I’m a single mom of two (6 and 9) and totally stuck in a rut. If I cook a decent meal after work, the kids barely touch it. If I pick up a pizza? They devour it and ask for seconds. It feels impossible to win, and I'm tired of eating leftovers alone all week. What do you like to cook that is fast, healthy-ish, and kid-approved?

I set the category with my kids (pasta mondays, taco Tuesday, Mediterranean Wednesday, leftover thursdays, pizza Friday) so they felt involved. This way we all know what flavors to roughly expect but they also have some things to look forward to that are comforting to them.

Within the category, I try to make it layered for kids and adults. For example with pasta Monday, I might add a sausage/hotdog to the red sauce for the kids and the adults get sautéed peppers and onions with sausage/hotdog and we add red pepper flake. We always use barilla protein noodles just in case someone had a rough day and wants just plain noodles, but that’s not the norm.

I think there’s some study that kids need to see the food at least 8 times before it becomes familiar. I can confirm that for my kids it was at least 284957 times.

You’re doing great. Fast food is made to be addictive and no one can compete with that. Try not compare yourself to those places. If your kids are fed, that’s what’s most important.

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I don't care if they skip a meal. I work full time and cook variety of veggie sides and meat. If they don't eat - so be it. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I was giving in and the whole family started to eat unhealthy, I've gained weight and felt 20 years older.

We have takeout on occasion, but I don't change the whole menu bc of their preferences.

They will likely change tastes as they become teens.

I would make Chicken teriyaki.

Chicken Parmesan. It’s simpler to make than you think. Takes me about 45 mins total.

Plus it couples well with salad.

Black bean and cheese burritos. Beans take about an hour and a half or less to cook if you leave them soaking over night. Mozzarella cheese is a light flavorful cheese. Good source of fiber, protein and calcium.

Keep up the good fight to feed them nutritious meals and from time to time, explain the benefits of good nutrition. They will come around and start seeking home cooked meals as opposed to take out.

Most of my meals are 15mins prep to table.

Depends on what they like to eat. Texture, title and participation can play a role (store bought fresh preferred pizza dough... you select the toppings, they make, 10-15mins bake time. )

If there's something they like that you already cook and batch/freezes well, it could be a win win for you both on time/nutrition that hides protein/veg. (like Lasagne or seasoned Taco meat/tofu or a hearty soup with beans/grain)

My lazy day meals consist of 4 min Ramen with fresh veg or fun colored fish cake slices or shabu shabu and/or mini tofu (form factor can go a long way to making it fun to eat). Lately, super easy Krusteaz tempura veg gets the job done, The deep fry counteracts the fresh veg part. however. HAHA Upside, you could get them to down multi veg/tofu in minutes over crispy texture.

Do like our parents did: Make it, put in front of them and tell them "You can eat it or starve." You: " I am not Burger King, you don't get it your way, you eat what I make. You let them get away with manipulating you into caving in and buying what they want and they have figured out how to manipulate you every time. Time for you to beand act like a parent and not your kid's best friend.

They either eat or starve. Stop being a baby with your baby.

Honestly, on days where I was too drained, if they want pizza, let then make it! a plain bagel, some Prego marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese! Presto! And they feel involved with making their own pizza! add some pepperoni if they feel fancy! lol

One of my kids favorites used to be "rice bowls". I'd make rice, and have different kinds of toppings, depending on what I had in the fridge (taco meat, shredded chicken, stir-fry veggies, cheese, lettuce, etc). They could put on what they wanted. Sometimes, they would even help by putting the rice in the cooker for me.

Kid charcuterie boards! Make it fun and healthy, lots of variety — dips and sauces, healthy proteins, fruits and veggies, whole grain chips, crackers, bread, nuts, cheeses … they think it’s fun and it’s a great way to introduce samples of new foods. And super easy cleanup on busy days. No cooking if you use rotisserie chicken from a deli or lean cold cuts.… Good luck!

