mac n cheese with tuna and peas.. add a little thyme and black pepper. top with a little sprinkle cheese and crunched up chips or breadcrumbs and bake or microwave the finish plates.

beef stew ( 1 1/2 lbs steak or stew meat- carrots- potatoes- onion- a pack or two of gravy and water in a dutch oven or crock pot.  add a little curry powder for a different flavor)

dice up cooked chicken and apple, mix with mayo or miracle whip, and put inside pitas.

chicken and broccoli cooked (or buy canned cooked chicken and frozen broccoli florets), put into a pie plate or small cake pan if you double it, a can of cream of broccoli soup mixed with 1/3 cup milk poured over it, top with cheddar cheese, mix 1/2 cup breadcrumbs with about 2 TBL melted butter, sprinkle on top and bake at 425 until browned and bubbly

instant rice, a can of tomatoes, taco seasoning, and either cut up hotdogs or hamburger/turkeyburger with frozen corn mixed in.  either serve on a plate or wrapped up in tortillas. You can also add a can of dark red kidney beans- very yummy. kinda like chili without the liquid.

I'll think some more and see what else I can come up with....

Thanks, Miya!  These are all very great ideas.  They are fussy eaters, too.  I made them Mac & Cheese with hamburger tonight, but it didn't go over well because it was a Hamburger Helper meal and for some reason the seasonings didn't settle right.  I blame my brother becuase he hates to cook and just likes to warm things up in the microwave.

 

Tomorrow I'm going to buy soft flour tortillas and try to make them soft chili tacos like the ones you mentioned.  The other problem I have is getting the boys to agree on their favorite veggies.  Nick likes broccoli and Josh will only eat carrots -- but only the fresh crisp carrots not soggy ones.  So when I make them stew I'll have to add the carrots last!

 

Thanks for the ideas.  It's got me thinking up stuff, too!

Another thing with carrots... You can use a veggie peeler and make thin curls of carrots to add to things.. Carrot curls are excellent with the chicken and apple salad. I normally make it a chicken apple carrot curry salad by adding a good pinch or two of curry powder (the regular ole mccormicks kind- not spicy at all).

Veggies.. puree them and add to a sauce... Pureed peas, broccoli, carrot, and even spinach are great in spaghetti sauce. Oh- bags of frozen spinach or turnip greens.. puree them with a little pasta water and then pour into the sauce when the boys aren't around.   they'll never notice that there is anything but a little extra "green" spices in the sauce.  I've learned to sneak in nutrition.

Oh, they love Spinach!  Maybe I'll try a spinach leaf salad on them to mix in with Spaghetti sauce...

That would be good.   You can also make mini meatloaves by making the mix (or buying it from the butcher/deli area) and add in finely diced veggies. Drop them into muffin tins and bake. Or make a full sized meatloaf the same way.  I mix ketchup, grape jelly, soysauce, and a little western dressing or bbq sauce together to make my glaze. I pour half of it on before it goes in the oven to make a nice crust and then pour the other half on about 10 minutes before removing the meat loaf from the oven.

I've got my nephew Josh here with me looking over my shoulder.  I'm running by him the ideas for meals.  He so far likes the chili taco wrap thingies you suggested.

You can also mix refried beans with the ground meat, or use chicken or beef strips like a fajita... It's one of those wonderful easy to do meals.  I might do that tomorrow. It sounds good. A little salsa and sourcream is good on them too.

OOooooooooh, sour cream, my favorite!

Spaghetti with a really good sauce is generally a winner.  I usually go organic for my pasta and sauce base and add fresh spices.  Meat is added at your discretion. I like ground beef or turkey.

What about wonton soup?  <smile> I have a good recipe on my blog if you want to try it. It takes a while, but it's not too scary to eat. I used to eat it a lot as a child.

Sandwiches aren't terribly exotic, but they do allow the kids to eat healthy food while choosing their own components.

I'd also use a make-your-own sundae as an inducement to trying something they really don't want to try.  Like if they eat it, then you can make a sundae.  This is only for that one meal they would rather avoid.

And if all else fails, remind them that there is always liver and onions...

I was just thinking about making Spaghetti for the boys tonight but then my brother pushed a Hamburger Helper mix on me but the seasonings in it didn't settle right and only my brother liked it.  My brother's a really fussy eater and hates to cook, however the boys usually get home cooked meals with their mother who also hates to cook.  Ugh.  Hence the boys get spoiled with going out.  The Hamburger Helper didn't work out so I'm going to stray away from premixed stuff. 

 

The last time we went to a Chinese food place the boys got scared of the wonton soup, but they love chicken noodle soup, so I'll have to mix it up on them later.  The sundae idea is a good one.  We had banana creme pie last night and that got them to eat up a turkey sandwich meal.

 

Earlier today I gave them the idea to melt cheese on their bread with the turkey to give them the taste that they are getting a warm meal instead of a cold sandwich.  They liked that!  Speaking of that, I may make them grilled cheese sandwiches...

 

True.  They would hate the liver and onions option!

P.S. I'll "vote" this one so that more moms and dads can come by and offer suggestions.

Thanks ever so much!  I'm a single non-Mom and not used to cooking for a group every night, so I could really use the help.

hamburger helper or chicken helper

 

gravy with beef in it on mashed potatoes or toast or rice

 

skillet fried chicken

 

baked chicken

 

bbq ribs - beef or pork

 

baked potatoes with the "works" for toppings

 

ham and scalloped potatoes

 

breakfast for dinner

 

blt sandwiches

 

chef salad

OOoh, yeah, those are good ones!  I cooked them Cheeseburger Mac via Hamburger Helper but it didn't go over well because the premixed seasoning didn't settle well.  I'll mix up some other suggestions later.  Thanks for your input!

Well I don't know how big of help I will be, I have bottomless pits for kids! 

 

Angle hair pasta with cut up chix breast and brocolli w/ alfredo sauce with a salad

 

Taco Salad real easy to make-Doritos or even plain tortia chips, taco meat, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes---if you want you can add fried beans and salasa

 

Burger or Stew Meat with frozen egg noodles-cook the noodles and beef seperatly-then put in a pot with cream of mushroom soup a few cans (depends on how creamy you want it) and milk-season with pepper and salt to taste

 

We also have make your on sandwhich night-the only regulation i have on this is they have to choose at least one vegie- have a variety of lunch meats, cheeses, vegies, and spreads with some chips

 

Another fast and good meal the kids like are fajita salads--you can either deep fry the tortias in bowl shape or bake them-we usually bake because of me-make up some fijita meat and then add the fijita mixings in the tortia bowl

 

Easy desert would be jello, cookies with a scoup of ice cream, or make a berry trifle

 

Good luck

Thanks!  I'm trying to talk them into liking the Fajita idea, but I had to explain it's a lot like soft tacos but with chicken...

you could even do the fajita's with steak too, they sell different strips and what not, in the frozen foods aisle, I want to say that Tyson makes them, but it comes with all the fixings for fajitas all you have to do is heat them up and put them together.  My sister is a really picky eater, and she loves those.

Yay you can use steak fajitas.  My kids perfer those.  also I forgot to suggest another fast easy and kid friednly meal!  Mini pizzas- bread, pizza sause, peperroni, and cheese.