I don't take what the kids like into much consideration when I'm planning our meals, but I can usually guess pretty accurately what they will and will not eat. The following are always sure winners.
1. Nachos. I like Mel's recipe for refried beans. It's easy and tasty and it makes enough for three meals. If I have some ground beef or turkey, I brown a third or a half a pound, then I add several big spoonfuls of refried beans right into the pan, mix it all up and add some taco spices. It works just fine without the ground meat as well. Then I layer the bean mixture, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and tomatoes in a bowl. Sometimes I use individual bowls and sometimes I do it family style. Then we dig in with tortilla chips. The bowl is emptied every time. I serve some carrot and pepper sticks on the side. I also use this mixture for burritos sometimes, but nachos are less messy and they work better for a wheat free diet. This is also the only way my darlings will eat beans without threats being uttered.
2. Salmon (from Aldi and either simply sauteed or baked) and baked sweet potato. Lauren and Andrew love salmon and they ask for it frequently. I wish we could afford fresh salmon and afford to eat it more often, but we do what we can.
3. Baked potatoes. Of course they eat them with plenty of cheese and sour cream and Andrew tries to just eat off the toppings, but I mix them into the potato so he eats a good amount of potato too.
4. Spaghetti. I don't make it very often because I just don't like it that much, but the kids will always eat a plateful. Helpful hint: make life easier for yourself and let your kids eat naked.
5. Big salad. I feel lucky that my kids like salad and as long as there is a variety of ingredients they eat this meal really well.
Other meals that are well received include some obvious ones like hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and meatloaf, which earned me a thumbs up from Lauren the last time I made it. They also like whole chicken as long as they get a "handle." Meals that are not well received include anything with rice (rice and beans, stir fry, chicken and rice), which grace our table at least a couple times a week, and soup.
What are some meals your kids enjoy?