I'm going to share what my mom did when my brother and I did a similar thing when she cooked versus when she bought us dinner out. For a whole month she took us to Burger King for dinner. (a WHOLE Month). After that month? Well, she cooked for us and we were so grateful for a home cooked meal, we rarely ever wanted to have dinner out(or delivered) again. And as a bonus? For many years we never wanted Burger King! I occasionally eat there now. But it's rare. LOL! Hope this helps!

You don’t adhere to their rules, they adhere to yours! if they don’t eat what you cook then they will be hungry. Stop buying that for a while and let them know that they will not get any more of that type of food until they start eating what you cook for them, healthier food. Fast food will be a treat, not dinner

I airfry cottage cheese season it with salt, black pepper, chat masala and lemon. You can try it out

i have chopped up bowls of apples and grapes or melon with some lemon squeezed on top, oatmeal, cocoa powder peanut butter chia pudding, hummus w/ what thins & carrots, or apples with peanut butter around for quick snacks, just easy healthy things they can grab. For dinners use high protein pasta for all pasta dishes, they’ll never know the difference. Try to make healthy upgrades where you can, like whole wheat homemade flatbreads or pizzas. Get them involved cooking with you when possible so they can learn to really appreciate fresh fruits and veggies. I also like making taco pasta when I don’t have fresh veggies in the house. using rotisserie chicken for quick veggie stuffed quesadillas or pot pies works well too. Don’t force them to eat things they don’t like, it can truly be traumatic for some kids, but don’t give them everything they ask for eithe. I’d also recommend having them try one small bite of a new thing often. Eventually they’ll develop a taste for healthier foods. Hope some of this is useful to you!

It’s like my mom used to tell me, you either eat what I made or don’t eat at all because I’m not a short order cook. I tell that to my 11 year old all the time and she ends up eating it or makes herself some food

We are in the same boat! Thanks for posting this question!

Not sure if this will work.
You could make a bunch of different sauces and store it in the fridge for the week and use it on pizza crust, with pasta, noodles, wraps etc. They get to pick what goes in it - veggies, meat and so on. For example, red pepper + tomato + onion cut up and stir fried/ roasted and ground up with some 🌶️ and salt tastes amazing. We use it on our sandwiches. You could also do a pesto + cashew sauce. If this is difficult, TJs or Whole Foods have many types. You just have to figure out how to put it all together and make them in charge.

My 12 year old is super picky but he is good with most proteins. We do spaghetti with meat sauce (I blend up veggies to add to the sauce so he doesn't notice.) We do tacos - either ground beef or 'taco steak' from Aldi, pork roast, burgers, breaded or unbreaded chicken strips on the stove, and grilled cheese with some sort of meat on them. For sides, we do a lot of fruit for my picky guy, garlic bread for carbs and he still eats the toddler veggie packets which his pediatrician said is better than no veggies. He literally only likes carrots and cucumbers. I'm not one to force it though since I was picky and didn't eat "real veggies" until I was an adult. :) I turned out pretty darn healthy. Haha

Rice, chicken breast (cut to chick fil a nugget size so we can call them that), and a bag of microwavable frozen vegetables.

20 minute total prep time and balanced well enough.

[Optional] Mix in brown rice, wild rice, or quinoa to get more whole grain benefit if they'll tolerate it. Marinate the chicken in a zip lok with Italian dressing, BBQ sauce, or other favorite the night before if you think about it.

Make food they like but homemade.Get them involved.If you need cheese grated let them do it.If you get them interested in the process you will find it easier to get them to try other things.

My son was in grade five before he willingly eat school lunches. out of all the lunch combinations it was meatball sandwiches. so I made 10 at a time.

He is 17 now, and his whole life he has sneered at chicken but now he is super happy when I get my case of ground chicken.

I nursed my daughter for seven weeks with zero weight gain, so she eats everything in site. including 14 plates at the buffet when she was in elementary school.