Doing it all is a myth. As a parent, I quickly learned this lesson the hard way when I completely burned out while striving to be the ideal mother. One of the first things I ditched in order to save my sanity? The expectation to cook three homemade meals each day while juggling parenting, work, and cleaning duties.
Let’s be real: if you’re raising kids, you need a solid collection of ultra-simple meals that you can whip up in no time.
A recent discussion on Reddit showcased a parent seeking quick meal ideas, and they were keen about it.
“Share your single EASIEST healthy kid dinner!!! If it requires a cutting board, it’s too complicated. Blending? Way too much work. Even a single pot or pan? I’m interested, but skeptical,” they said.
This resonates deeply. No one wants to deal with messy cleanup or complicated recipes. It’s all about filling those little tummies and moving on to the next thing.
The poster even shared their simple meal hack: “Microwave a sweet potato, scoop it out, and microwave some canned chili. Mix it together. Done!”
And the responses flooded in.
First up, the concept of “kid charcuterie” popped up everywhere, recognized by other names like “snack dinner” or “muffin tin dinner.” It’s practically a staple—just a plate full of small, easy-to-eat snacks that require minimal prep. Honestly, I still enjoy this type of meal more often than I care to admit.
Here are some more clever dinner ideas that parents shared:
“Grab a Costco rotisserie chicken, toss in 90-second rice from Aldi, and steam some frozen veggies. Serve everything directly from the bags.”
“Make a quesadilla. No need to cut it.”
“Top rice with a fried egg, half an avocado, and seasoned seaweed, drizzled with soy sauce and sesame oil.”
“Cook chicken nuggets in the air fryer and slice some peppers by hand—no cutting board required.”
“Frozen potstickers, steamed broccoli, and microwave sticky rice.”
“Frozen meatballs and instant mashed potatoes, with some veggies on the side if you’re feeling motivated.”
“Serve naan with hummus and cut-up cucumber.”
“Heat up canned tomato soup and serve it with toast and cheese.”
“Take some rotisserie chicken, load it into a taco shell with guacamole and shredded cheese.”
“Toss Trader Joe’s orange chicken into the microwave, steam a bag of broccoli, and heat up some rice.”
“Make pizza chicken by baking a breaded chicken patty, flipping it halfway, and adding pizza sauce and mozzarella for the second half. Serve with rice, pasta, or frozen veggies.”
“Prepare oatmeal with peanut butter and toss in some chocolate or bananas on the side.”
“Pigs in a blanket are always a win.”
“We lovingly refer to it as ‘mac and peas’—just mix some frozen peas into a box of Annie’s or Goodles mac and cheese.”
Hopefully, everyone found a few new meal ideas or at least feels a bit better about their approach to parenting and dinner planning. Here’s to another day of getting our kids fed and keeping them around.
