From the article: Dinner Ideas for Those Stuck in a Rut
Toddler are notoriously picky eaters sometimes and it can seem like you're eating the same thing night after night. How do you spice things up and move beyond the pizza / macaroni / chicken finger rotation? Share your meal and recipe ideas with other parents in the same boat.
Trick for Picky Eaters
- My son is VERY picky. We have to find clever ways to get him to eat anything besides bread, crackers or hot dogs. One thing we do is chicken satay, which we call "chicken lollipops." He loves them and will eat as many as we put in front of him. I haven't tried this with beef, pork or shrimp, but I'm sure it would work. (Now if I added a veggie in there... maybe not.)
- —JCchef
Beef Stroganoff
- Crockpot Beef Stroganoff -- You need 1-2 lbs tender beef (nice roast) cubed, 3-4 beef bullion cubes, 4 oz sour cream, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 package egg noodles (No Yolks are great). Then put cubed beef into crockpot, pour soups over beef, add bullion cubes and stir a tinge. Cook on low all day, (I turn it up to high when I get home.) Cook egg noodles per package directions and just before serving add sour cream to the crockpot mix. Serve over the cooked noodles. This is REALLY good, easy Stroganoff.
- —Guest shal
Hide Their Veggies
- My 1-year-old and 3-year-old love spaghetti. To my mince I add grated carrot, zucchini, finely-diced capsicum and onion as well as fresh ripe cherry tomatoes. Let it all simmer in some tomato sauce until the veggies are soft add add some grated cheese to the top. Whole grain pasta is a great alternative too!!
- —Guest Cath
Good food choices for dinner
- Chicken, steak, lamb, macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, salad, mashed potatoes, crepes with ham and cheese, spaghetti with or without meatballs, salmon, trout, shrimp, tuna.
- —Guest Amely elle
Chicken Pot Pie
- I make this for my family...everyone loves it. I start out by cubing up some boneless/skinless chicken...cook it. While that is cooking, I am also making mashed potatoes. Once the chicken is brown, you will need to mix it with cream of chicken soup and some chicken broth. I use frozen California veggies that I mix in as well. You will want to put the mashed potatoes on the bottom of a baking dish, top with your chicken mixture then top with crescent rolls (flat...not rolled up). Stick in the oven for about 20 minutes.
- —Guest jassifli
My ace in the hole for a dinner rut
- Meatball Sub Casserole - It was worth the effort. 20 meatballs (frozen, heated in microwave 5 min.) 1-1 lb. loaf Italian bread in 1" slices, 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 1/2 C. mayo, 1 t. Italian seasoning 1/4 t. pepper 2 C. shredded mozzarella, 1-28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce, 1 C. water, 2 minced garlic cloves. Heat oven to 350. In a 13x9 pan place a single layer of bread. Mix cream cheese, mayo and seasonings and spread on bread. Sprinkle w/ 1/2 cup mozzarella. Mix sauce, water, garlic and meatballs together in a bowl and pour over bread in baking pan. Top with the rest of the mozzarella and bake for 30 minutes or until everything is heated and cheese is melted.
- —Guest Jessie
Pork Steak and Noodles
- This is a very inexpensive dinner and my kids always ask for seconds. Cube 1-2 lbs. of pork steak, brown in skillet, mix 1 package of store brand brown gravy mix with 1 1/2 cups of cold water, add to meat, then add one 16 oz. package of egg noodles. Cook until noodles are done. Serve. Goes great with any canned veggie and some garlic bread.
- —Guest Marie
Breakfast for Dinner
- A quick easy dinner that my two boys always love is breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, bacon, toast, sometimes biscuits and gravy. A good dessert to have is fresh fruit.
- —Guest Marie
Picky eaters
- My Granddaughter is 27 months. She will eat quesadillas. We cut it like pizza and we can sneak chicken in it, too. She also eats whole wheat tortellini and Ramen noodle soup.
- —Guest Lori Lovett