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Easy meals in large quantities?
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I’m having a lot of trouble feeding everyone and still getting school done these days. I have seven children and I guess they are all growing quickly right now, because it’s starting to seem like at every meal the food all disappears and more than half of them start saying, “I’m still hungry, what else can I have?” I give each child a banana and as soon as that is gone, “I’m still hungry, what else can I have?” Next, I pull out a jar of peanuts and that still isn’t enough, and so it goes on.
It’s especially difficult because meals have always been our read aloud time since the little ones are occupied with food. These days, the story is getting interrupted with requests for more food usually at least once a page!
Every day for breakfast I cook a big pot of oatmeal, and I would like to come up with some similar ideas for lunch and dinner; something I can cook one giant pot of that’s fairly easy to make, not lots of dishes, and I can just keep dishing it up for as long as they are “still hungry!”
Thank you for any ideas!
Hello. I only have three, and they are teens and adults now, so I dont have large family experience, but I can share some things we did and still do. We eat pretty simply over here, and usually on a tight budget, but there are some staples I make weekly so they just need a quick microwave when someone is hungry:
big pot of beans for burritos, beans and rice, beans and chips, etc
big pot of rice to add to any protein or veggie we have
snack tray all prepped in fridge with things like veggies, hardboiled eggs, cold leftover chicken, cheese, this came out when dinner got started and everyone wanted to eat RIGHT NOW. But pulling it out with lunch or breakfast would work.
spaghetti
homemade mac and cheese
homemade healthy-ish cookies or bars
soup – a nice addition to any meal
chili
I am not a big prepper with cooking and I hate spending a whole day in the kitchen preparing food for the week so I would just do these things for dinner and make double or triple portions for leftovers.
I am looking forward to seeing what more creative people do!
I have five children and a hubby that are good eaters. I find if I up the fats in the main meals, my children are more satisfied, so butter or cream with full cream milk and a little maple syrup on the porridge (oatmeal) of a morning, or a big batch of scrambled eggs or baked beans on toast for breakfast. Plenty of butter on the bread rolls or egg mayonnaise or hummus on the sandwiches for lunch or I make a vegetable slice/quiche for lunch with salad or chopped fruit (slice is 5 eggs whisked, 2 grated zucchini, a grated carrot, couple of rashers of bacon diced, one onion diced, a cup of plain flour (add a little extra if looking runny, should be thick mixture like peanut butter, but not a dough consistency), quarter cup of olive oil, 1/2 to 1 cup of grated full fat cheese, salt and pepper to taste, poured into a slice tin or quiche dish cooked for 40-45 min on 180 Celsius) – I would prob do two for a family of your size, any leftovers are nice cold too.
I also love a Mac and cheese with chicken or tuna stored through. A big drink of water a bit before or after lunch often helps my kids too.
big pots of roast pumpkin soup with bread rolls is easy too, can be done in a slow cooker.
I also make a big pot of chicken noodle soup with lots of veggies and bread rolls with plenty of butter, cooks on the stove most of the day.
Big pot of bolognaise sauce with hidden veggies can be used on pasta, then on toast for brekky and baked potatoes for dinner with cheese and sour cream. I often serve full fat yoghurt after dinner as “dessert”, I find that often fills them up enough.
snacks here include a handful of nuts or boiled eggs or cold roast chicken/sausages, tinned tuna and mayonnaise with crackers or veggie sticks and hummus, popcorn if I remember to buy it. One piece to two pieces of fruit per child per day as I find even the sugar in that makes them inclined to snack more. I try to keep those items accessible in the fridge/pantry. Banana and yoghurt smoothies sometimes. My daughter loves an avocado mashed up with salt, pepper and lemon juice with carrots sticks for a snack.
I also really love this one, it makes a lot and I serve with rice, I swap out the cayenne for paprika and the water for bone broth but your MMV.
https://www.seriouseats.com/new-orleans-style-red-beans-rice-recipe
i hope that is all clear, I am in Australia so some terms/measures differ. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Yes, fat and protein! Oatmeal and rice are cheap and filling and stretch a meal but without some good fat and protein, they just burn right up. I like to whisk a few eggs into oatmeal. You can’t even taste it and it keeps people full longer. For 4 cups of oats/8 cups of water I’ll use about 6 eggs.</p>
Thank you all very much for the ideas! I realized we don’t have a lot of fat in our regular meals so thank you for the fat/protein suggestions as well as the big pot ideas. Much appreciated!
Feeding a large family can be quite a challenge, especially when you have growing children who seem to be hungry all the time. You can make a big pot of chili with ground beef or turkey, beans, and a variety of vegetables. It’s a hearty, filling meal that can be served with rice, cornbread, or on its own. Plus, you can customize the spiciness level to suit your family’s taste. In addition, casseroles are a great option for feeding a large family. You can make lasagna, baked ziti, or a vegetable casserole. These dishes can be prepared in advance and reheated as needed. Meatloaf recipes are another excellent choice for family dinners. A classic meatloaf made with ground beef or a mixture of meats, along with breadcrumbs and seasonings, can be served with mashed potatoes and vegetables for a satisfying and comforting meal. You can make a big pot of stir-fry with chicken, beef, or tofu, with lots of vegetables and a flavorful sauce. Serve it over rice or noodles. Set up a taco or burrito bar with seasoned ground beef or turkey, and various toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa. Your children can assemble their tacos or burritos, which can be a fun and interactive meal.
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