before/earlier in the day so it’s less work, for example, shredding the lettuce and grating the cheese for the Caesar salad or rolling and preraring the meatballs ready for frying later in the day. Hopefully there’ll be some leftover chicken on Monday to double as a sandwich in the week or some soup for another quick meal. I stick my meal plan on the fridge door and actually write in when exactly I am doing any meal prep so it can be a quick 10 minute thing in the kitchen, then the next day is much more manageable and less busy in my head!

How to serve to the kids
There is also advice at the bottom of each recipe on how to get your kids to eat the dish too! Advice that really works I might add.

Posts in Veggie

Bubble and Squeak

Bubble and Squeak

One of the things lockdown has taught me is to make the most of leftovers

VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 3, 2023Comment

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Carrot and Coriander Soup

Soup has always seemed so elusive to me! Something so tasty that I thought involved a lot more technicality

VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 3, 2023

Pasta Pomodoro

Pasta Pomodoro

You can’t beat the taste of fresh pasta sauce! This sauce is so simple, yet so

VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 3, 2023

Pesto Pasta With Salmon

Pesto Pasta With Salmon

This might be an obvious meal but I’d completely forgotten about pesto and not served in about 5 years!

Fish, VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 2, 2023

DIY Pizza!

DIY Pizza!

A fun way to get the kids in the kitchen making their own pizza!

VeggieGrace WillisMarch 16, 2021

Jacky P's!

Jacky P's!

In case anyone else has forgotten about this beauty of a vegetable (I had), it’s my ‘go-to’ for a quick and easy

VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 22, 2021

Tomato Soup

Tomato Soup

I sound silly saying this but soup has always seemed so elusive to me. Something so tasty, but

Week 3, VeggieGrace WillisFebruary 6, 2021

Pea Risotto with Herby Salmon

Pea Risotto with Herby Salmon

I hadn’t made risotto till my twins were born and this recipe by River Cottage Baby & Toddler Book makes it so easy.

Week 3, Veggie, FishGrace WillisFebruary 6, 2021

Pizza & Shaker Salad!

Pizza & Shaker Salad!

The shaker salad is a fun way to make salad more interactive for the whole family

Week 2, VeggieGrace WillisJanuary 31, 2021

Best Cheese On Toast

Best Cheese On Toast

I’m not sure if your child is having hot dinners at school or nursery now, but even if not

VeggieGrace WillisApril 13, 2020