Quick Nutritious Kid Friendly Meals

30 minute meals at food network.com ... Rachel Ray is an awsome cook (seen her in person) and all her meals are healthy and cook in 30 minutes or less. and she always tells you how to tweek it to you liking.

For the past few years, we have been using "Menu Mailers." These are dinner menus that are planned and e-mailed to you weekly. They include not only recipes, but also a grocery list. They are great because there is variety (most meals are repeated maybe twice in a year)and they are quick to make. The ones I have found to be the best are:

The Six O'Clock Scramble - our family is a tester for this one and there is a charge. But if you go to www.thescramble.com and enter promo code GLNAN2757, you can get $3 off a 6 or 12 month subscription. These recipes are a bit adventurous but they really taught my kids to be not so picky eaters.

Saving Dinner - www.savingdinner.com. Again, there is a charge for this but each week has several options in one - Heart Healthy, Low Carb and Regular, as well as options for 2 servings.

R. Ray - go to www.rachaelraymag.com and subscribe to the weekly menus. This one is free. I think the other 2 are a bit healthier, but my kids enjoy R.'s recipes.

Good luck!

try ravioli or tortellini as a substitute for the spaghetti - still in the same family (pasta), but it's a bit different and most kids like either one - I'll do this so that it doesn't seem like we're having spaghetti too often. I usually prepare a salad, garlic bread and sometimes a veggie with it - broccoli or roasted asparagus.
Another quick cooking meat is a roast pork tenderloin with rice and a veggie. I like to use Lundberg white and wild rice - it simmers for 20 minutes and then sits off the heat for 10, so it's ready in 30 minutes. Instead of using water, I cook it in organic chicken stock and it really imparts a nice flavor. A nice break to use rice instead of noodles or a potato.
You could also substitute oven roasted sweet potatoes for your usual potato - cut into chunks, add olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 425 for about 35 minutes - make sure you turn them a few times so they don't stick and burn (I find cooking them in a non-stick pan helps with that, as well).
Following is a website that I've heard about, but haven't actually visited yet. You've inspired me to do it with your question, though. It's a mom who cooks meals for a month in one day and then freezes them so that they are easy to get on the table.
www.onceamonthmom.com

Good luck!!

We are in the same boat (even with kids the same ages as yours, too!), so I'm looking forward to reading the responses :)

My kids are slightly underweight, and their pediatrician has them on high fat and calorie diets at the moment, so that's why most of my suggestions are along those lines.

The kids like eggnoodles mixed with butter/parm cheese/salt/pepper/maybe some garlic powder, and then some cooked broccoli and cut chicken mixed in.

(you'd need something else this night) "pigs in a blanket" - little smokie sausages wrapped in crescent rolls and baked for 14-15 min. The kids dip them in ketchup and love it.

BBQ country-style (boneless) ribs - there are a lot of ways to make them, and most of the prep is ahead of time. allrecipes.com has some good ones, but I just boil them for about 45-60 mins the night before, then put on BBQ sauce and stick them in the fridge. Then we grill them in time for dinner the next day (probably 20 mins since they're already cooked and just need heated and a little char) and paint on some more BBQ sauce. The meat gets so tender that even the 1.5 year old can eat it pretty well.

Don't be fooled by the R. Ray 30-minute-meals. Most of them take me closer to an hour to make the first time, and a lot have ingredients that I don't normally keep on hand so I have to plan ahead with a trip to the store. After you make the recipes a few times, they become a little quicker and get closer to 30-40 mins, especially if some prep can be done ahead of time.

I like to cook my ground meat and and freeze it in 3/4 to 1 pound amounts in freezer bags. I also like to use the crock pot. The meatballs can be used for sandwiches. One of our family favorites is spaghetti sauce with mozzerella cheese on sub rolls or just in bbq sauce,sweet and sour sauce or swedish meatballs. One of my favorite crock pot meals is Mexican Chicken. You need 2-3 boneless, skinless, chicken breast or thighs if you prefer, 1 can of black or kidney beans, rinsed, 12-16 ounce bag of frozen corn,salsa and shredded cheddar cheese or mexi blend if you prefer. Spray the inside of crock pot with non stick spray, layer in frozen corn, beans, chicken and pour 1/2 to 3/4 cup of salsa on top. Cook 5 hours on high or 8-10 on low. When the chicken is cooked take out and let it cool a few minutes. Shred the chicken then put back in the crock pot with cheese and mix it well. We serve this over rice or put in tortillas for filling. You can top with more salsa, sour cream, guacomole if you want.

I always loved the breakfast for dinner when I was younger - my favorite was scrambled eggs with salami (my mom would buy the Hebrew National kosher salami - kinda high in fat, but tasty).
I tell my daughter I make her 'extra special' mac n cheese - I add frozen veggies to it and some fresh cheese - whatever I have on hand.
Have you tried the new Brown Minute Rice? you can make a quick stir fry, especially if you have pre-cooked chicken on hand (or Ramen/Udon noodles).

Flatbread pizzas are quick, too - flat bread, cheese, sundried tomatoes, turkey pepperoni, sauce - they only take about 20 minutes.
Slow cookers are a lifesaver, too - plenty of leftovers.
Spanish rice with ground turkey, tortillas and taco seasoning.

At least once a week I do breakfast for dinner. My kids love eggs, pancakes or waffles with some toast or bacon. It's easy and filling. I also do the cheesy chicken and rice. The recipe is on the back of the Cambell's Cream of chicken soup can. It's good and easy to make. Or sometimes I do grilled cheese, tuna melt or grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with some soup. I do try to do steak with baked potatoes or other things but those are some of the fast, easy meals I make when I don't have lots of time.

I used to have 2 cookbooks by "Mr Food" who I believe is out of Rhode Island...they were REALLY easy and quick ideas.

Rachelraymag.com is AMAZING! Every single dish I've tried off this website has been de-lish! I'm sure you'll find many ideas there. Happy cooking!
And remember that you can always prep at night when things aren't so hectic in order to cook faster meals when you get home the next day!

What are your current "Go To" meals that you reference?

One idea to help you with your busy days is to do the crock pot while you are at work. You can do everything from BBQ to soup to spaghetti. You can look up crock pot meals or even buy a cookbook. some websites for a lot of recipes are: allrecipes.com kraftfoods.com foodnetwork.com
An easy thing I do is buy a ham slice and just stick it in a pan on the stovetop with a bit of water until hot. Add peas and mash potatoes or mac and cheese on the side. You can do scallop potatoes with sausage slices, that is great. You can buy a bag of the red beans and rice mix and add sausage slices...it is always a hit. I add sour cream to mine and it is really good. You can do chk burritos or fajitas. We buy the round corn tostadas in the stack. You can top them with black beans or refried beans, corn, chicken, etc then put in broiler for 2-3 mins. Top with salsa and sour cream. They are healthy and SOOO good!
Buy a frozen bag of mixed veggies for stir fry and add chicken, really easy and good.

Hope these ideas help!